Angled Radial Fan Unit for Compact Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blower units, particularly those using axial fans, face challenges in achieving optimal acoustic properties and efficiency while maintaining a compact design, as they require significant space and often operate at unfavorable operating points.
Innovation Solution
The use of radial fans arranged at an angle to the flow opening axis within a compact support body, allowing for efficient air flow and high power density, with multiple fans dividing the volume flow to optimize operating points and eliminate the need for separating plates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If axial fans are used in blower units, then high volume flow at low pressure is achieved, but acoustic properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameters by switching from axial fans to radial fans, which operate at different pressure-volume characteristics. This parameter change allows achieving high volume flow while operating in a quieter regime, as radial fans generate less aerodynamic noise at their optimal operating points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the total volume flow requirement into multiple radial fans working in parallel. Each fan operates at an optimized operating point, avoiding the unfavorable single-fan operation that would compromise acoustic performance. This segmentation maintains high total flow while improving individual fan acoustic characteristics.
2Productivity
If multiple fans are arranged side by side with parallel axes, then cooling capacity increases, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar arrangement (side-by-side fans with parallel axes) to a three-dimensional configuration (radial fans with axes at angles to the flow opening). This dimensional change allows fans to be compactly arranged around a central flow path, increasing cooling capacity without proportionally increasing installation footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple radial fans into a single integrated blower unit with a common housing and shared airflow path. The fans are positioned at angles to each other, combining their cooling effects into a unified system that achieves high cooling capacity within a compact envelope, eliminating the need for separate fan housings and mounting structures.
3Device complexity
If a single radial fan is used, then device complexity is reduced, but operating point becomes unfavorable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single fan function into multiple radial fans operating in parallel. Each fan operates at its own optimized operating point, ensuring reliable and efficient performance. This segmentation prevents the unfavorable operating conditions that would occur with a single oversized fan, maintaining system reliability while managing complexity through modular configuration.
4Power
If radial fans are arranged at angles to each other, then power density increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of radial fans with their axes positioned at specific angles to the flow opening axis and to each other. This asymmetric configuration optimizes the airflow patterns and pressure distribution, achieving high power density by maximizing the effective cooling surface area and airflow velocity. The asymmetric design is implemented through standardized mounting brackets that accommodate various angular positions, managing complexity through modular design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design results in improved acoustic properties and efficiency compared to axial fans, achieving high power density within a small installation space and reducing noise levels, while maintaining excellent cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
radial fans arranged such that the axes of rotation of their impellers are at an angle to the axis of at least one flow opening
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~8
AI summary
The fan unit has centrifugal fans (12) arranged on a support unit (1). The rotation axes of the impellers of the centrifugal fans are inclined at preset angles with respect to axis of flow opening (7) of support unit. The inner space of the support unit is connected to ambient space.