Dyson Air Multiplier: bladeless fan amplifies air 15X

Dyson's Air Multiplier -- the name they use for their bladeless fan -- was introduced in October 2009, but a new video reveals just how smart good design can be.

The innovative fan, which costs about $300, works like so: It draws in air at the base pillar and forces it through an outlet in the upper ring, allowing the air to accelerate over the aerofoil shape of the ring to create local low pressure.

That low pressure spot causes air to be induced to move forward -- read about the Coanda effect for more information -- and once it exits the ring, forces air forward by a process called "entrainment."

The point is not just for a neat effect, but for efficiency: a small brushless impeller in the fan's base can power a much larger air outlet.

Nevertheless, it's an interesting visual.

A new video by the company's engineers demonstrates the cool (no pun intended) effect of how these fans work, with a little inspiration from Rube Goldberg:

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com