Electric Fan Diffuser Vane Design to Reduce Tangential Flow Losses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric fans for vacuum cleaners face inefficiencies due to high airflow velocities and turbulence, leading to increased energy consumption and noise, as well as inadequate heat dissipation, which affects their performance and longevity.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a diffuser with vanes positioned at the outer circumference of the impeller, featuring an outlet angle of 45° to 90°, and a refluxer with a specific diffusion degree, along with a refluxer flow passage that facilitates heat dissipation, reducing tangential flow velocity and flow losses while enhancing aerodynamic performance and noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a vaneless diffuser is used, then the radial size of the electric fan is reduced, but the airflow becomes turbulent and aerodynamic performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradial sizeVSAvoidaerodynamic performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The diffuser incorporates vanes only in specific local regions where airflow control is most needed, rather than using a complete vaneless diffuser or fully enclosed vaned diffuser. This localized vane configuration provides sufficient airflow control to prevent turbulence while maintaining a compact radial size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a conventional vaned diffuser is used, then aerodynamic control is improved, but tangential velocity is wasted and flow losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamic controlVSAvoidflow losses
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The diffuser vanes are designed with specific geometric parameters including an outlet angle β where 45°≤β≤90°, and a diffusion angle Δ1 where 5°≤Δ1≤15°. These optimized parameters enable effective aerodynamic control while minimizing flow losses by efficiently converting tangential velocity into useful airflow direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If airflow velocity at impeller outlet is high, then power generation is improved, but flow losses in diffuser increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower generationVSAvoidflow losses
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The diffuser is designed with optimized geometric parameters including vane outlet angle β (45°≤β≤90°) and diffusion angle Δ1 (5°≤Δ1≤15°) that enable effective deceleration of high-velocity airflow from the impeller. This parameter optimization reduces flow losses while maintaining the benefits of high power generation from high inlet velocity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration improves the efficiency and aerodynamic performance of the electric fan, reduces energy consumption, and enhances heat dissipation, leading to a more effective and quieter operation, thereby extending the fan's service life and improving user satisfaction.

Implementation Method 1

the flow velocity needs to be reduced by diffusing action of the diffuser

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

the airflow velocity at outlet of an impeller of the electric fan is relatively high, and the flow velocity needs to be reduced by diffusing action of the diffuser, so as to reduce the flow losses

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBernoulli effect: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 3

the refluxer flow passage that facilitates heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3462039B1Electric fan and vacuum cleaner having same
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 MIDEA GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3462039B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3462039B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3462039B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electric fan (100) and a vacuum cleaner having the same are provided. The electric fan (100) includes: a cover (1) having an open side; an impeller (2) disposed in the cover (1); a diffuser (3) including a diffuser body (31) and a plurality of vanes (32), the diffuser body (31) being located at a side of the impeller (2) adjacent to the cover (1), the plurality of vanes (32) being disposed at an end of the diffuser body (31) adjacent to impeller (2) and spaced apart from one another along an outer circumference of the impeller (2), an outlet angle of each vane being denoted as β, and β satisfying: 45°≤β≤90°; and a refluxer (4) disposed at an end of the diffuser body (31) away from the impeller (2). The electric fan reduces flow losses of airflow, and improves work efficiency.