Patent Application
20250154964
This US application claims the benefit of priority to China application no. 202311494718.6, filed on Nov. 9, 2023, of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to heat-transfer components and assemblies, and more particularly, but not limited to, flat blower fan devices.
With increasing processing speed and performance of electronic devices, the amount of heat generated during operation of an electronic device has increased. The heat generation increases the temperature of the electronic device and, if the heat cannot be dissipated effectively, the reliability and performance of the electronic device is reduced. To prevent overheating of an electronic device, cooling systems such as air-cooling systems and liquid cooling systems are used to efficiently dissipate the heat generated by the electronic device and, thereby ensure the standard operation of the electronic device.
In the case of flat blower fans or other rotating cooling devices, heated air generated from electronic devices and electronic equipment may be transported away for convective cooling. Traditional flat side-blowing blower fans generate airflow from an inlet parallel to the rotation axis (e.g. the axial direction) to an outlet 90 degrees to the rotation axis. Given the side-blowing outlet of the flat side-blowing blower fans, increasing blower fan performance without increasing specifications, such as size and power, is challenging. Moreover, increasing performance is further exacerbated by continued decrease in space available for operation of flat side-blowing blower fans.
The present disclosure provides a flat blower fan device with increased blower fan performance.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, including a volute and an impeller. The volute includes a center opening, an impeller chamber, a discharge outlet, and a lip protrusion. The center opening is disposed at a center of the volute. The discharge outlet is disposed at a side of the volute. The lip protrusion is disposed at a perimeter edge of the center opening. The impeller includes a plurality of blades and a driving hub. The plurality of blades is coupled to the driving hub and extends outward from the driving hub. The impeller is rotatably disposed in the volute. The driving hub has a motor therein and the motor is configured to drive the impeller to rotate. The impeller chamber is defined by exterior sides of the driving hub and an interior of the volute. A suction inlet is defined by the driving hub and the center opening. The suction inlet is configured to enable air to be sucked in therethrough to the impeller chamber. The lip protrusion is configured to enable a beveled zone to be formed during rotation of the impeller. The beveled zone formed at a protrusion side of the lip protrusion opposite the suction inlet. The beveled zone is configured to enable a constricted chamber zone to be formed within the impeller chamber. The constricted chamber zone is formed at a chamber side of the beveled zone opposite the lip protrusion. An air pressure in the constricted chamber zone is lower and an airflow in the constricted chamber zone is faster than the air pressure and the airflow in the impeller chamber before the airflow enters the constricted chamber zone.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, further including a rotation axis and a constricted chamber zone rotation angle. The lip protrusion includes an arc length. The arc length is defined from a first end of the lip protrusion to a second end of the lip protrusion. The rotation axis is defined by an impeller center of the impeller. The constricted chamber zone rotation angle is defined by a rotation amount respectively measured from the rotation axis to the first end and the second end. The constricted chamber zone rotation angle is between 45 degrees and 180 degrees, inclusive.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein the volute includes a shroud base, a shroud cover, and a volute side wall, wherein the center opening includes a base center opening and a cover center opening, and wherein the lip protrusion includes a base lip protrusion and a cover lip protrusion. The volute side wall is respectively coupled between a base perimeter edge of the shroud base and a cover perimeter edge of the shroud cover. A base outlet perimeter edge of the shroud base, a cover outlet perimeter edge of the shroud cover, and a first outlet perimeter edge and a second outlet perimeter edge of the volute side wall define the discharge outlet. The base center opening is disposed at a base center of the shroud base. The cover center opening is disposed at a cover center of the shroud cover. The base lip protrusion is disposed at a base opening edge of the base center opening. The cover lip protrusion is disposed at a cover opening edge of the cover center opening.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein the shroud base includes a flange impeller hub, and wherein the suction inlet includes a base suction inlet and a cover suction inlet. The flange impeller hub is centrally disposed in the shroud base. The impeller is rotatably coupled to the shroud base via the driving hub and the flange impeller hub. The base suction inlet is defined by the flange impeller hub and the base center opening. The cover suction inlet is defined by the driving hub and the cover center opening.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein the volute side wall includes an outlet side wall portion. The outlet side wall portion includes a protrusion. The outlet side wall portion is coupled at the first outlet perimeter edge and the protrusion protrudes in a direction toward the second outlet perimeter edge and protrudes in a direction at an end of the constricted chamber zone.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein each plurality of blades include a blade root and a blade edge. The blade root is coupled at the driving hub. The blade edge is disposed on an opposite end of the blade root. The blade root has a root width and the blade edge has an edge width. The edge width is greater than the root width.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein the cover lip protrusion includes a lip cover constriction wall and a lip cover ledge, and wherein the base lip protrusion includes a lip base constriction wall and a lip base ledge. The lip cover constriction wall is between the lip cover ledge and the cover center opening. The lip base constriction wall between the lip base ledge and the base center opening.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein a constriction height is defined as a distance between the lip cover ledge and the lip base ledge. The constriction height is equal to or less than the edge width.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein the shroud base and the volute side wall are integrally formed.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a flat blower fan device, wherein the lip protrusion further includes a filler component. The filler component is opposite the beveled zone and fills an area between the lip protrusion and a plane of a surface of the volute.
