Problems we solve
Electronic chips need to be kept cool to ensure reliability and performance. Typically, a heatsink-fan combination is used to achieve this. However, traditional rotary fans have many inherent disadvantages.
Unreliable
Last only 2-3 years. Maintenance is needed.
Noisy
Especially at high rpm. High frequency noise.
Inefficient
Overall efficiency sits at about 30%.
Heavy
Due to copper rotors and stators.
Lessons from the world’s most efficient flyer
After millions of years of selection and evolution, flyers like hummingbirds and insects have evolved to have a near perfect system of flight and aerodynamic efficiency. Research has found that most hummingbirds are about 25% more efficient than the best drones designed to date. Unlike any other bird wings, hummingbird wings flap in the same manner as insect wings. The wing rotates around its long axis during transitions between upstroke and downstroke.
At Bimitech, we aim to mimic the optimized design and features of the hummingbird to come up with a better cooling technology. We call this biomimetic cooling™.
Many years of research
Our world-class researchers have spent years optimizing our cooling technology and the processes needed to mass manufacture the products.
Advantages
High efficiency
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations in conjunction with experimental measurements were used to optimize various design parameters such as size, aspect ratio, and angle of attack of the wing. “Clap and fling” flow rate-enhancing mechanisms were also investigated to ensure the fan has the highest aerodynamic efficiency. In addition, energy loss is minimized as there is no friction (no bearing). The fan is powered by a piezo actuator with high electrical-mechanical energy conversion. The piezo actuator generates almost zero heat during operation, allowing the fan to have up to 2x higher overall efficiency.
Better flow profile
Rotary fan
The typical rotary fan has a hub at its center where its motor resides. A ‘dead air’ zone is therefore created in front of the hub, resulting in the hottest region in the heat sink in many applications.
Biomimetic fan
Air flow profile is uniform, without a ‘dead air’ zone. The design can be tailored for higher air flow velocity to target hotter areas in the heat sink for better efficiency.
Quiet
There is no motor in a biomimetic fan and therefore no motor-generated noise. In a rotary fan, noise pitch is principally proportional to the number of blades present. As there is only one blade (wing) in a biomimetic fan, frequencies of the noise generated are much lower, resulting in a “lower tone” noise, which is less disruptive and more comfortable to the human ear.
Reliable
Unlike a rotary fan, the biomimetic fan consists of only a few simple components. There are no moving parts, no bearings, no oil leakages, and no maintenance required. It is powered by our super reliable Python actuator.
Lightweight
Designed with aerospace grade lightweight materials, there are no heavy copper coils as seen in rotary fans. This makes it up to 5x lighter than a traditional rotary fan of a similar cooling capacity.
Customizable
The biomimetic fan does not require the restrictive round shape present in rotary fans. Its shape can be flexibly customized to fit specific applications. In addition, more than one fan can be used in parallel when higher cooling performance is desired.
Comparisonwith other commercially available thermal solutions
* These are rough estimations based on data collected from literature and should be used as references only.