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Thread: Fan Filter Airflow Compared

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  1. #1
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    Fan Filter Airflow Compared

    Alright, have been meaning to test this since Round 1 of my fan testing, but kept forgetting/didn't want to do it when I remembered.

    Well, been getting started on Round 3 of my fan testing and was reminded of this.

    So I bought all the fan filters available from Petras and put them to the testbed. I have no explanation of any of the data yet, I usually put a day (or a couple months in the case of Round 2 fans) between testing and publishing to ponder/rest/graph/etc. This data is less than an hour old at the time of writing. And I expected almost none of it. This is my first time with a few of the fans too...so surprises all around!

    All filters were tested in pull (since who puts fan filters on their exhaust?).

    Fan selection was based on a desire to have:
    1) A wide range of RPM overall
    2) A variety of fans at similar RPM

    I have no intention of doing a dust test...just no good and controlled way to do it Also, no ghetto stuff yet, maybe that'll come with time or when I figure out a dust test I like.

    The fans:
    AeroCool Turbine (950RPM)
    Noctua P12 (1300RPM)
    Yate Loon D12SL-12 (1350RPM)
    Slip Stream M (1200RPM)
    S-Flex G (1900RPM)
    Panaflo U1C (2750RPM)

    The Fan Filters:
    "Wire Grille" - Click
    "Metal Mesh" - Click
    "Plastic Mesh" - Click
    "Blue Thing" - Click
    "MCR120" - Click

    Pretty graphs:
    All the airflow data:
    see below

    Airflow data of the ~50CFM fans (so it's easier to see)
    see below

    Airflow loss as a percentage, compared to open-air
    see below


    Words from me:
    I have little explanation for why the wire grille is restricting airflow so much. In fact, I just included it as a control of sorts. I'm also very surprised that some of the filters are as restrictive or more restrictive than the radiator (depending on fan). The variance from fan to fan is also a bit of a puzzle.

    I hate to hit it and quit it, but I have to run now. More from me later (tomorrow likely).

    EDIT: redid all testing on a different testbed (the one I plan to use for Round 3 of my fan roundup) and no longer had any sort of airleak issues and now have much cleaner (and better, IMO) data. See below for new graphs.
    Last edited by Vapor; 05-25-2008 at 02:11 PM. Reason: edit

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