The key factor affecting the lifespan and image quality of projectors - the core role and requirements of cooling fans

The cooling fan is the "cooling core" of the projector, and its performance directly determines the lifespan, image stability, and even noise experience of the projector.

1、 The core role of cooling fans in projectors

The heat source of the projector is highly concentrated, mainly from the light source (bulb/LED/laser) and imaging chip (DMD/LCD). The function of the cooling fan is to solve the heat accumulation of these two major heat sources in a targeted manner:
Protection of light source: The working temperature of traditional light bulb machines can reach over 300 ℃, and the fan needs to continuously remove heat to prevent the light bulb from exploding or experiencing a sudden reduction in lifespan due to overheating (the normal lifespan of light bulbs is about 2000-5000 hours, and poor heat dissipation may shorten it to within 1000 hours).
Stable chip: Imaging chips (such as DMD chips) are sensitive to temperature and are prone to "image ghosting" and "color shift" when the temperature exceeds 50 ℃. Fans need to maintain the chip in a stable operating temperature range.
Prevent overheating of the projector body: Some projectors have compact bodies and are prone to heat accumulation. The fan can accelerate air circulation inside the projector to avoid safety hazards caused by overheating of the shell.

2、 Special requirements for the cooling fan of the projector

Unlike laptops and other devices, the fan design of projectors needs to balance the three core requirements of "heat dissipation efficiency", "silent experience", and "dust resistance":
Silent priority: Home projectors are mostly used in bedrooms and living rooms, and fan noise needs to be controlled at 25-35dB (equivalent to speaking softly). High end models will use "magnetic levitation bearings" and "noise reduction ducts" to reduce noise.
Strong dust resistance: The projector lens and internal components are sensitive to dust, and the fan should be equipped with a "dust net" and a "maze style air duct" to prevent dust from entering the body with the airflow and avoid "black spots" on the screen.
Adaptive light source power: The fan air volume needs to match the light source power. For example, a 150W light bulb needs to be paired with a fan with an air volume of 25-30CFM, while a 200W laser light source needs a fan with an air volume of 35CFM or more to avoid insufficient heat dissipation caused by "small horses pulling large cars".