Fan Blade Tooth Columns Reduce Noise via Vortex Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooling fans in electronic devices generate increasing noise as they increase rotational speed and air volume to manage higher electronic element temperatures, and smooth fan blades do not effectively address this noise issue.
Innovation Solution
The fan device features fan blades with tooth columns and flow directing channels that create vortices to reduce wind resistance and noise, with extension ribs guiding airflow to further minimize noise through reduced resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the rotational speed and air volume of the cooling fan are increased to improve cooling effect, then the cooling performance is improved, but the noise generated by the fan becomes louder
Solution Approach 1:
The fan blade surface is segmented into multiple tooth columns with skin-tooth units, creating multiple flow directing channels that guide airflow in a controlled manner. This segmentation allows the airflow to be divided into multiple paths, reducing turbulence and noise while maintaining effective cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The skin-tooth units feature curved ridges (middle ridges and side ridges) that form vortex flow patterns. The curved geometry of the flow directing channels guides airflow smoothly, converting sliding friction to rolling friction, which reduces noise generation while maintaining cooling efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If smooth fan blades are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but noise reduction is not effective
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using completely smooth blades, the surface is segmented into tooth columns with multiple skin-tooth units. This segmentation can be integrated into the blade manufacturing process (such as injection molding), maintaining ease of manufacture while adding noise-reducing flow directing features.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan blade employs local quality by having different surface characteristics in different regions. The tooth columns and flow directing channels are strategically positioned on the blade surface to optimize airflow control and noise reduction in critical areas, while other areas maintain simpler geometry for ease of manufacture.
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 design significantly reduces noise by converting sliding friction to rolling friction and guiding airflow efficiently, resulting in a quieter operation while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
the airflow can be cut by each skin-tooth unit in the tooth columns and flow into the flow directing channel of the each skin-tooth unit to form a vortex
Implementation Method 2
Two first flow directing channels are formed between the first middle ridge and the two first side ridges
Implementation Method 3
through the arrangement of the extension rib of each second skin-tooth unit, the airflow can be guided to smoothly enter the flow directing channels of different columns of skin-tooth units, so that the airflow can be subjected to resistance reduction for many times
Implementation Method 4
converting sliding friction to rolling friction
Data Source
AI summary
A fan device includes a hub and a plurality of fan blades. Each of the fan blades includes a driving surface, and the driving surface includes a first tooth column and a second tooth column. The first tooth column includes a plurality of first skin-tooth units. Each of the first skin-tooth units includes a first body. A first middle ridge and two first side ridges protrude from a surface of the first body, and a groove is formed between two adjacent first skin-tooth units. The second tooth column includes a plurality of second skin-tooth units. Each of the second skin-tooth units includes a second body and an extension element. A second middle ridge and two second side ridges protrude from a surface of the second body, and the extension element is located in the groove and includes an extension rib.