Researchers at Purdue University have developed
an ionic wind engine that can significantly enhance the efficiency of
conventional processor coolers. 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%. In the researchers' tests, a chip running at a temperature of 60°C
with normal cooling equipment saw its temperature dip to 35°C thanks to the
ionic wind engine.
