How do Laptop Blower fans actually work?

I am working on a custom build that is basically a lower spec Aya Neo, but first I am curious on the actual design of laptop blower fans.

With one side blocked normally from the keyboard or other components and air intake on the bottom the fan exhausts through the side or back through a heatsink.

My question is, would the system benefit from not having obstructions on that other side? OR would it create a passthrough cooling effect and limit its “blower” style cooling design? OR would it create a dual sided intake increasing its cooling capacity?

 

Well, it isn't technically blocked on the keyboard/component side. The fan will pull air through any ports (USB, power, headphone jack, etc) along with any gaps in the case. Measuring output with the device assembled versus the fan having no restrictions could give you a clue as to what gains you might see if any restrictions are removed. A method of accurately measuring that output is a problem unto itself and I, not being a mechanical engineer, don't know if my ideas would be of any utility.