High CFM Fan Airfoil: Expert Guide

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design and functionality of high CFM fans, particularly focusing on the presence and role of stator airfoils in conjunction with rotor blades. Participants explore the implications of these designs for applications such as magnetron cooling and compare them to standard computer fans.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that high-speed fans for magnetron cooling have a stator behind the rotor, suggesting it converts circumferential velocity into axial velocity, and questions why this design isn't standard in all fans.
  • Another participant proposes that the decision not to include a stator in regular computer fans may be due to cost and effort considerations.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that incorporating a stator could also be a matter of volume saving, as a twin rotor design would require a thicker case for structural integrity.
  • One participant questions the necessity of a stator if the primary function is simply to blow air, implying that swirl may not be a significant concern.
  • Another participant elaborates that the configuration seen in high CFM fans is similar to that used in gas turbines and aircraft engines, where rotor and stator arrangements improve pressure ratios, but acknowledges that such designs would increase bulk and cost in fans.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity and practicality of stator airfoils in fan design, with no consensus reached on whether their absence in standard fans is primarily due to cost, design constraints, or functional considerations.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss various assumptions regarding the design choices of fan manufacturers, including considerations of cost, volume, and airflow efficiency, without resolving the implications of these factors.

HotFurnace
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Hi airfoil experts,

I brought two high speed fan for magnetron cooling, and upon destroying one due to my mishandling of the stuff, I found out these fan have surprising nice airfoil. See the pictures and you will understand their construction.

The rotor part looks just like a normal air flow computer fan, but in addition, there is a stator part, right behind the rotor. I think it is for conversion of the circumferential component of the velocity into axial component, but if is so then why don't they use this design instead? (see the animated gif)

And why manufacturer decided not to incorporate a stator airfoil in addition to the rotor's in a usual computer fan? They seem to reserve the stator for high CFM fan only, but even then some still don't have them. For cost saving maybe?
 

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HotFurnace said:
And why manufacturer decided not to incorporate a stator airfoil in addition to the rotor's in a usual computer fan? They seem to reserve the stator for high CFM fan only, but even then some still don't have them. For cost saving maybe?
Looks like volume saving. Twin rotor would require thicker case to keep both sets of plastic blades rigid enough.
 
Does one really need the stator if one if just blowing air?
So what if there is a swirl to air.
 
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HotFurnace said:
Hi airfoil experts,

I brought two high speed fan for magnetron cooling, and upon destroying one due to my mishandling of the stuff, I found out these fan have surprising nice airfoil. See the pictures and you will understand their construction.

The rotor part looks just like a normal air flow computer fan, but in addition, there is a stator part, right behind the rotor. I think it is for conversion of the circumferential component of the velocity into axial component, but if is so then why don't they use this design instead? (see the animated gif)

And why manufacturer decided not to incorporate a stator airfoil in addition to the rotor's in a usual computer fan? They seem to reserve the stator for high CFM fan only, but even then some still don't have them. For cost saving maybe?

The configuration (in gif image) posted is likely or ideally used in gas turbine/aircraft engines since the air passes through a series of rotor and stator eventually achieving a better pressure ratio for the combustion, here in this fan using that kind of configuration will make it bulkier and obviously increases the cost. Adding a stator at the end guides the flow, they act like guide vanes.
 

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