Piezoelectric ceramic bimorph coupled to thin metal plate as cooling fan for electronic devices

Several types of piezoelectric fans for cooling electronic devices were con structed and tested at 60 Hz, 110 V and 220 V, respectively. The aim of the work is to investigate the possibility of replacing the rotary type of fan in some noise-sensitive electronic devices. Different vibrating metal plat es were tested and analyzed theoretically. It is found that the resonant fr equency of the vibrating plate decreases with the increase of its length (l ) if the length of the piezoelectric ceramic bimorph (L) is kept construct. The series-type fan with l = 31.8 mm, made of phosphor bronze vibrating pl ate (S6), shows the highest value of fan tip displacement of 35.5 mm and pr oduced wind velocity of 3.1 m/s driven by a 220 V, 60 Hz power source. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.