Fan Frame Airflow Guiding Structures for Outlet Vortex Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fans face challenges in increasing air pressure and volume while minimizing noise, as high-speed rotations lead to noise issues due to vortex formation at the outlet, which is difficult to address through blade design modifications or structural changes in the fan frame.

Innovation Solution

The fan frame design incorporates a first airflow guiding structure on the base circumference and a second airflow guiding structure on the inner housing circumference, creating a converging airflow path that accelerates airflow speed, increases pressure and volume, and prevents vortex formation at the outlet, reducing noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the rotation speed is increased to increase air pressure and volume, then the air pressure and volume are improved, but noise increases due to vortex formation at the outlet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair pressure and volumeVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet structure is segmented into multiple functional components: a base with first airflow guiding structures, a housing with second airflow guiding structures, and connecting elements. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component to control airflow patterns and eliminate vortices while maintaining high rotation speed operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Airflow guiding structures serve as intermediary elements between the impeller and the external environment. These guiding structures mediate the airflow transition, preventing direct vortex formation at the outlet while allowing high-speed airflow to pass through, thus reducing noise without sacrificing air pressure and volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If blade design is modified to reduce noise, then noise may be reduced, but the modification is difficult and impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovenoiseVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The noise reduction function is extracted from the blade design and transferred to the outlet structure. By placing airflow guiding structures in the outlet, the patent separates the noise control function from the blade geometry, making the solution easier to manufacture and implement without complex blade modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of modifying the blade design to control noise at the source, the patent inverts the approach by controlling airflow at the outlet where vortices form. This reversal of the control point simplifies the design and manufacturing process while achieving the same noise reduction goal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the base is designed as a vertical structure, then the structure is simple, but the airflow pressure is not increased and vortices are produced at the outlet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidair pressure and volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the vertical base structure with a curved base featuring arc-shaped airflow guiding structures. This curvature design smoothly directs airflow along the arc path, preventing vortex formation while increasing airflow pressure and volume, all within a relatively simple structural framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 effectively increases air pressure and volume by up to 17% while minimizing noise by ensuring airflow converges and vortices are prevented at the outlet, enhancing fan efficiency and operation quietness.

Implementation Method 1

the outgoing airflow can be converging by using the airflow guiding structures disposed on the base and the fan frame. Compared with the related art, the fan frame of the present invention can increase the speed of the airflow at the outlet, thereby increasing the air pressure and volume. Moreover, the present invention can prevent vortices from occurring at the outlet so as to reduce noises during the operation of the fan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance and convergence:

Data Source

PatentUS8926278B2Fan and fan frame thereof

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 DELTA ELECTRONICS INC(CN)

AI summary

A fan has a fan, an impeller and a motor. The impeller is disposed in the fan frame, and the motor is disposed in the fan frame for driving the impeller. The fan frame has a housing, a base and at least one connecting element. The housing has an inlet and an outlet, and the base is disposed in the housing and at the outlet. The connecting element is disposed between the housing and the base. The base has a first airflow guiding structure disposed on the circumference of the base. The housing has a second airflow guiding structure disposed on the inner circumference thereof and adjacent to the outlet. The first airflow guiding structure and the second airflow guiding structure are correspondingly disposed.