Researchers use "ionic wind" to cool computer chips

A team of researchers at Purdue University look to be doing their best to put conventional computer cooling techniques to shame, to that end developing a prototype system that uses an "ionic wind" to keep chips cool, something they say could eventually allow for much more powerful computers. According to the BBC, the system employs an ionic engine that produces positively charged particles when a voltage is applied to it. Those particles are then naturally drawn to a negatively charged wire, resulting in a constant air movement over the chips. That, the researchers say, increases the cooling rate from a conventional fan by up to 250%. They're apparently far from satisfied with the system just yet though, and they're now working to make it a hundred times smaller than its current size -- a feat all the more daunting considering that it already measures just a few millimeters.

[Thanks, Xander and Del Monte]

[rickane58 @ Aug 15th 2007 12:53PM]

Old news guys. The U of Washington made this 2 years ago and has been refining it ever since

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Aug 15th 2007 1:53PM]

I believe I read this same topic on engadget a while ago...


http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/18/the-ion-cooled-pc-and-smog-generator/

[Doc @ Aug 15th 2007 1:08PM]

The Folks at inventgeek.com did it for dirt cheap, even laid out the instructions for the average folk (read: not self-proclaimed Purdue geeks) to build their own

[David @ Aug 15th 2007 1:09PM]

So they connected that big thing from 'sharper image' to their computer, and now they want to have one that can fit on the chip?

[paul34 @ Aug 15th 2007 1:41PM]

except I think this one is supposed to work and isn't taking up space in a shop whose entire purpose is to scam people =p

[kjb434 @ Aug 15th 2007 1:23PM]

I hope the institute some sort of filter out there to keep the dust away.

I've been playing around with some filter material to keep airflow but reduce the dust.

of course, liquid cooled components eliminate some dust build up problems.

[fischju @ Aug 15th 2007 1:24PM]

http://www.inventgeek.com/Projects/IonCooler2/Overview.aspx
http://www.inventgeek.com/Projects/IonCooler/Overview.aspx
Invent Geek hacked up one a while ago

[RickP @ Aug 15th 2007 1:27PM]

My wife has an ionic hairdryer. Maybe the guys at Purdue can borrow it.

http://golftards.com

[harold fraser @ Aug 15th 2007 2:14PM]

My 360 bricked just reading that list.

[Blah @ Aug 15th 2007 2:31PM]

I hope this doesn't emit ozone like those gimmick 'air purifiers' at sharper image do.

[R1cebrner @ Aug 15th 2007 3:01PM]

I like the invent geek one i will have to try that at home but it looked rather large using parts of a cd case which is at least 6in. I think this would be more for use on a laptop

[George Beckingham @ Aug 15th 2007 3:10PM]

At first glance, I read "ironic wind".

I guess that would be a windstorm that cools your chips, but fells a tree on the power lines?

[Joel @ Aug 15th 2007 4:43PM]

Don't those things give people headaches with all the ozone that is produced?

[Kal-El @ Aug 15th 2007 11:07PM]

Old news, I saw this in Maximum PC a few months ago, about how they were using an "ionic breeze" to cool chips...
I guess the Sharper Image has something good going then, eh?