Which fan placement offers the most airflow for cooling electronics?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on optimizing airflow for cooling electronics using two identical fans. The first arrangement is noted for overcoming more pressure, while the second arrangement is recognized for producing greater airflow. Effective cooling depends on achieving high mass flow rather than just high air velocity, particularly at critical locations. The design of vent placement significantly influences pressure differentials and overall cooling effectiveness. Ultimately, relocating exhaust vents to higher positions in the second option is suggested to enhance cooling performance.
garyTheSnail
Messages
4
Reaction score
3
TL;DR Summary
Best fan position for airflow.
I have two identical fans to cool electronics within an enclosure. From the two drawings/options, which option offers the most airflow?
Thank you.
 

Attachments

  • fans.jpg
    fans.jpg
    12.7 KB · Views: 189
Physics news on Phys.org
russ_watters said:
The first arrangement can overcome more pressure, the second arrangement produces more airflow.
https://www.rotron.com/tech-corn/series-and-parallel
Yes, this. And you can have some control on the pressure differential with the design of your vents. Higher air velocity isn't going to help cooling too much, what you want is high mass flow (at the critical locations, of course). The answers lie in the pressure vs. flow curves for your fans combined with a rough model of the enclosure resistance, another pressure vs. flow curve.
 
  • Like
Likes garyTheSnail
Relocating both exhaust vents to higher positions, option B offers the most cooling effect.
 
  • Like
Likes garyTheSnail and russ_watters
Thank you all for the information.
 
  • Like
Likes Benjies, berkeman and Lnewqban
Pilot training is critical to safe flying. I watched the following video regarding the crash of TAM 402 (31 October 1996), which crashed into a Sao Paolo neighorbood about 25 seconds after takeoff. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAM_Transportes_A%C3%A9reos_Regionais_Flight_402 The pilots were never trained to handle such an event (the airline had asked the manufacturer about training for this event), since it was considered too improbable (so rare) by the manufacturer. There was no...
Due to the constant never ending supply of "cool stuff" happening in Aerospace these days I'm creating this thread to consolidate posts every time something new comes along. Please feel free to add random information if its relevant. So to start things off here is the SpaceX Dragon launch coming up shortly, I'll be following up afterwards to see how it all goes. :smile: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacex/
Back
Top