Homely Scientist

 I don’t know if this is a post for here or PimpYourWork, but eh, we’ll do it here (more science than work I guess).  We know that electrical resistance makes heat (this how toasters and electric heaters work, btw) and our computers are packing in so many electro-bits (I made that up) that heat generation is a big problem.  I have no less than three devices handy to help keep my laptop cool.  All involve passive cooling (letting more cool air get to the machine), not what if the processors were made to cool themselves!

US researchers have developed a prototype device that creates a “breeze” made up of charged particles, or ions, to cool computer chips.

The “ionic wind”, the scientists say, will help to manage the heat generated by increasingly powerful, yet ever-shrinking devices.

[snip]

The prototype, which is attached to a mock computer chip, works by shifting charged particles from one end of the device to the other. As a voltage is applied to the ionic engine, positively charged particles (ions) are produced, and are dragged towards a negatively charged wire (a cathode), forcing constant air movement.

The team found the prototype engine boosted cooling

The researchers said that when it was used in conjunction with a conventional fan, air molecules, rather than getting stuck, were dragged across the chip’s surface boosting cooling.

The team said the device increased the cooling rate from a conventional fan by up to 250%.

Source: BBC NEWS | Technology | Tiny wind engines cool computers

Sure, while this is a long way off, if I’m right, the more powerful the processor the stronger the wind so the better the cooling.  This could help computers get pretty dern powerful!

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