Numerical simulation of a wire–plate solid-state fan for ultra-quiet museum display cases

Abstract

Conventional microenvironment control systems of a museum display case generally use mechanical fans which produce great noise and vibration for heat dissipation of semiconductor air-conditioning units. Solid-state fans (ionic wind) operate with no moving parts and can overcome noise and vibration issues of a microenvironment control system. In this study, a multi-electrode mathematical and physical model of wire–plate solid-state fans was developed, and its performance has been analysed in depth. Simulation results indicate that there is an optimal distance between discharge electrodes (d), which corresponds to the largest average wind velocity at the exit of the simulation area (u_a). Under the same power consumption, u_a and the vertical height from a discharge electrode to a collecting electrode (H) exhibit a monotonically increasing relationship. Similarly, u_a and the radius of a discharge electrode (r) show a monotonically decreasing relationship. In addition, a manufactured solid-state fan with an average wind velocity of 1.48 m·s⁻¹ shows a noise intensity of 4.3 dB(A), which is considerably lower than that of a mechanical fan, with the same power consumption. These positive results suggest that ultra-quiet microenvironment control technologies of a museum display case can be potentially developed in the near future.