Abstract

Microscale axial flow fans were investigated in response to the growing cooling requirements of the electronics industry. The two main challenges of this investigation were manufacture of a fully functional fan at the microscale, and performance reduction due to Reynolds number effect. Manufacture of a fully functional axial microfan complete with three-dimensional blade geometry was proven possible using microelectrodischarge machining techniques. Experimental performance measurements proved that Reynolds number effect was not prohibitive at the microscale, and dimensional analysis thereof derived a novel linear scaling method, which quickly and accurately predicted the Reynolds number effect at any fan scale.

Issue Section:
Flows in Complex Systems
Keywords:
electrical discharge machining, fans, microfluidics, air, axial, British standards, cooling, EDM, fan, flow rate, laminar, micro, pressure, Reynolds
Topics:
Fans, Flow (Dynamics), Pressure, Reynolds number, Electrical discharge machining
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