Modular Radial Fan Housing Segmentation for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional centrifugal fans require different designs for cooling and ventilation applications, leading to high unit costs due to the need for specific housing parts that are produced in small quantities, which do not effectively adapt the relationship between pressure difference and volumetric flow for varying applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular radial fan system comprising a basic housing part and multiple complementary housing parts, each optimized for specific pressure-volume flow relationships, allowing for cost-effective production and adaptation to different applications by combining non-application-specific parts with application-specific complementary housing parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different fans are designed for cooling or ventilation applications, then the pressure-volume flow relationship is optimized for specific applications, but the unit costs increase due to production in small quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a basic housing part and interchangeable complementary housing parts. The basic housing part remains constant across all fan models, while only the complementary housing parts differ between applications. This segmentation allows the majority of the housing to be produced in large quantities for all models, reducing unit costs, while still enabling application-specific optimization through the interchangeable parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The basic housing part is designed to be universal and can be used with different complementary housing parts for both cooling fans and ventilation fans. This multi-functionality allows a single basic housing design to serve multiple applications, eliminating the need to produce entirely different housing sets for each application and thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
2Ease of manufacture
If application-specific housing parts are produced in large numbers, then unit costs decrease, but the complexity of managing multiple housing variants increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the housing into a universal basic part and application-specific complementary parts, the system reduces the total number of variants that need to be managed. Instead of having completely different housing sets for each application, only the complementary parts need to be varied, simplifying inventory and production management.
Solution Approach 2:
The basic housing part and complementary housing parts are designed to combine into a complete housing assembly. This merging approach allows the majority of the housing structure to be standardized and produced once, while only the necessary complementary sections are varied for different applications, reducing overall complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the complementary housing parts are made with small cross-section blast air channels, then the pressure-volume flow relationship is optimized for high pressure applications, but the rigidity of the housing decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The complementary housing parts are designed with locally optimized features: wall thickening or additional ribs are added specifically in areas where rigidity is needed, while the blast air channel cross-section is reduced in the airflow path. This allows the housing to maintain structural strength even when the air channels are made smaller for high-pressure applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The complementary housing parts feature curved or rounded transitions in the blast air channels rather than sharp corners. These curved designs reduce stress concentrations and maintain structural integrity even when the channel cross-section is reduced, preserving housing rigidity while achieving the desired pressure-volume flow characteristics.
Data Source
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AI summary
A set of parts for a radial fan comprises a fan wheel (2), a basic housing part (1) and a first complementary housing part (3), which can be brought together to form a first housing that encloses the fan wheel and has an inlet opening (27) and an outlet (23), characterised in that at least one second complementary housing part (3', 3"), the shape of which differs from the first complementary housing part (3), can be connected to the basic housing part (1) instead of the first complementary housing part (3) to form a second housing.