So why exactly would we need a replacement to our good old friend, the fan? the truth is, on modern Ultrabook scales, fans are quite the behemoths, consuming precious space and power. Fans in general also have a tendency to become clogged with dust; in a laptop maintaining cooling performance is vital as there's no normal free airflow and effectively cleaning out a laptop fan isn't always the simplest task.
It's with the in-mind that GE is looking to introduce a dual piezo blower that works in a manner not unlike the diaphragm supporting our lungs. Piezos are small crystals, often quartz, that expand in size when an electric current is supplied. These Piezos are used to push and pull a flexible surface, much like a diaphragm, to pull-in and squeeze-out air, providing that same cooling breeze we would normally look to a fan for.
The advantages of this system are clear:
- Compact design - with a thickness of only 1mm.
- Durability - Doesn't get clogged with dust, with right material choice can last for several decades.
- Low Noise - Will be below 30dB, not bad for a laptop fan.
- Low Power - Theoretically uses around half the power consumption of a traditional fan.
