The fanless spinning heatsink...

Push it to the max but make sure that you keep it cool!
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Anakha56
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The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by Anakha56 »

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/8971 ... is-the-fan
The fanless spinning heatsink: more efficient and immune to dust

There’s a fundamental flaw with fan-and-heatsink cooling systems: no matter how hard the fan blows, a boundary layer of motionless, highly-insulating air remains on the heatsink. You can increase the size of the heatsink and you can blow more air, but ultimately the boundary layer prevents the system from being efficient; it’s simply a physical limitation of fan-and-heatsink cooling systems in specific, and every kind of air-cooled heat exchanger in general, including air conditioning and refrigeration units.

But what if you did away with the fan? What if the heatsink itself rotated? Well, believe it or not, rotating the heat exchanger obliterates the boundary layer, removes the need for a fan, and it’s so efficient that it can operate at low and very quiet speeds. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Air Bearing Heat Exchanger [PDF]. Developed by Jeff Koplow, a researcher at the US government’s Sandia National Laboratories, the new heatsink (which has also been dubbed the “Sandia Cooler”) basically resembles a big, metal fan. The cooler consists of a static metal baseplate, which is connected to the CPU, GPU, or other hot object, and a finned, rotating heat exchanger that are cushioned by a thin (0.001-inch) layer of air. As the metal blades spin, centrifugal force kicks up the air and throws it up and outwards, much like an impeller, creating a cooling effect.

This new technique is so efficient that if these heat exchangers can find widespread adoption in computers and air conditioning units, Koplow estimates that the total US electricity consumption could drop by 7%. Furthermore, if you’re a computer geek, there’s another big advantage of the Air Bearing Heat Exchanger: it’s intrinsically immune to the build up of dust and detritus. The Sandia Cooler may also be the technology that smashes down the “Thermal Brick Wall” that is preventing computer chips from moving beyond 3GHz.

So when can you get your hands on one? Koplow is now working on a design that can be mass-produced — and hopefully he’ll soon be able to bring this awesome piece of technology to market.
Research paper here: http://prod.sandia.gov/techlib/access-c ... 100258.pdf

This looks and sounds promising. I would so buy one when it gets released... :)
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IcePick88
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Re: The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by IcePick88 »

smashes down the “Thermal Brick Wall” that is preventing computer chips from moving beyond 3GHz.
:?:

I'm well beyond the 3GHz mark. :lol: :lol:

But this is an interesting design.
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Sojourn
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Re: The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by Sojourn »

IcePick88 wrote:
smashes down the “Thermal Brick Wall” that is preventing computer chips from moving beyond 3GHz.
I'm well beyond the 3GHz mark.
I think they refer to stock devices out-of-factory 3GHz+ able without specialist OC cooling.
...Unless I missed the sarcasm.
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Re: The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by IcePick88 »

Sojourn wrote:
IcePick88 wrote:
smashes down the “Thermal Brick Wall” that is preventing computer chips from moving beyond 3GHz.
I'm well beyond the 3GHz mark.
I think they refer to stock devices out-of-factory 3GHz+ able without specialist OC cooling.
...Unless I missed the sarcasm.
Well, if they meant it that way, there are a lot of CPU's that are over 3GHz that is stock. Mine is one for example. :D

Edit: I think they might be referring to the 4GHz mark? :?:
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Re: The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by Slimshaedy »

I'm trying to imagine it but a heatspreader spinning around will add some hectic G force on to the board depending on its size and weight... (unless I have the wrong picture in my mind:) ) But still a very good idea!! I'd love to see one in action
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Re: The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by THE_STIG »

This sounds like a really good idea :D and I think will look pretty cool as well :D . I have a feeling it will be expensive though :(
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Re: The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by senile »

To work for a fridge they'd need a heatsink the size of a jacuzzi
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Re: The fanless spinning heatsink...

Post by *Pilgrim* »

Slimshaedy wrote:I'm trying to imagine it but a heatspreader spinning around will add some hectic G force on to the board depending on its size and weight... (unless I have the wrong picture in my mind:) ) But still a very good idea!! I'd love to see one in action
I hear you!! Can you imagine the amount of pressure this would add to the mobo? The mounting system would have to be something extraordinary, as even the slightest unbalance would probably see the cooler breaking off and hitting you square between the eyes. :D
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