Silent Airflow Generation Equipment Using Ionic Wind
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current air transport and surveillance vehicles, as well as high-volume blower applications, suffer from noise and inefficiency due to motor and blade designs, leading to disturbance and low performance, with existing noise reduction methods being costly and only marginally effective.
Innovation Solution
The Silent Airflow Generation Equipment employs electrical ionic wind generation, mechanical form flow amplification, and a discharge tube surface treatment to minimize drag, utilizing a flow rate sensor-based feedback control circuit for efficient and quiet air movement without moving parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If motor and blade designs are used for air transport and blower applications, then air movement function is achieved, but noise is generated and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical motor-blade system with an ionic wind generation system. High voltage is applied between two electrodes to generate ions that are attracted to the opposite electrode, creating an ionic wind that moves air without mechanical moving parts. This eliminates noise from motor operation and blade rotation while improving efficiency by directly converting electrical energy to kinetic energy of air molecules through ion bombardment and momentum transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the noisy mechanical components (motor and blades) from the air movement system. By removing these mechanical elements and replacing them with an electromagnetic field-based ionic wind generator, the source of noise is completely removed while maintaining the air movement function through a different physical mechanism.
2Productivity
If fan blades are used to move air, then air flow is generated, but turbulence and drag are created reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fan blades that create turbulence with an ionic wind generation system. Ions generated between electrodes bombard air molecules and transfer momentum, creating a directed airflow without the turbulent wake that follows blade passage. This eliminates energy losses associated with blade-induced turbulence and vortex formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental mechanism of air movement from mechanical pushing by blades to electromagnetic ion bombardment. By changing the physical parameter of how air is moved (from mechanical contact to ion-molecule collision), turbulence is minimized and energy transfer efficiency is improved since ions can accelerate air molecules in a more controlled manner.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional fan designs are used, then air movement is achieved, but moving parts cause vibration and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the mechanical motor-blade assembly with an electromagnetic field-based ionic wind generator. The system uses high voltage applied between two electrodes to create ions that move toward the opposite electrode, generating airflow without any rotating or moving mechanical parts. This eliminates vibration at its source since there are no unbalanced rotating masses or mechanical contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes all mechanical moving parts from the air movement system. By extracting the motor, shaft, bearings, and blades and replacing them with a stationary electrode-based ionic wind generator, the sources of mechanical vibration and noise are completely eliminated while the air movement function is maintained through ion-driven airflow.
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 achieves significantly reduced noise and increased efficiency, ensuring quieter operation, longer durability, and lower maintenance, while allowing for focused and cohesive airflow, making it suitable for various applications including fans, blowers, and aircraft propulsion.
Implementation Method 1
The ionic wind generator consists of two electrodes spaced far apart such that when a high voltage is applied, arcing does not occur, but generation of ions does occur. These ions are attracted to the other electrode and hit air molecules in their travels toward said electrode. Momentum of the ions is partially transferred to said air molecules and the ionic wind builds up
Implementation Method 2
The flow is amplified by having the ionic wind flow out of its generation area, through a circular slot and into the discharge tube. As it does so, it is flowing at a moderate speed which creates a low pressure by means of the Bernoulli Effect. This low pressure pulls additional outside air in through the inlet of the discharge tube
Implementation Method 3
Before it reaches the escaping ionic wind it flows over a uniquely shaped surface which allows the Coandă Effect to force the air flow to hug said surface and, thus, cause a turbulence-free laminar flow which adds to the ejecting ionic wind flow
Implementation Method 4
Drag is caused by friction between the air flow and the discharge tube surface. It is also caused by turbulence at the fan blade's trailing edge. This is minimized here by three means; use of a low friction surface coating and a 'dimpling' of the surface, similar to a golf ball and the lack of blade usage. Overall drag is reduced by dimpling by ways of a small amount of turbulence in the dimples causing the air flow to hug the surface some distance around the tailing end of the curved surface and thereby separating from the surface later than from an undimpled surface
Data Source
AI summary
A blower/fan for the purpose of greatly reducing noise levels and extending longevity over conventional blade-based blower/fans (e.g., 50 decibel leaf-blower), due to having a totally novel absence of moving parts, such as motor and blades, which create most of the noise and wear out faster. The air motivating force comes from an electrohydrodynamic ionic wind created by a very strong electric field crossing two uniquely configured electrodes. This wind is then further amplified by inducing outside air to be added to this wind by means of a Coandă surface at the entrance to the wind tunnel and which then feeds over a slit. A diffuser section follows causing the wind pressure to build for improving the exiting air characteristics. The novel diffuser and Coandă surfaces will have reduced drag and noise due to both a low friction surface coating and a dimpled surface like a golf ball so as to further reduce drag.