Introduction
Noctua expanded its product portfolio with one new fan product line:The IndustrialPPC.The IndustrialPPC (Protected Performance Cooling) were designed for industrial applications where noise suppression isn't as important as advanced ingress protection.The industrialPPC line features ruggedised 2000 and 3000rpm versions of the award-winning NF-F12 and NF-A14 fans.Thanks to the outstanding aerodynamic efficiency of these designs and the use of a novel three-phase motor, the industrialPPC versions provide superior airflow and pressure capacity while keeping noise levels and power consumption moderate as against comparable high-speed fans.Their fibre-glass reinforced polyamide construction and certified water and dust protection (up to IP67) make the industrialPPC fans an ideal choice for highly demanding applications that require superior flow rates and ultimate dependability.In addition to the new fan product lines, Noctua also introduced a wide range of accessory sets to complement these fans. For example, customers can upgrade their redux or industrialPPC fans with anti-vibration mounts (NA-SAV2), Low-Noise Adaptors (NA-SRC7 & NA-SRC10), extension cables (NA-SEC1 & NA-SEC2) or y-cables (NA-SYC1 & NA-SYC2).
Available models:
Packaging and Bundle
The packaging seem fairly serious.The box design for all eight models looks exactly the same, minus the information being presented.
The boxes dont follow the typical Noctua colour scheme that we've seen over the last couple years.
You do get a brief summary of each fan's capabilities on the back cover.
Box contents:Only 4 Fan screws.Really spartan.
A Closer Look
The new colors is a matter of touch and individual preference.
Quality of materials is very high, and fins are designed to achieve maximum efficiency and an excellent noise to air flow ratio.
Of course, PWM model has a native 4-pin connector and can be controlled via motherboard.
When you first go to the product page for the Redux fans on Noctua's website, you'll be bombarded with a feature list that's probably larger than any fan feature list you've seen in the past. Noctua has an incredible attention to detail when it comes to features and design choices on their fans and although it's hard to say just how much of an impact some of them have without having access to an aerodynamic test lab, they do do a great job of selling you on them. Let's take a closer look at some of the unique design features you'll see on these fans.
While most axial fans use single-phase motors with 4 slots, Noctua's industrialPPC fans feature a three-phase design with 6 slots, which provides smoother transitions between the slots and thus allows for even higher running smoothness, further reduced vibrations and unprecedented energy efficiency.
Typical single phase axial fan motors have 4 stator slots and a permanent magnet rotor ring with 4 poles. This configuration results in a 1:1 ratio between slots and poles. When the first pair of slot coils are powered up, the poles of the rotor magnet align with them. At the next stage, the second pair of coils is powered and the poles of the rotor magnet will turn by 90 to align. While motor torque is high when the rotor poles are between the stator slots (45), it drops off when the poles are aligned (90) and only goes up again when the poles are between the next set of slots (135).Noctua's three phase motor has 6 stator slots and a permanent magnet rotor ring with 4 poles, which results in a 3:2 ratio between slots and poles. This configuration has two key advantages: Firstly, due to the higher amount of slots and the slots being grouped in three rather than in two pairs, the switching between the slots occurs at a higher frequency, so torque variations are generally more evened out. Secondly and more importantly though, due to the uneven ratio between slots and poles, poles and slots always overlap. As there is no situation where all the poles and slots align, there is no situation where torque drops off completely and where the fan spins only from momentum until torque kicks in again. Rather than having a single reoccurring drive phase with torque dropping off in between the peaks, the motor has three overlapping phases that all contribute to the overall torque. As a result, there is much less variation in overall torque compared to standard single-phase motors. This more continuous, steady torque profile results in generally improved running smoothness, a significant reduction in torque-borne vibrations and a further reduction in energy consumption.While Noctua's NE-FD1 equipped NF-F12 and NF-A14 retail fans are amongst the most energy efficient fans in their classes, the industrialPPC versions with three-phase motors and NE-FD2 IC are even more efficient by around 10%: For example, the standard retail version of NF-A14 requires about 2.25W to run at 2000rpm whereas the industrialPPC version requires only 2.0W at the same speed. This further reduction in power consumption makes the industrialPPC fans ideal for various fields such as automotive industries, aeronautics or home appliances where, more and more often, energy efficiency is a key factor.
Designed for superior performance in pressure demanding applications such as heatsinks and radiators, the Focused Flow frame features eleven stator guide vanes that straighten, channel and focus the airflow, which allows the NF-F12 to rival the performance of conventional fans running at much faster speeds.
