Compact Model of a Screen under Fan-Induced Swirl Conditions Using a Porous Media Approach

Abstract

A perforated plate in an electronic device is typically placed downstream of an axial fan (push cooling) in order to avoid electromagnetic interferences. Because of the swirling component in the flow approaching the screen, determining how the screen affects the flow pattern downstream of the screen is a challenge. It is important to understand this interaction, as the correct location of the electronic components will depend on the flow pattern (the components that dissipate more heat will be located where the maximum magnitude of the velocity is located). This work aims to present an approach of the flow pattern via a compact model based on three directional pressure loss coefficients. The values for the pressure loss coefficients are obtained through different correlations depending on the flow and geometric characteristics for the case that is being modeled. These correlations are obtained through an iterative process that compares different flow patterns obtained through different modeling strategies: the compact one that is presented in this paper and another detailed one, which was validated in previous works. Results show that if this compact model is used, an approximation of the flow pattern could be obtained with a huge decrease in the amount of time invested.

Special Issue on the Advances in Fluid Mechanics

“…The second paper, authored by Tan, L. et al, provides another review on the effect of blade wrap angle on the hydrodynamic radial force of a single blade centrifugal pump [2] through numerical simulation because the dissipation losses show a decreasing trend as the blade wrap angle increases, suggesting that the available blade wrap angle for the pump should be in a well-defined angle, to achieve a better hydraulic performance and stable flow field. Finally, in the third paper, Bengoechea, A. et al [3] presented an approach to the flow pattern of axial fans via a compact model based on three directional pressure loss coefficients comparing several flow patterns obtained through different modeling strategies, highlighting a porous media; thus, a significant reduction in the time needed to create the mesh as it is not necessary to generate the geometries of the pores, being a great advantage.…”