The basic premise of heat dissipation in & around electronics that makes fan assemblies an absolutely critical component that is not to be underrated. For those who live in areas of the world where summer heat can be intense, the simple act of sitting by a fan can make even the hottest temperatures feel less so. This movement of air allows one’s body to cool down & reset itself for more activity. Considering the amount of tasks modern electronics are made to complete in small amounts of time, it is no wonder that high levels of heat can build up during operation.
Fan assemblies are ubiquitous in the electronics world simply because without them, sensitive components would be in danger of damage or irreparable harm. In applications where there is no fan assembly directly built into the system, an exterior fan is often brought in to help with heat dissipation.
A prime example of this can be seen in vacuum tube-based guitar amplification, an application about as far away from ‘modern’ electronics as one might imagine. Amplifiers using tubes create a lot of heat over time, which is why there is venting incorporated into their construction. However, stages both large & small employ fans of different sizes to aid in heat dissipation so as to not cause damage to amplifiers.
But there is a distinct difference between using an exterior fan versus a built-in fan assembly. Electronic apparatuses designed & engineered with fan assemblies in their construction need to account for a number of things. For example:
Knowing What Is/Will Be Powering the Assembly — A motor runs the fan, but where will the power for the motor be derived? The source of input power, as well as the voltage, need to be spec’d out in order to find the proper fan assembly.
Airflow Parameters — Airflow for a fan assembly is looked at in terms of cubic feet per meter (CFM). Two things need to be accounted for: 1) the airflow against static pressure; and 2) how airflow changes with respect to backpressure during operation.
Type of Fan for Application — Axial, cross flow, centrifugal, each has its own set of optimal operating parameters based on the application for which it is used. It is also important to note what type of size is required for the application. The dimensions within which the assembly is to work will be imperative when trying to find an ideal solution. Keep in mind that size of the fan is not necessarily indicative of the amount of airflow to be created.
Finally, for some the “be all, end all” factor in fan assemblies, it is important to work with the right manufacturing & supplying partner. Competition in fan assemblies & other electronics component manufacturing has been heating up (pun intended) for years, especially with the influx of lower-quality, bargain-basement priced goods flooding the market at both the consumer & commercial/industrial level.
Companies looking to save a buck or two are prone to opting for electronics at the lowest price because it is easier on their operating budget. The sad irony with this thinking is that with the right manufacturer/supplier, these same companies could have ideal solutions be designed & engineering to meet their needs AND work within their budget constraints.
Trust your fan assemblies to a company who has spent nearly 60 years defining electronics. Click here to connect with the experts at LoDan Electronics, Inc. today.