DeepCool FT12: Evolution in 120mm format

Extra tests, Fans | | Ľubomír Samák

Everything changes with obstacles

This is a first – a fan with the leading edges of the impeller blades on the opposite side to normal ones. This is primarily done for a better view of “fans without stator struts” in cases with glass side panels. In addition, such an unconventional design also has quite clear and measurable advantages and disadvantages, also in terms of functional characteristics. Let’s take everything in turn.

Everything changes with obstacles

So far, we have described how static pressure and airflow measurements are made under conditions where the fan has no obstacles in its path. In practice, however, fans do not usually blow into an empty space, but have a filter, grille or radiator in front of or behind them, the fins of which need to be pushed through as efficiently as possible.

A set of practical obstacles with which we measure the effect on airflow, static pressure, but also noise

We will also measure both airflow and pressure through practical obstacles for the reasons stated above. These include two types of filters that are usually used in PC cases. One fine – nylon and the other plastic with a thinner mesh. One other obstacle is the hexagonal grille perforated at 50%, on which the vast majority of fans – intake and exhaust – are installed. In some cases, we measure the effect of the obstacles on the results at positions (behind or in front of the impeller) that are used in practice. All obstacles are both pushed through to detect pressure drops, but also pulled through, which in turn speaks to the impact on airflow.

We use two radiators that differ in thickness and fin density. The EK CoolStream SE120/140 is 28 mm thick and the FPI is 22, the Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 v2 is thicker (45 mm) but with less FPI. CoolStream’s fin disposition is also similar in parameters to AIOs. The results on the NexXxoS will again be attractive for those who build their own water cooling loops, where the fans should work well even at low speeds – hence the lower fin density.

These obstacles and especially the radiators, but also the grilles, increase the mechanical resistance in front of the fan, resulting in higher noise levels. However, we will still tune the fan speeds to the specified noise levels of 31 to 45 dBA. Naturally, the speeds will always be lower than when testing without obstructions, but we will maintain the noise levels for clarity. The different noise levels with and without obstacles will only be at maximum power. In this mode it will also be nice to see how the fan design works with the obstacle and in which case the noise level increases more and in which less.


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Comments (2) Add comment

  1. The results seem to indicate that this fan is optimized for RPM-normalized performance instead of noise-normalized performance, and little attention being paid to its behaviour on obstacles. Surprisingly disappointing to me especially vs. the excellent FT14.

    Reply

    1. In addition to facing significantly less competition, the FT14 has a narrower blade inclination. It’s significantly larger on the FT12 and although the frontal profile of the fan looks great, even for use on obstacles, it does have some weaknesses. Similar in nature to Arctic’s F fans, for example, although in the case of the FT12 they don’t manifest themselves as noticeably. With fans, an overall aerodynamic design is significantly more efficient for all scenarios. 🙂

      Reply

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