Efficiency Optimization for a Frictionless Air Flow Blade Fan - Design Study

This paper resumes the frictionless fan concept which was introduced at itherm 2012 [1]. This concept was based on a flexible polymer blade, the vibration of which is, as opposite to the piezoelectric driven fan principle, driven by means of a magnetic field. This type of fan can be of interest in regions where otherwise the fluid flow would be stagnant. This paper presents the results of a further in depth design study to reduce power loss and form factor as well as to optimize fan efficiency. Therefore, different blade materials and shapes, different sheet materials for the inductive stimulation as well as the influence of coil shape, value and number were under investigation. As a result, the size could be reduced by half and the efficiency could be doubled. A maximum flow rate of 14 l/min and a static pressure of 3 Pa at 240 mW fan power could be reached.