Gizmodo
Engineers at Thorrn Micro Technologies have created a solid state fan for portable gadgets that is one-fourth the size and two to three times more powerful than a comparable mechanical fan. The RSD5 fan, which is roughly the size of a microchip, is said to be extremely thin, silent, and powerful and current prototypes can effectively cool a 25-watt processor.
The RSD5 uses the same technology as ionic air purifiers, which create an electric current to generate a breeze. The fan uses plasma-generating live wires to release ions, which in turn creates an electric field where the ions push air molecules to an uncharged conducting plate that envelops the wires. This moving of air molecules creates a breeze, or a Corona Discharge. A mechanical fan for portable electronics moves wind at a speed of .7-1.7 meters per second, whereas the RSD5 can do 2.7 meters per second.
Lead engineers Dan Schlitz and Vishal Singhal just presented their research for the project at a symposium for thermal semiconductor research on March 17, and ultimately hope that this technology can be integrated into processors to create self-cooling chips. [Thorrn Micro via Science Blog]
Comments
whooooowhhaaaaaat????
/moe
I would love to have a couple of these in my laptop
Yes, electrostatics and a corona discharge are JUST what I want in my microelectronics.
Looks interesting, but how do you clean the dust off it? and could it cool as well if it were away from the processor connected via a heat pipe?
I thought Sharper Image went out of business. Ionic breeze leftovers I guess...
That is teh sex0rz!1!1!
So, would this thing collect dust?
electric current..i don't know...sounds like it might not be too energy efficient.
Doesn't the ionic breeze collect dust?
"plasma-generating live wires"...how much heat does the heat dissipater create?
So, this is the end to ceiling fans...or is the hole in this theory that it can move air at "2.7 meters per second" but only a tiny fraction of the "volume" as a regular fan?
As skeptical I might be about this, I'd love for this to be a possible next step, because mechanical failure of fans in laptops is a pain in the ass.
LOL Return of the Ionic Breeze
ok.... I want to know how big they can make this puppy. I could use a little carona wind on those hot days.
@sonburn: Buy an ionic breeze. It is the same damn thing. XD
@Kaiser-Machead:
Agreed. All my hardware failures have been the result of fan failures.
@MagnoliaBoy: Exactly what crossed my mind! I wonder if you'll have to remove this to clean the dust off the fins.
Sounds like a great way to create electrical noise. Just what you want next to the microprocessor, an RF noise generator. Yawn, wake me when that's a good idea...
So when can I get my RSD5 embedded Mary Poppins umbrella?
On the upshot, those case modders that use funky blue lights inside their cases and this Plasma Discharge fan will have no flyes or mosquitos in their cases....
BZZZZZZZ.... ZAP!.... BZZZZZ... ZAP!
LOL
from Wiki, "Inside electrical components such as transformers, capacitors, electric motors and generators. Corona progressively damages the insulation inside these devices, leading to premature equipment failure."
yeah that sounds like a great idea
Don't these kinds of air movers create lots of ozone?
And isn't ozone bad for petroleum based plastics that many computers are made of?
They'd have to figure out a way to de-ozone the airflow to have it work near plastic parts for extended periods of time.
@
my frist thought is.... Flying saucers!
On the plus side creates ozone to help depleted regions, but negative for humans and animals because toxic.
I'm sure the engineers that made this thing were too damn stupid to think of all the problems you guys are coming up with...
So, it doesn't really matter how fast I'm moving the air without knowing the volume of the air which I am moving at that speed. We need liters/min type information.
@nutbastard: actually, moe says, " Whaaaaahhh...?!" he never finishes the word completely...as far as my simpsons/nerdology recollects. i may be wrong.
Too bad you don't need cooling for a 25 watt processor.....
Eww you got plasma discharge on your...and so on.
@TonyTriple: Last time I checked, those mechanical fans used electric current to move air too.
Don't those ionic air purifiers actually create hazardous ozone?
@strider_mt2k: lol nice one
@killthebabysitter: You are correct sir.
my CPU fan is whinier than a meth-addict bitch and a racing bike put together. silent fan FTW
Oh I want a retrofit kit for my Dell laptop. It currently sounds like a groaning jet engine.
I was like, all right, better fans, no moving parts, silent minus the wind itself...
ionic breeze?
plasma?
ions?
CORONA DISCHARGE?
YOU'RE PUTTING FREAKING STATIC ELECTRICITY ON TOP OF MY PROCESSOR?!?!!?
Nay, within 2 feet of my computer at all??
GTFO
When i run my van de graff machine, its "ionic wind" causes all my usb devices to freak out (mouse shuts off, ups goes into backup mode, etc). so how does installing one in my machine help? isn't electrostatic discharge BAD for computer chips?
By the time they actually work out the kinks and get them on the market at an affordable price they will probably no longer be needed.
I am no expert, but I seem to remember microchips run at less than 6 volts and to get corona discharge effects you need hundreds of volts. Also corona discharge is a static electricity effect, which is kind of scary next to a chip. They do not mention efficiency, but I suspect it is not too good, so laptop use is unlikely.
Still, no moving parts!
bad ass, build one of these guys into a heatsink and put it on a laptop proc, cooler and quieter laptops...WOOT!
I remember reading about yet-another-cooling-solution some months ago that involved capillary tubes, some antifreeze solution, and nano-engineering or something...
Sounded better than this one. But much like this one, it'll probably take some time to create a commercial product, if that ever happens..
@DWD: Also agree. Any way to put that baby in my current laptop?
I'm pretty sure they have medication to clear up that corona discharge.
Nice.
Cooler/more quiet laptops and hey, fresh, pure air around my desk.
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