ZAWARD Thermal Technology Insights
 

 
Bearing Type and Lifetime
 

 
In the mainstream of thermal solution, cooling fans take a major place. When choosing a fan, fan longevity, mounting, noise and rotation speed are factors to consider. And life expectancy is one of the most important factors of fan’s performance. Bearing system and the working environment are dominants of fan’s life expectancy.
 
TWO BALL BEARING:

Ball bearings consist of two hardened metal rings, one inside the other, separated by a set number of perfectly spherical steel balls spaced equilaterally with a bearing cage. The balls run along concave grooves set into each of the rings. There is a thin film in the ball system that could reduce the friction, dispatch the heat, prevent corrosion and extend the bearing life.

Higher temperatures tolerance
Longer lifetime
Higher cost
Higher noise level
 
SLEEVE BEARING:

Sleeve bearings are fundamental in design and are used commonly in thermal solutions. These bearing are made of hard metals that are typically pressed into porous forms by powder metallurgy. The bearings are generally impregnated with oil which could be lubrication to reduce friction.

Affordable and cost-effective
Maintain a relatively quiet noise level
Volatile at fluctuating temperatures
 
DURO SLEEVE BEARING:
 

Duro Sleeve bearing is an excellent production technology with precise internal structure and oil re-flow direction design reduces the gap between bearing and shaft, which can decrease noise coming from the friction of bearing and shaft.

 
  • Low noise
  • Long lifetime
  • Reduce friction which may cause damage
  • Increase fan’s efficiency and reduce power consumption
 

FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING:
 
The fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) was originally used HDD. It was modified from a sleeve bearing to improve the lubrication of the bearing and increased the life span of the fan. The difference is its precision of technology where we are able to see the inner of the bearing having herringbone-shaped inner grooves designed for oil flow.
Lubricating oil drifts along the cannelure and centralizes on the bend which causes high-pressure oil film generation and prevents the leakage.

 
  • Greatest life span than other slide bearings (EX. Sleeve)
  • Lowest noise than other bearings
  • Higher Impact Resistance than ball bearing
  • Low power consumption
Here is the comparison sheet for all of the bearing systems
 

 
The following table lists the bearing types and their life expectancy under normal working environment.
 

 
Besides AC/DC Fans, ZAWARD also manufactures different processes of heat sinks, such as extrusion, skiving, forging, CNC machining, and stamping. For more information, please visit our website. If you have any questions, we are always at your disposal, please contact us at any time.
 

 
With best regards, 
ZAWARD CORPORATION
 

 
Carmen Chen/ Managing Director