Fan Blade Notch Design for Heat Sink Airflow Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fan designs for electronic devices suffer from reduced heat dissipation efficiency due to air leakage at the terminal ends of the blades, which impairs the airflow directed towards the heat sink, and this results in suboptimal cooling performance.
Innovation Solution
The fan design incorporates an outer frame with inclined blades and strategically positioned notches and protrusions to redirect airflow effectively towards the heat sink, enhancing airflow coverage and connection strength, while minimizing noise and weight to improve efficiency and service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fan uses traditional blade design without outer frame enclosure, then the device complexity is reduced, but air leakage occurs at blade terminals reducing heat dissipation efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The outer frame is integrated with the blade terminal ends to form a unified structure that encloses the air passage. This merging of the frame and blade structures creates an enclosed air passage that prevents air leakage while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through integral forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer frame serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the fan assembly, defines the air passage boundaries, prevents air leakage at blade terminals, and guides airflow direction towards the heat sink. This multi-functionality improves heat dissipation efficiency without adding separate components.
2Productivity
If the fan encloses air passage with outer frame, then airflow coverage to heat sink is improved, but the fan weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer frame is designed as a thin-walled structure that provides sufficient structural support and airflow guidance while minimizing material usage. The thin-walled design reduces the fan weight while maintaining the enclosed air passage functionality for improved heat dissipation efficiency.
3Productivity
If the fan uses inclined blades with notches and protrusions, then airflow direction control is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blades are designed with inclined angles and curved surfaces that naturally guide airflow direction towards the heat sink. The inclined blade geometry and integrated notches/protrusions create smooth airflow transitions that improve directional control while being manufacturable through standard forming processes.
4Productivity
If the fan minimizes air leakage at blade terminals, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but noise may increase due to restricted airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The outer frame and inclined blades are designed to pre-condition the airflow by guiding it smoothly through the enclosed air passage before it reaches the heat sink. This preliminary airflow conditioning prevents turbulence and eddy currents that would generate noise, while the enclosed structure prevents air leakage that would reduce heat dissipation efficiency.
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
The redesigned fan significantly enhances heat dissipation efficiency by ensuring a larger portion of airflow reaches the heat sink, reducing noise, and increasing the fan's operational efficiency and lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
The fan is disposed on the heat sink to accelerate air circulation around the heat sink
Implementation Method 2
The heat sink dissipates heat generated by a heat generating component in the server, such as an electronic chip
Data Source
AI summary
A fan and an electronic device are provided. The fan includes a hub, an outer frame surrounding the hub, and a plurality of blades connected between the hub and the outer frame. The outer frame includes a first side facing an air inlet of the fan, a second side facing an air outlet of the fan, and an inner wall between the first side and the second side. Each of the plurality of blades includes a first end connected to the hub and a second end connected to the outer frame. The second end includes a first region and a second region, the second region is connected to the inner wall. The first region extends from the second region and is disposed above the first side. A first notch is defined among the first regions of two adjacent blades and the first side.