In a study published today in Physical Review B, Yale electrical engineering professor Hur Koser and colleagues from the University of Georgia and Massachusetts Institute of Technology demonstrate for the first time an approach that allows ferrofluids to be pumped by magnetic fields alone.
Their approach could lead to highly compact, integrated, quiet, and efficient liquid cooling schemes for portable, high-performance consumer electronics. For instance, ferrofluid cooling would eliminate the need for fans and heat plumbing inside computers, enabling further miniaturization.
Developed in the 1960s by NASA scientists seeking a non-mechanical method for moving liquid fuels in outer space, ferrofluids are made up of magnetic nanoparticles suspended in liquids such as oil, water, or alcohol.
The ferrohydrodynamic pump method works when electrodes wound around a pipe force magnetic nanoparticles within the ferrofluids to rotate at varying speeds. Those particles closest to the electrodes spin faster, and it is this spatial variation in rotation speed that propels the ferrofluid forward.
Michael Barter says
Replacing a mechanical pump with a magnetic pump would eliminate the pump parts. I wonder about the power requirements though.
I question whether one can eliminate the fans. The ferrohydrodynamic pump helps to move the heat away from the source, but if one relies on convective heat transfer to move the heat to the environment, then that will reduce the effectiveness of the system.
Niraj Bhargava says
This magnetic pump uses a ferroliquid. The availability of this liquid and disintegration after heating may cause effects in the plumbing material. Secondly the application of this liquid in the low temp is doubtful.
Giti Karimi says
We work on a similar project, but using temperature sensitive ferrofluid. We have a hard time fro buying this kind of ferroluid, and we just find it in India.
Guy says
This is not a new concept. Townsend Brown invented this. This is a process that has to do with electrons racing around creating magnetic field. Same process fans use to move air without moving parts. Same process the B-2 bomber is using along with charge field to displace mass in front of the forward wing tips. Same process UFOs use to create movement. Except they use free electrons from surrounding mass. That is why they don’t use a power source.