Unless specified otherwise, the accompanying drawings illustrate aspects of the innovative subject matter described herein. Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views, several examples of flat blower fan devices incorporating aspects of the presently disclosed principles are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation.
The following describes various principles related to components and assemblies for electronic devices cooling by way of reference to specific examples of flat blower fan devices, including specific arrangements and examples of volutes and impellers embodying innovative concepts. More particularly, but not exclusively, such innovative principles are described in relation to selected examples of internal lip protrusions and increased flow velocity volute discharge chambers, and well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail for purposes of succinctness and clarity. Nonetheless, one or more of the disclosed principles can be incorporated in various other embodiments of internal lip protrusions and increased flow velocity volute discharge chambers to achieve any of a variety of desired outcomes, characteristics, and/or performance criteria.
Thus, internal lip protrusions and increased flow velocity volute discharge chambers having attributes that are different from those specific examples discussed herein can embody one or more of the innovative principles, and can be used in applications not described herein in detail. Accordingly, embodiments of internal lip protrusions and increased flow velocity volute discharge chambers not described herein in detail also fall within the scope of this disclosure, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art following a review of this disclosure.
Example embodiments as disclosed herein are directed to flat blower fan devices that can be used in cooling systems to dissipate high heat loads. The flat blower fan devices may be configured on a chassis, within a chassis, or as part of an electronics system that includes heat producing electronic components to be cooled. The cooling system includes at least one flat blower fan device. The flat blower fan device may be coupled to the chassis via a fastener (e.g., bolts, screws, etc.), transporting air to heat producing electronic components to be cooled and/or to an outside of the chassis or electronics system.
Flat blower fans use centrifugal force for air blowing. When an impeller of a flat blower fan rotates, air is drawn into a central chamber from the surroundings. The rotating blades of the impeller push the air radially in the outlet direction at 90 degrees from the inlet direction. As air is pushed radially, centrifugal forces cause the air to accelerate to a higher-velocity before discharging at the outlet. A larger diameter impeller requiring more energy to rotate, may result in higher flow rates. However, larger flat blower fans may not be a viable option due to continued decrease in space available for operation of flat blower fans.
In some embodiments, the volute 10 includes a shroud base 13, a shroud cover 11, and a volute side wall 15, wherein the center opening 112, 132 includes a base center opening 132 and a cover center opening 112, and wherein the lip protrusion 17, 19 includes a base lip protrusion 19 and a cover lip protrusion 17. The volute side wall 15 is respectively coupled between a base perimeter edge 139 of the shroud base 13 and a cover perimeter edge 119 of the shroud cover 11. A base outlet perimeter edge 1390 of the shroud base 13, a cover outlet perimeter edge 1190 of the shroud cover 11, and a first outlet perimeter edge 1551 and a second outlet perimeter edge 1559 of the volute side wall 15 define the discharge outlet 12. The base center opening 132 is disposed at a base center of the shroud base 13. The cover center opening 112 is disposed at a cover center of the shroud cover 11. The base lip protrusion 19 is disposed at a base opening edge of the base center opening 132. The cover lip protrusion 17 is disposed at a cover opening edge of the cover center opening 112. In some embodiments, the base lip protrusion 19 and the cover lip protrusion 17 are formed by stamping, forging, or joining, or other manufacturing techniques.
In some embodiments, the shroud base 13 includes a flange impeller hub 135, and the suction inlet 1120, 1320 includes a base suction inlet 1320 and a cover suction inlet 1120. The flange impeller hub 135 is centrally disposed in the shroud base 13. The base lip protrusion 19 is between the flange impeller hub 135 and the base opening edge of the base center opening 132. The impeller 20 is rotatably coupled to the shroud base 13 via the driving hub 21 and the flange impeller hub 135. The base suction inlet 1320 is defined by the flange impeller hub 135 and the base center opening 132. The cover suction inlet 1120 is defined by the driving hub 21 and the cover center opening 112.
In some embodiments, the flat blower fan device 100 further comprises a plurality of fasteners 30, and the volute side wall 15 comprises a plurality of fasteners holes 152, the shroud cover 11 comprise a plurality of cover fastener openings 1102, and the shroud base 13 comprises a plurality of base fastener openings 1302. After the impeller 20 is rotatably coupled to the shroud base 13 via the driving hub 21 and the flange impeller hub 135, the shroud cover 11 is fastened to the volute side wall 15 and the shroud base 13 via each plurality of fasteners 30 being fastened through each plurality of cover fastener openings 1102, each plurality of fasteners holes 152, and then through each plurality of base fastener openings 1302.
In some embodiments, the volute side wall 15 includes an outlet side wall portion 155. The outlet side wall portion 155 includes a protrusion. The outlet side wall portion 155 is coupled at the first outlet perimeter edge 1551 and the protrusion protrudes in a direction toward the second outlet perimeter edge 1559 and protrudes in a direction at an end of the constricted chamber zone 153.