The NF-F12's stator guide vanes are set out in Varying Angular Distance and feature Vortex-Control Notches. Both measures help to spread the noise emission over a broader frequency spectrum and thus make the fan's sound pattern more agreeable to the human ear.
Moving over the stator guide vanes, the fan blades create pressure pulses. This type of rotor-stator interaction significantly contributes to the fan's overall noise emission. With a uniform distribution of the stator vanes, the relative geometrical constellation of the rotor blades and the stator guide vanes is identical each time the rotor moves over the next stator vane. This means that each time a stator vane is passed by a rotor blade, the same pressure pulses are created. Acoustically, these periodic pulses lead to noises at distinct frequencies and manifest themselves as frequency spikes in the fan's acoustic spectrum, giving it a more tonal and distinguishable character. To avoid this phenomenon, the NF-F12's stator guide vanes are set out in Varying Angular Distance (between 31 and 37). Due to this measure, the geometrical situation between the rotor and the stator parts is slightly different each time the rotor moves over the next stator vane, which results in aerodynamically different pressure pulses and hence spreads the noise emission over a broader frequency range. Producing a less tonal and more broadband acoustic profile, the VAD stator guide vanes make the fan more agreeable to the human ear and let it blend into the background noise more easily.
First introduced with the Noctua's much acclaimed NF-P12 fan, Vortex-Control Notches are an advanced aerodynamic design measure that serves a twofold purpose: Firstly, Vortex-Control Notches make the flows along the suction and the pressure side of the blades or stator guide vanes mix more smoothly at the trailing edge, allowing for less turbulence and velocity loss, which leads to increased efficiency and reduced noise emission.
Secondly, Vortex-Control Notches also help to make the fan's acoustic profile more pleasant to the human ear. Due to the Vortex-Control Notches, trailing edge vortices are split up into several smaller vortices, each having slightly different tonal characteristics. This has a similar effect as the Varying Angular Distance of the stator guide vanes insofar as the noise emission is spread over a wider range of frequencies and frequency spikes are reduced. As a result, the fan's noise pattern is perceived as much less annoying and more agreeable to the human ear.
Both the impeller and the frame of Noctua's industrialPPC fans are made entirely from fibre-glass reinforced polyamide. This material can withstand temperatures up to 140C and makes the fans even more robust and break-proof than Noctua's standard fibre-glass reinforced PBT fans.
Thanks to a special varnish coating that covers the motor and PCB, the NF-F12 industrialPPC complies with the ingress protection rating IP52. This means that it is not only highly dust resistant but also withstands dripping water equivalent to 3mm rainfall per minute.
Custom designed for the new Focused Flow frame and to work in tandem with the eleven stator guide vanes, the NF-F12's seven blade Heptaperf impeller has been carefully optimised to achieve a perfect balance between power and quietness.
Noctua's AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frames feature integrated anti-vibration pads as well as Noctua's proprietary Stepped Inlet Design and Inner Surface Microstructures, both of which further refine the fan's performance/noise efficiency.
Noctua's Stepped Inlet Design is an advanced aerodynamic design measure first introduced with the NF-F12 fan. By adding turbulence to the fan's influx, the Stepped Inlet Design facilitates the transition from laminar to turbulent flow. This measure has an effect similar to the dimple structure of a golf ball in so far as it leads to better flow attachment to the frame, which allows the impeller to suck in more air and hence improves overall airflow efficiency.In addition to these aerodynamic benefits, the Stepped Inlet Design also reduces tonal intake noises caused by laminar inflow due to it being transformed to turbulent flow, which produces a more broadband noise profile. This way, the Stepped Inlet Design helps to refine the fan's acoustic qualities by letting it blend into the background noise more easily and making it more agreeable to the human ear.
Inner Surface Microstructures are an advanced aerodynamic design measure first introduced with Noctua's NF-F12 fan. Miniature dents at the inside of the fan frame create a turbulent boundary layer when the fan blades pass by. With the tips of the fan blades ploughing through this boundary layer, flow separation from the suction side of the blades is significantly reduced. As suction side flow separation is a major source of axial fan blade passing noise and leads to considerable losses in airflow and pressure efficiency, the use of Inner Surface Microstructures allows for lower noise emission and better performance at the same time. Reducing undesired turbulences caused by suction side flow separation, Inner Surface Microstructures help Noctua?s latest fans to keep pushing the boundaries in performance to noise efficiency.
