Mixed-Flow Fan Channel Geometry for Compact Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional axial fans are too strong for limited automotive electronics spaces, while centrifugal fans provide insufficient airflow for effective cooling, and existing mixed-flow fans do not adequately meet heat dissipation and flow-direction requirements.
Innovation Solution
A mixed-flow fan design featuring a base, outer cover, motor, hub, and blade configuration with specific channel angles and shapes that enhance airflow strength and directionality, allowing for improved heat dissipation and flow alignment within compact spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If axial fans are used to provide strong airflow, then cooling performance is improved, but the fan cannot be used in electronics systems with restricted thickness and airflow direction
Solution Approach 1:
The fan wheel is divided into a suction side and a pressure side with distinct functional zones. The suction side includes a suction channel for air intake, while the pressure side includes a pressure channel for air discharge. This segmentation allows the fan to handle airflow in multiple directions while maintaining compact dimensions suitable for electronics systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan transitions from conventional single-direction axial or radial airflow to a three-dimensional mixed-flow pattern. The suction channel and pressure channel are arranged at different angles relative to the rotation axis, creating airflow components in multiple dimensions. This enables the fan to meet restricted airflow direction requirements while maintaining strong cooling performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If centrifugal fans are used to meet flow-direction requirements, then adaptability to installation space is improved, but the strength of air flow becomes low and cooling performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fan merges the characteristics of axial fans (strong airflow) and centrifugal fans (flow direction control) into a single mixed-flow design. The blade geometry and channel arrangement combine axial and radial flow components, producing a resultant airflow that is stronger than pure centrifugal flow while maintaining directional adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan adjusts airflow parameters by varying the angles of the suction channel and pressure channel relative to the rotation axis. By optimizing these angular parameters, the fan achieves a balance between airflow strength and direction control, overcoming the limitation of low airflow strength in conventional centrifugal fans.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional fan designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but heat dissipation performance and flow-direction requirements are not adequately met
Solution Approach 1:
The fan wheel structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a rotor for generating airflow, a diffuser for pressure regulation, and a flow director for controlling airflow direction. The integrated design of the suction channel, pressure channel, and blades in a single rotating component maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving superior heat dissipation performance.
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 mixed-flow fan achieves a balanced airflow strength between axial and centrifugal fans, providing effective cooling performance while meeting flow-direction requirements and reducing noise, with airflow strength comparable to conventional centrifugal fans and lower noise levels.
Implementation Method 1
a motor to drive it. The fan wheel extends in the direction of the rotation axis between an air inlet side and an air outlet side of the mixed-flow fan and serves, as it rotates, to convey air
Data Source
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AI summary
A mixed-flow fan includes a base including a bottom channel, an outer cover disposed on the base, a motor disposed on the base, a hub located between the outer case and the motor, and a blade connected to the hub. A main channel is formed between the outer cover and the hub, and is connected to the bottom channel. The main channel extends in the first direction, and the bottom channel extends in the second direction.