In some embodiments, the flat blower fan device 100, further includes a rotation axis A and a constricted chamber zone rotation angle θ1, 02. The lip protrusion 17, 19 includes an arc length. The arc length is defined from a first end 1701, 1901 of the lip protrusion 17, 19 to a second end 1709, 1909 of the lip protrusion 17, 19. The rotation axis A is defined by an impeller center (or rotation axis A) of the impeller 20. The constricted chamber zone rotation angle θ1, θ2 is defined by a rotation amount respectively measured from the rotation axis A to the first end 1701, 1901 and the second end 1709, 1909. The constricted chamber zone rotation angle θ1, θ2 is between 45 degrees and 180 degrees, inclusive.
In some embodiments, each plurality of blades 23 include a blade root 233 and a blade edge 235. The blade root 233 is coupled at the driving hub 21. The blade edge 235 is disposed on an opposite end of the blade root 233. The blade root 233 has a root width RW and the blade edge 235 has an edge width EW. The edge width EW is greater than the root width RW. In some embodiments, the cover lip protrusion 17 includes a lip cover constriction wall 172 and a lip cover ledge 171, and the base lip protrusion 19 includes a lip base constriction wall 192 and a lip base ledge 191. The lip cover constriction wall 172 is between the lip cover ledge 171 and the cover center opening 112 and protrudes at a cover oblique angle toward an interior of the flat blower fan device 100. The lip base constriction wall 192 is between the lip base ledge 191 and the base center opening 132 and protrudes at a base oblique angle toward the interior of the flat blower fan device 100. The base lip protrusion 19 is omega-shaped. The cover oblique angle and the base oblique angle are angles in a direction towards each other. In some embodiments, a constriction height CH is defined as a distance between the lip cover ledge 171 and the lip base ledge 191. The constriction height CH is equal to or less than the edge width EW.
Airflow refers to the circulation of air measured in terms of cubic feet per minute (CFM). Static pressure refers to the pressure of the air at rest or not in motion in a duct or system measured in terms of millimeters of water (mmAq). The static pressure represents the resistance or impedance that the flat blower fan and prior art blower fan 90 may overcome. Airflow and static pressure have a negative correlation. When airflow increases, static pressure decreases, and when static pressure increases, airflow decreases.
As illustrated, the PQ curve for the flat blower fan device 100 from the point of zero airflow (11.23 mmAq) through the “stable” portion of the curve where most flat blower fans are selected to operate (right side portion), is greater than the prior art blower fan 90 from the point of zero airflow (9.64 mmAq) through the “stable” portion of the curve. Thus, given a same airflow, the resistance the flat blower fan device 100 is able to overcome is greater than the resistance the prior art blower fan 90 is able to overcome. As further illustrated, given a same static pressure, the airflow velocity of the flat blower fan device 100 is greater than the airflow velocity of the prior art blower fan 90 Accordingly, the output and efficiency of the flat blower fan device 100 was tested to be greater than the prior art blower fan 90.
One challenge with increasing blower fan performance without increasing specifications, such as size and power, is also not negatively increasing noise level of blower fans. Sound power measurements were taken for the flat blower fan device 100 and the prior art blower fan 90 in compliance with ISO3744 and ISO3745 specification standards. RPM was set at 4,500 RPM for both blower fans, and the distance between the blower fans and the stationary microphone was 0.2 meters. The results showed that the average noise levels for the flat blower fan device 100, given the greater output and efficiency, was slightly higher than the average noise levels for the prior art blower fan 90 by 0.1 dB (A). As it is commonly accepted that the softest sound that an average person can hear is 0 dB, sound at 0.1 dB (A) noise levels may be considered as being nearly silent. Thus, a 0.1 dB (A) difference in average noise level between the flat blower fan device 100 and the prior art blower fan 90 may be considered as being negligible.
The constricted chamber zone 153 increases output and efficiency performance without noticeably increasing noise level of the flat blower fan devices 100/100A/100B of the embodiments. When the impeller 20 of the flat blower fan devices 100/100A/100B rotate, air is drawn into the impeller chamber through the base suction inlet 1320 and the cover suction inlet 1120 from the surroundings. The rotating plurality of blades 23 of the impeller 20 push the air radially to the discharge outlet 12 at 90 degrees from the inlet direction. As air is pushed radially, centrifugal forces cause airflow to accelerate to a higher-velocity. Before being discharged at the discharge outlet 12, the airflow enters the constricted chamber zone 153 formed by the beveled zone 173, 193 enabled by the lip protrusion 17, 19. In the constricted chamber zone 153, air pressure is lowered and airflow is further accelerated to an even higher-velocity. As tested, the airflow velocity of the flat blower fan device 100 is increased over the prior art blower fan 90, with negligible effect on noise level. The arc length of the lip protrusion 17, 19 is defined via the constricted chamber zone rotation angle θ1, θ2 to be between 45 degrees and 180 degrees, inclusive. Thus, flat blower fan devices 100/100A/100B with increased output and efficiency performance without increasing specifications, such as size and power, and without increasing noticeable noise levels, is provided.
Therefore, embodiments disclosed herein are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments disclosed may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The embodiments illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein. While compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some number. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the elements that it introduces.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202311494718.6 | Nov 2023 | CN | national |
