The Heatsink with NO FAN...The Sandia Cooler

[cadaveca]

The Sandia Cooler is 30-times more efficient than conventional air-cooled heat exchangers and is available for licensing to electronics and solid state lighting cooling manufacturers.

I first saw this some time ago, maybe a couple of years. However, about a week ago, new info came out, and well, here it is:

Nothing like a completely different, and new cooling solution...apparantly liscenced for some sort of PC cooling?

 

[micropage7]

wow nice
but you need to watch the fin and i cant stand the ziiiing sound

 

[Kantastic]

I can't believe this is actually being realized! I was pretty excited about it when it was announced. But I have to ask, barring the literal definition, is it really "fan-less" when there is still a motor and impellers?

Now... where is DataSlide and their Rectangular Hard Drive?

PS - Anyone else watch the video suggestion on the upper right hand corner? I couldn't resist a woman in a bikini.

 

[de.das.dude]

lol. this is just like the heatsink is moving instead of the fan. something like combining the heatsink and the fan to increase the combined efficiency.

 

[de.das.dude]

But i do believe this will still significantly collect dust. just like fans.

wmdering why they didnt change the impeller design to something more ideal, like in an ideal impeller pump.....

 

[Kantastic]

But i do believe this will still significantly collect dust. just like fans.

wmdering why they didnt change the impeller design to something more ideal, like in an ideal impeller pump.....

Fans don't collect dust, fins inside heatsinks do because nothing is pushing them out (or nothing strong enough). If the video is true to the technology, then dust shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Sir B. Fannybottom]

I could never have one of those, partly because of the sound, and because I know I would slice open my hand.

 

[RejZoR]

The metallic grinding noise is unbearable if you ask me. I have loads of experience with standard fans and the noise pitch they emit can make all the difference. This one on a scale from 0-10 is at around 8.

For example i was running Noiseblocker BlackSilent fans till yesterday and even though they were very silent, they were emitting the sound with rather annoying pitch. Replaced all of them with Multiframe and even though they emit the same sort of decibel noise, the pitch is very different, way less annoying. They'll have to address this, otherwise it's an useless design.

 

[erocker]

Fans don't collect dust, fins inside heatsinks do because nothing is pushing them out (or nothing strong enough). If the video is true to the technology, then dust shouldn't be a problem.

Fan blades most certainly collect dust.. as will this impeller design.

 

[theonedub]

The metallic grinding noise is unbearable if you ask me. I have loads of experience with standard fans and the noise pitch they emit can make all the difference. This one on a scale from 0-10 is at around 8.

For example i was running Noiseblocker BlackSilent fans till yesterday and even though they were very silent, they were emitting the sound with rather annoying pitch. Replaced all of them with Multiframe and even though they emit the same sort of decibel noise, the pitch is very different, way less annoying. They'll have to address this, otherwise it's an useless design.

Did you watch the entire video? They address the noise from the DC motor and state it will not be present in production models.

 

[Kantastic]

Fan blades most certainly collect dust.. as will this impeller design.

I've seen fans with coated with a layer of dust, but that's far from what's collected in a heatsink.

That's one dusty heatsink but the fan looks more or less fine. If dust gets onto a fan, it's probably because air can't be channeled through the clogged fins of the heatsink.

 

[pabloottawa]

But i do believe this will still significantly collect dust. just like fans.

wmdering why they didnt change the impeller design to something more ideal, like in an ideal impeller pump.....

Corsair uses an impeller type pump in their H100s...

 

[erocker]

I've seen fans with coated with a layer of dust, but that's far from what's collected in a heatsink.

http://www.technibble.com/articlecontent/2008/09/dusty-computer-2.jpg

That's one dusty heatsink but the fan looks more or less fine. If dust gets onto a fan, it's probably because air can't be channeled through the clogged fins of the heatsink.

Correct, but the fan will still collect dust, even on a case fan.

 

[de.das.dude]

wait. just let me show you a picture of the dust on a fan. you will be amazed.


dust alone isnt a problem, but when you have humidity and lint in the mix, you get dust bunnies.

 

[de.das.dude]

and as for the grinding noise. if they asked me, i would have used a hydro type bearing. i would have used a fluid layer separating the two. the fluid would have low viscosity ofcourse to decrease inefficiency. using liquid is in my opinion a far better way.

 

[de.das.dude]

I've seen fans with coated with a layer of dust, but that's far from what's collected in a heatsink.

http://www.technibble.com/articlecontent/2008/09/dusty-computer-2.jpg

That's one dusty heatsink but the fan looks more or less fine. If dust gets onto a fan, it's probably because air can't be channeled through the clogged fins of the heatsink.

 

[pabloottawa]

This design has a lot of challenges and from what i can tell here are some.

It will NOT be 100% dust free as static electricity will make dust cling to it no matter how fast it spins.
This liquid it floats on will get dirty thus affecting it's ability to spin properly.

You'll need a pretty strong magnet to hold the impeller when it's resting on its side. How will this magnetic field affect the rest of the components in the case?

It STILL makes noise. Cant beleive they are claiming it's "noiseless"

There's still a chance the impeller can fall off or even worse go flying off if it's off balance. Not good for an enclosed case with expensive PC components.

 

[micropage7]

http://regmedia.co.uk/2010/11/25/ventblockers_dust_02.jpg

thats why you need a nice air filter
everything in your pc could collect dust, fans, hsf, cables, drives
dust is common problems

@ de.das.dude: why dont you add it on previous post than 3ple post

 

[btarunr]

Yup, almost an year old.

http://www.techpowerup.com/149060/N...undamental-Breakthrough-in-Heat-Transfer.html

 

[AsRock]

They did not really show it working and even if they used some type of oil to transfer the heat the oil will require changing over time.

Kinda curious if they used a brush or brush-less motor.

Hope it works out be nice to OTHER kind of coolers.

 

[Mussels]

my concern is what happens if the 'fan' stops spinning. without a chunk of passive metal like traditional heatsinks have, wont this overheat much faster?

 

[btarunr]

my concern is what happens if the 'fan' stops spinning. without a chunk of passive metal like traditional heatsinks have, wont this overheat much faster?

Yup, but most modern processors power the system down when TJmax is reached, anyway.

 

[EarthDog]

Fans don't collect dust

Right, thats why I have to clean my fans off too when I clean my case.

 

[specks]

So it uses a thin layer of air to transfer heat from the stationary piece to the impeller?

 

[pantherx12]

Seems an awful lot of people didn't watch the entire video.

This is a preproduction model the motor in it doesn't need to be quiet, when you can actually buy this it will have a silent motor.

There is almost zero air noise from the device ( as shown when it was coasting) so with an upgraded motor this thing will be silent or close to it.



And someone said the liquid it floats on? It floats on air, some of the air that is drawn in is used to lift the device on a cushion on air. ( Think air hockey)



@Above yeah a thin layer of air and some strange quirk in hydrodynamics means heat transfer is still fine and dandy.