The effect of varying heat sink fin distances from cooling fan blade tip on noise emissions

Authors

  • Helen Ule Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ont.
  • Colin Novak Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ont.
  • Robert Gaspar Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ont.

Keywords:

Acoustic emissions, Acoustic noise, Force control, Heat sinks, Microprocessor chips, Optimization, Acoustic product evaluation, Cooling fins, Graphics processing Units (GPU)

Abstract

The development of the advanced cooling devices to dissipate the heat generated by Graphics processing Units (GPU) and noise minimization of the cooling fans, are described. The affect of the distance between the fan blade tips and the sink fins on the acoustic emissions are also experimentally investigated. The generation of cooling fan noise is caused as a result of dynamic force variations between the surface of the fan blade and the immediate surrounding air. The acoustic product evaluation of computer graphics card cooling noise should include sound quality or psychoacoustic analysis. The experimental results reveal that pressure level is greatest for the 1mm and 4mm spacing between the fan tip and cooling fins. For very close clearance spacing between the blade tip and cooling fin, a prominent mechanism of noise generation is present. The generation and presence of acoustic emissions is the result of the two mechanisms of noise generation.

Additional Files

Published

2006-09-01

How to Cite

1.
Ule H, Novak C, Gaspar R. The effect of varying heat sink fin distances from cooling fan blade tip on noise emissions. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2006 Sep. 1 [cited 2026 Apr. 30];34(3):80-1. Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/1831

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 3 (2006)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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