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Characteristics and Analysis of Cooling Fan Noise

The noise produced by a cooling fan is an inevitable byproduct of its operation, and its characteristics are closely related to factors such as the fan's structure, operating status, and environment. In-depth analysis of these characteristics not only helps us judge the working condition of the fan but also provides a basis for noise reduction design. The following explanations are divided into three aspects: the characteristic performance of the noise, the causes of its generation, and the analysis methods: I. Characteristic Performance of Cooling Fan Noise The noise of a cooling fan is not a pure tone with a single frequency but a superposition of multiple components, mainly having the following characteristics: 1. Frequency Characteristics Low-frequency noise: Generally refers to sounds with a frequency below 200Hz, mostly generated by mechanical vibrations of the fan (such as bearing friction, resonance caused by unbalanced fan blades). It is characterized by long propagation distance, strong penetration, and gives people a dull and oppressive feeling. Mid-frequency noise: With a frequency between 200Hz and 2000Hz, it mainly comes from the turbulent disturbance when the fan blades cut through the air. It is the main component of fan noise and sounds relatively "noisy". High-frequency noise: With a frequency above 2000Hz, it is mostly caused by airflow separation at the edge of the fan blades, high-frequency vibration of the motor, or friction in assembly gaps. It manifests as a sharp "hissing" or "buzzing" sound, which is highly irritating to the human ear. 2. Intensity Characteristics (Sound Pressure Level) The intensity of sound is measured by the sound pressure level (unit: decibel, dB). The sound pressure level of a fan is usually between 20dB (quiet environment) and 60dB (relatively noisy), which is directly related to the rotational speed: the higher the rotational speed, the faster the fan blades cut through the air, and the greater the sound pressure level (generally, for every 10% increase in rotational speed, the sound pressure level increases by about 2-3dB). 3. Time Characteristics Steady-state noise: When the fan is running normally, if the rotational speed is stable, the noise intensity and frequency remain basically unchanged (such as a cooling fan rotating at a constant speed), which is classified as steady-state noise. Unsteady noise: When the fan's rotational speed fluctuates (such as during the speed regulation process of an intelligent temperature-controlled fan), foreign objects adhere to the fan blades, or the bearings are worn, the noise will change over time, showing as sounds that are "fluctuating in volume" or "intermittent". II. Analysis of the Causes of Cooling Fan Noise The sources of fan noise can be divided into aerodynamic noise and mechanical noise: 1. Aerodynamic Noise (Main Source) Generated by the interaction between the fan blades and air, specifically including: Vortex noise: When the fan blades rotate, a boundary layer of airflow is formed on their surface. When the airflow separates at the edge of the fan blades, a large number of vortices are generated. The formation and collapse of these vortices cause air vibration, resulting in noise (the higher the rotational speed and the more irregular the shape of the fan blades, the more obvious the vortex noise). Rotational noise: The fan blades periodically cut through the air, causing periodic changes in air pressure, forming pulsed noise. The frequency is related to the number of fan blades and the rotational speed (formula: frequency = rotational speed × number of fan blades / 60. For example, a 4-blade fan with a rotational speed of 3000RPM has a frequency of 3000×4/60 = 200Hz). 2. Mechanical Noise Generated by the movement or vibration of the internal mechanical structure of the fan: Bearing noise: Sliding bearings (oil-containing bearings) produce relatively large friction noise, which will intensify as the service time increases (due to lubricating oil loss); ball bearings have relatively small friction noise, but improper assembly (such as excessive clearance) may produce "ball impact sound". Vibration noise: When the center of gravity of the fan blades does not coincide with the rotation axis (unbalanced), centrifugal force will be generated, causing the overall vibration of the fan, which in turn triggers resonance of the housing or mounting components, producing low-frequency noise; uneven clearance between the motor rotor and stator can also generate vibration noise due to fluctuations in electromagnetic force. Friction noise: Friction between the fan blades and the frame, wires, or other components, or irregular friction caused by dust adhering to the fan blades, will produce high-frequency abnormal sounds. III. Analysis Methods of Cooling Fan Noise Analyzing fan noise through professional means can locate the source of noise and optimize the design: 1. Subjective Evaluation Rel

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