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A bladeless fan?

By Philip Proefrock

Posted Fri Oct 23, 2009 3:16pm PDT

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dysonairmultiplier

The Dyson Air Multiplier fan is the latest invention to come from Sir James Dyson, father of the Dyson vacuum cleaner series and the Dyson Airblade hand dryer. Air Multiplier is a 'bladeless' fan that provides a smooth airflow and that induces air circulation in the surrounding air, getting a greater effect of air movement.

It's not necessarily a more efficient fan than other fans (Dyson doesn't have any information about the relative efficiency of their fan on their website yet), but it's certainly an innovative design, and that could make it more acceptable to have a fan in a space, where a conventional bladed fan might be objectionable. The noise level from this fan is also not indicated yet. The sleek appearance of the Air Multiplier also makes it easier to clean than bladed fans. However, the Air Multiplier is not truly 'bladeless.' The blades are just concealed in the base of the unit.

Fans can be a far more efficient method of cooling than air conditioning. Moving air can provide a cooling effect with much less energy use. The Air Multiplier offers a stylish way to do this. While it has just been released, and availability is limited, it will be interesting to see if the performance of this fan makes it a real winner, rather than an expensive curiosity.

via: Treehugger

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Posted by Richard H Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:46pm PDT
Could the idea behind this be used with wind turbines to help increase the wind speed and turn the turbines faster? Instead of wind blowing directly on the blades of a wind turbine an air ram could be used to funnel the wind down the tube and out the same kind of multiplier. In front of the multiplier could be the blades of the turbine?
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Posted by wodend Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:39pm PDT
12wee
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Posted by Nick Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:38am PST
Exactly a good idea we both have Richard H-focusing the gathered wind on the blades. A jacuzzi jet effect. Also if some kind of large wind foils were placed around the turbine the wind could be focused as well!
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Posted by Eric X Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:04am PST
Actually it's a modified venturi. But instead of the air being forced threw the front creating a vacuum in the middle, it forces air out the back around the rim creating a vacuum in the front. As for using it to improve a conventional wind turbine. The duct would be too MASSIVE. A simple funnel would be more appropriate for small wind mills but even that would add greatly to the engineering cost as well as technical draw backs. Most wind turbines are designed to operate at very specific wind speeds. Adding amplifiers could damage them. Not to mention that having the extra structure around the blades would be ugly as all get out.
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