Airflow study and acceptance criteria for fan testing in automotive Infotainment systems = Airflow study and acceptance criteria for fan testing in automotive Infotainment systems

Infotainment system is composed of many devices, the overall structure is managed by a central ECU (Electronic Control Unit). Within ECU platform development, validation and testing processes play a fundamental role in obtaining high-quality product. One of the first issues to take into account during development is heat extraction from the ECU, for that purpose a small DC axial fan is used to generate forced convection inside the box and dissipate most of the heat from the PCBs. Emerged the need to test and validate the fan cooling functions. In order to generate a testing process, the fan volumetric flow rate extracted as well as the temperature and humidity of extracted air are evaluated conveying the flow into a Venturi tube fabricated using Additive Manufacturing, performing measurements with digital sensors. CFD analysis is also carried out to compare the results with the empirical data. The target has been achieved by setting up a standard procedure to verify the correct functioning of the fan.