Peripheral Drive Centrifugal Fan Hub Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices become faster and more powerful, they generate more heat, posing challenges in cooling within smaller form factors, as traditional fan designs with hub-based motors obstruct airflow and increase noise.
Innovation Solution
The development of peripheral drive centrifugal fans with a reduced hub size and external motor components, utilizing stacked inductor groups and magnetic blades arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically to enhance airflow and efficiency, allowing for independent control of impeller speed and heat reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional hub-based motors are used in centrifugal fans, then the motor structure is compact and easy to manufacture, but the hub size increases which obstructs airflow and increases noise
Solution Approach 1:
The motor components (inductor groups and magnetic blades) are extracted from the traditional hub-based configuration and relocated to the periphery of the impeller. This extraction removes the obstructing hub structure while maintaining the motor function through distributed magnetic components around the impeller circumference, thereby improving airflow without sacrificing motor capability
Solution Approach 2:
The motor is segmented into multiple distributed inductor groups and magnetic blades arranged around the periphery rather than concentrated in a single hub. This segmentation allows the motor function to be distributed across multiple smaller components that do not obstruct the central airflow path, resolving the contradiction between compact motor structure and unobstructed airflow
2Device complexity
If traditional hub-based motors are used in centrifugal fans, then the motor structure is simple, but the noise level increases due to hub obstruction and airflow disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The motor components are extracted from the hub region and placed at the periphery, removing the source of noise-generating airflow disruption. The peripheral configuration allows air to flow smoothly through the center without encountering motor components, significantly reducing noise while the motor structure remains relatively simple through the use of standard inductor and magnetic blade components
3Productivity
If peripheral drive components are used, then airflow is improved and hub size is reduced, but the motor structure becomes more complex with distributed inductor groups
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is divided into multiple modular inductor groups distributed around the periphery, each interacting with corresponding magnetic blades. This segmentation improves airflow by eliminating the central hub while the modular nature of the inductor groups keeps the overall structure manageable and potentially easier to manufacture through standardized components
Solution Approach 2:
The motor configuration transitions from a centralized three-dimensional hub structure to a distributed planar arrangement around the periphery. This dimensional reorganization improves airflow through the center while distributing motor components in a pattern that, although more numerous, can be implemented using standard manufacturing techniques for stator windings and magnetic components
4Productivity
If faster and more powerful chips are incorporated into smaller devices, then device performance is improved, but heat generation increases creating cooling challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral drive centrifugal fan creates a controlled airflow environment that efficiently removes heat from electronic components. By directing cool air across heat-generating components and expelling hot air through the peripheral design, the system maintains an optimal thermal environment for high-performance chips in compact devices
Solution Approach 2:
The fan utilizes pneumatic principles to generate controlled airflow for heat removal. The centrifugal design with peripheral drive components creates efficient air movement that draws cool air through the device, passes it over hot components, and expels heated air, providing effective thermal management through fluid dynamics rather than direct thermal contact
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 increases airflow, reduces power consumption, minimizes noise, and improves motor efficiency by relocating driving components outside the impeller hub, effectively managing heat in compact electronic devices while maintaining performance.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of stacked inductor groups having multiple coils each can be distributed radially about the exterior or circumference of the impeller. The stacked inductor group coils can be energized selectively and independently for greater impeller control
Implementation Method 2
Magnetic components can be included at or about the outer portions of at least some of the impeller blades
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Electronic devices have peripheral drive centrifugal fans having smaller hubs and increased air flows to manage heat levels within the electronic device. A peripheral drive centrifugal fan includes a fan housing, an impeller including a plurality of blades, and a plurality of stacked inductor groups radially disposed about the impeller. Some of the blades have magnetically active portions. Each stacked inductor group includes first and second coils configured to impart a variable magnetic force to the magnetically active portion of a blade to drive the impeller along a rotational direction. The first and second coils can be selectively energizable independently from each other to provide greater control of the impeller.