James Dyson has reinvented a machine we never knew needed reinventing; a fan with no visible blades that he calls the Air Multiplier. Its key component is a hollow plastic hoop with an aerofoil cross section – like an aircraft wing bent into a circle. Set vertically on a pedestal, it contains a motor-driven “impeller” which forces air into the hollow rim of the hoop.
From there, air emerges through a slot that directs it over the hoop’s aerofoil surface. This generates low pressure towards the centre of the hoop, which in turn creates a steady draught by drawing the surrounding air through it. The strength of the draught can be varied by adjusting the speed of the impeller.
Original article posted on NewScientist.
Related posts: