Vehicle Cooling Fan Stator Vanes for Airflow Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The crowded engine compartment in modern motor vehicles, with reduced volume and additional components, often causes obstructions that reduce airflow through radiators, leading to inefficient cooling fan operation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of stators in the exhaust stream of a cooling fan to divert air radially, increasing airflow efficiency by reducing the impact of downstream obstructions and maintaining high total pressure and velocity over a longer radial distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine compartment volume is reduced to decrease aerodynamic drag, then the aerodynamic drag is reduced, but the cooling fan operation is impaired due to obstructions in the exhaust stream
Solution Approach 1:
Stator vanes are introduced as an intermediary component between the cooling fan and the downstream obstruction. These stators modify the flow field by diverting exhaust air radially, creating a flow pattern that reduces the adverse effects of the obstruction on fan performance while maintaining the compact engine compartment design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are placed in the engine compartment, then the vehicle functionality is improved, but obstructions are created that reduce airflow through the radiator
Solution Approach 1:
The stator vanes act as a flow management intermediary that enables the coexistence of additional components and effective cooling. By modifying the exhaust flow pattern radially, the stators allow components to be positioned in the engine compartment without severely compromising the airflow through the radiator.
3Ease of operation
If the cooling fan operates against a downstream obstruction, then the fan can maintain position in a crowded compartment, but the required torque increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The stator vanes change the flow parameters (velocity distribution, flow direction) in the exhaust stream. By diverting air radially, the stators create a flow pattern that reduces the pressure buildup and resistance that the fan must overcome, thereby reducing the torque requirement while maintaining effective fan positioning in the crowded compartment.
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 solution enhances the cooling fan's efficiency by reducing the required torque and maintaining high pressure and velocity, thereby improving airflow and cooling performance even in the presence of obstructions, across various operating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The stators divert air into the radial direction, while increasing total airflow over the situation wherein the exhaust stream impinges on an obstacle in its path.
Implementation Method 2
maintaining high total pressure and velocity over a longer radial distance
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling fan for a vehicle. Many engine compartments of motor vehicles are small in size, and contain numerous components. Electric cooling fans are used to draw air through a radiator. Given the cramped conditions within the engine compartment, the exhaust of the fan cannot be directed into open air, but must impinge on one or more of the components within the compartment. This situation reduces velocity in the exhaust, and also reduces efficiency of the fan. The invention provides a collection of generally co-axial stators which divert the exhaust around the components, while retaining much of the velocity of the exhaust.