C-Fans, A Breakthrough Hybrid Fan Technology

Compression Fans (C-Fans) are a hybrid convergence of centrifugal fans, positive displacement air compression, mechanical resonance and frictionless operation.

C-Fan’s synergistic combination of these technologies provides the new fan architecture needed for powerful air performance at low noise levels with extreme life and reliability.

These are the new fan performance specs being sought for thermal management in key strategic and emerging technology markets.

AIR PERFORMANCE

The air pressure delivered by a fan is proportional to the square of its air velocity. Rotary fans depend exclusively on blade velocities to create air velocity and so a rotary fan must increase its RPM to increase pressure.

C-Fan instantaneous air velocity is the result of (1) the centrifugal acceleration of the air along the surface of the blade and (2) the time-dependent air exit area and (3) the added air pressurization of the reciprocating air volume between the blades. More than 50% of a C-Fan’s pressure is driven by this reciprocating air volume, which enables C-Fan air pressure levels at much lower blade velocities compared to rotary fans. Stated differently, the C-Fan can deliver much higher pressures compared to rotary fans for a given operating frequency and flow rate.

The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) video shows the cyclic pressures created within the reciprocating volume.

dELIVERING lOWER nOISE lEVELS

The primary sources of fan noise are blade pass frequency (BPF), blade tip velocities (BTV) and rotary bearing mechanical noise. For rotary fans, BPF = the number of blades multiplied by the revolutions per second. For C-Fans BPF = the operating frequency multiplied by 2.

C-Fans address all three sources of noise by delivering a given flow and pressure at much lower BPF and BTV, and eliminating rotary bearings and their noise. The table shows how C-Fan noise metrics compare with the industry’s best-in-class centrifugal rotary fans.

Robust Longevity

Rotary fan bearings fail prematurely in hot harsh conditions due to accelerated evaporation of lubricants. C-Fan eliminates bearings with its innovative design, where fan blades pivot on infinite life springs. This new fan architecture enables operation in hostile environments, free of the high temperature or contamination-induced failures of rotary fan bearings.

Adaptive Form Factor

C-Fans bring new features to your product innovations with an adaptive form-factor that can be varied in all dimensions. This unique feature can enable new product platforms and architectures. NeoFan collaborates with your team to design custom fans that adapt to your new product architectures. We look forward to providing C-Fan solutions to enable your innovate new product designs.