Integrated Anti-Vibration Pads made from extra-soft silicone minimise the transmission of minute vibrations while maintaining full compatibility with all standard mounting systems and fan clips used on heatsinks.
The self-stabilising oil-pressure bearing (SSO-Bearing) system has always been at the heart of Noctua's award-winning premium fans. Silent enthusiasts and industry clients alike swear by its proven, time-tested quality. SSO combines the proven concept of oil-based hydrodynamic bearings with an additional magnet that supports the self-stabilisation of the rotor axis. Due to the axis being stabilised by the magnetic field, Noctua's SSO Bearing achieves higher precision and better longevity than conventional ball-, sleeve- or hydrodynamic bearings.SSO2 is the further optimised second generation of SSO. Made possible by the use of metal bearing shells and new injection moulding techniques, the magnet is now placed closer to the rotor axis and thus exerts higher magnetic force to it. This results in even better stabilisation, precision and durability.
In order to guarantee the highest possible degree of manufacturing precision, minimum tolerance and excellent long-term stability, Noctua's newest 120mm and 140mm models sport a CNC milled bearing shell made entirely from brass.
Combining advanced safety features with superb low-noise operation and class-leading energy efficiency, Noctua's custom-designed NE-FD2 is a premium grade fan driver IC for three-phase DC motors.
The NE-FD2's enhanced protection and security features such as over current protection, reverse polarity protection, locked rotor protection or overheating protection make it ideal for fans that are designed to operate in challenging environments such as Noctua's industrialPPC series. With a maximum operating temperature of 130C, the NE-FD2 is suitable for IP67 standard fans that have the entire motor and PCB cast in resin for ultimate water- and dust-protection, which inevitably leads to higher component temperatures. If the worst comes to the worst and 130 are exceeded, the NE-FD2 will automatically shut down to prevent damage and re-start when operating temperatures are safe again. Combined with the fibre-glass reinforced polyamide material of Noctua's industrialPPC fans, which can withstand temperatures of up to 140C, this feature of the NE-FD2 IC is extremely useful for applications with excessive temperature spikes.Most conventional PWM fan driver ICs put out square signals that cause sudden torque impulses. These impulses can cause minute deformations of the entire fan structure which lead to audible clicking noises that are especially noticeable with many common PWM fans running at slower speeds. Adopting Noctua's Smooth Commutation Drive (SCD) technology, the NE-FD2 PWM IC slows down the slew rate of the output signal in order to give a smoother, less sudden torque impulse. Combined with the NE-FD2's augmented PWM drive frequency of 63kHz, well above the human hearing range, PWM switching noises can be effectively suppressed and the fan runs even quieter, especially at low speeds.
Users can choose from Noctua's wide range of optional accessories such as anti-vibration mounts, Low-Noise-Adaptors, y-cables, 3:4 pin adaptors or extension cables to upgrade redux edition fans according to their individual needs.
Test Results
A chart like this allows you to first decide how much noise you can tolerate, and pick the fan or fans with the greatest output. Noise at top speed more of a whooshing sound.
Moves a surprisingly large amount of air!
Conclusion
Noctua is known as one of the elites in the PC cooling hardware community. They have multiple award winning products and are always at the top of the performance lists. For this grouping of fans I expected much of the same. Overall I do believe that Noctua delivers.There should be no doubt that a cooling fan from Noctua is going to be a high quality product. The industrialPPC 140mm and industrialPPC 120mm provided for this review confirmed this, and showed that even in the narrower field of 120mm and 140mm fans that there are plenty of things you can do to distinguish one model from another.Fan performance is difficult to judge when it comes to industrial applications so i decided to use them in a few overclocking adventures to see how they worked.My test of choice was to keep a X79 PWM heatsink cool while i ran a several 3DMark runs at 5.3Ghz.Under normal conditions the heatsink would be too hot to touch and i am happy to report that the fan was up to the task of keeping things cool.
The fans are all high quality and will help keep your system cool.You can tell from the list of features just how much engineering and testing has gone into making these fans as efficient as possible.Aside from a very particular build scheme, you do not buy these fans for their looks, you buy them because you want performance. And buying them is certainly what you will be doing as they are very costly:
industrialPPC 140mm IP52: EUR 26.90 / USD 29.90
industrialPPC 140mm IP67: EUR 29.90 / USD 34.90
industrialPPC 120mm IP52: EUR 24.90 / USD 26.90
industrialPPC 120mm IP67: EUR 29.90 / USD 34.9
Accessory sets: EUR 5.90 / USD 7.90
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Originally Posted by NKrader
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