Axial fans are common bladed fans with three to five curved blades that draw air behind them and push it forward. They are low cost and commonly used for cooling electronics. Angled blades allow for direct air movement, while other types of fans use straight blades. Axial fans are found in many households and electronics.
An axial fan is the technical name for common bladed fans and is one of the three main types of fan. These fans usually consist of three to five blades that have a slight curve to direct the air into forward motion. These fans draw air directly behind the blades and push it forward, allowing users to pull air from one location and push it to another. The low manufacturing cost and high air movement capabilities of the axial fan make it a common cooling method for many forms of electronics and machinery.
These fans were among the first mass-produced fans on the market. The first axial fan for home use dates back to the late 1800s. With the exception of some physical and electronic safety features and the variable speed motor, the technology was nearly identical to modern fans.
Building an axial fan is actually quite simple. An internal motor is connected to a shaft which is in turn connected to multiple fan blades. The blades are angled to the shaft, usually about 45 degrees. The blades may have an angled connection, or the blades may bend as they move away from the shaft; in any case, they must have an angle to be an axial fan. When the engine turns the shaft, the shaft turns the blades and the blades move the air.
Angled blades are the cornerstone of the axial fan. They allow the impeller to draw in air directly behind the blades and forcefully push it out directly in front of the blades. This motion is performed parallel to the rotating shaft, creating a straight line of spin. This line is what gives an axial fan its name.
The other two main types of fans, centrifugal and tangential, work on a similar principle, but in a different way. These fans take in air and blow it out in a different direction. This is because they use straight blades, so the air isn’t directed like an axial fan. Straight blades create less wind resistance, so they can generally outperform a similarly sized axial fan, but their design limits their applications.
You can find axial fans in most modern households. These fans are the most common type of forced air cooling used in home electronics such as computers and televisions. Additionally, many homes use ceiling fans, box fans, or pedestal fans for air circulation. All these types of fans are usually axial fans.
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