Measuring efficiency of positive and negative ionic wind devices for comparison to fans and blowers

Abstract Many industries are pursuing alternate air moving devices to reduce the power consumption of their air cooled products. The literature suggests that ionic AMDs have low efficiency. The literature, however, does not define efficiency the same way the computer industry defines it for rotary AMDs. In this study, static efficiency of ionic AMDs was evaluated similar to rotary AMDs. Various emitter to collector distances and various ring lengths, were evaluated for positive and negative coronas. By controlling emitter to collector distance and collector length, efficiencies were obtained more reasonably compared to rotary devices.