'Nano-Lightning' Could Cool Computer Chips

FizzyC writes "A story on New Scientist describes a technique to cool computer chips using charged ions. The system consists of 300 electrodes that ionise and then pump the air molecules across the surface of the chip. The Purdue University technology is the first air-based system to produce a cooling rate similar to water - 40 watts per square centimetre."

Comments

Re:Cooling Things with Outside Air?

[mdielmann]

I have something like this in my newly purchased home, and it's totally passive. Essentially, it's an insulated room in the basement with a vent near the ceiling to the outside. Warmer air escapes through the vent (and cooler air may seep in that way, too), and the temperature stays low. When the rest of my basment is around 18 degrees C, this rooms is no more than 8 degrees C in the summer and can get as low as ~0 degrees C in the winter. I keep thinking I should get a system set up to help bleed warm air out of there faster. Given where I live, this could operate well within safe cooling ranges for food for half the year (maybe longer, depending on how fast it heats up). For foods that are less sensitive (whole fruits and vegetables, things that just taste better cool) this is already a full-year solution.

Easiest way to make this active is 2 thermostats (one that supports A/C), maybe a couple of electric switches, and a fan. When the air outside is lower than the target temperature (heat setting) and the air inside is higher (cool setting), allow the fan to run. If wiring in series isn't allowed (if the type of thermostat can't support 120V AC), use switches that are turned on when the thermostat tells it to. Sounds like a fun project...