Ion Emitter-Collector Blower Layout for Silent Electronics Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling systems for information handling systems, such as fans, generate noise and consume power, leading to increased heat and performance issues.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an ion emitter/collector blower cooling system, which uses an ion emitter and collector with vertically arranged blades to create an airflow through ionization of gases, reducing noise and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional fans are used for cooling, then cooling effectiveness is achieved, but noise and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical fan system with an electrostatic ion emitter/collector system. Instead of using rotating blades to move air, the system uses electrostatic fields to ionize gas molecules and create ionized gas flow, thereby eliminating mechanical moving parts and associated noise while maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces ionized gas as an intermediary medium to transfer momentum and create airflow. The ion emitter generates charged ions that are attracted to the collector, and this ion movement drags surrounding neutral gas molecules along, creating a cooling airflow without direct mechanical contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If traditional fans are used for cooling, then cooling effectiveness is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic pulsing of the ion emitter to create bursts of ionized gas flow. This periodic operation allows the system to achieve effective cooling through intermittent high-intensity pulses rather than continuous operation, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If ion emitter/collector system is used, then noise is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovenoiseVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ion emitter into multiple discrete electrode elements arranged in a specific pattern. This segmentation allows for optimized electric field distribution and improved cooling efficiency while keeping each individual electrode element simple in structure, thereby managing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively cools information handling systems by creating a high airflow rate with low pressure head, reducing noise, and minimizing space requirements, while also providing a silent cooling option that can be used in conjunction with traditional fans.

Implementation Method 1

The ionic driving circuit is operatively coupled to the ion emitter to couple a first voltage to the inner ring of vertically arranged ion emitter blades to ionize gases at the ion emitter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 2

This causes the charged ions to be repelled from the ion emitter to create an airflow from the ion emitter to the ion collector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon repulsion: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 3

The ion collector is operatively coupled to an ionic driving circuit to couple a second voltage to the ion collector to create an attractive force via a second voltage at the ion collector to attract the ionized gas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic attraction: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS12204386B2Method and apparatus for a silent blower in an information handling system

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system includes a processor, a memory device, and a PMU to provide power to the processor and memory device. The information handling system further includes an ion emitter/collector blower cooling system including an ion emitter including an inner ring of vertically arranged ion emitter blades and an ion collector including an outer ring of vertically arranged ion collector blades. The cooling system includes an ionic driving circuit operatively coupled to the ion emitter to couple a first voltage to the ion collector blades to ionize gases at the ion emitter to create charged ions and the ionic driving circuit operatively coupled to the ion collector to apply a second voltage to attract the charged ions from the ion emitter to create an airflow, the airflow passing through the outer ring and out of an external opening of an ion emitter/collector housing of the ion emitter/collector blower cooling system.