Elevated heat dissipation and simultaneous reductions in package sizes are well documented for a range of electronics systems. The problem is heightened in portable systems where the space available for the implementation of an active cooling methodology is limited and conventional cooling products are too large. Using micro scale radial flow fans is a potential solution. However, little is known about the aerodynamic effects of reducing the fan scale and therefore Reynolds number to the extent required for typical portable electronic applications. This paper investigates this issue, by quantifying the reduction in aerodynamic performance which accompanies the reductions in scale. To do this, geometrically similar radial flow fans were fabricated with diameters ranging from 80 to 10mm. Measurements of the rotors’ geometries are presented, showing a high degree of geometric similarity between the fans. The aerodynamic performance of each of the fans was measured. Non-dimensional performance of each of the larger fans were almost identical, while the performance plot of the smallest fan differed significantly from the others. The paper tentatively concludes that a fundamental change in flow phenomena has emerged in the smallest scale fan which has altered its aerodynamic characteristics.
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ASME 2005 Summer Heat Transfer Conference collocated with the ASME 2005 Pacific Rim Technical Conference and Exhibition on Integration and Packaging of MEMS, NEMS, and Electronic Systems
July 17–22, 2005
San Francisco, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Heat Transfer Division and Electronic and Photonic Packaging Division
ISBN:
0-7918-4734-9
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
The Effect of Reynolds Number on the Aerodynamic Performance of Micro Radial Flow Fans
K. Hanly,
K. Hanly
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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R. Grimes,
R. Grimes
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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E. Walsh,
E. Walsh
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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B. Rodgers,
B. Rodgers
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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J. Punch
J. Punch
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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K. Hanly
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
R. Grimes
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
E. Walsh
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
B. Rodgers
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
J. Punch
University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Paper No:
HT2005-72514, pp. 549-552; 4 pages
Published Online:
March 9, 2009
Citation
Hanly, K, Grimes, R, Walsh, E, Rodgers, B, & Punch, J. "The Effect of Reynolds Number on the Aerodynamic Performance of Micro Radial Flow Fans." Proceedings of the ASME 2005 Summer Heat Transfer Conference collocated with the ASME 2005 Pacific Rim Technical Conference and Exhibition on Integration and Packaging of MEMS, NEMS, and Electronic Systems. Heat Transfer: Volume 4. San Francisco, California, USA. July 17–22, 2005. pp. 549-552. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/HT2005-72514
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