ICE® Technology

The Ventiva® Ionic Cooling Engine (ICE®) technology is based on principles of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow, a fascinating science that intersects physics, engineering and fluid dynamics, to move ionized air molecules within an electric field. It moves air in a unique way, without moving parts, acoustic noise, or vibration.

ICE technology harnesses the power of a minuscule plasma field to move air particles, delivering a potent “solid-state” cooling wind:

1. An electric field is created between two small electrodes, a high-voltage thin wire called the emitter, and a low-voltage or grounded electrode called the collector. A high voltage but very low current is applied to the emitter, creating a strong electric field that strips electrons from molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, argon (and other trace gases) in the air, creating ions.
2. The resulting free electrons flow toward the positively biased emitter, while the positively biased ions are repelled from it and attracted by the grounded or low-voltage collector.
3. A plasma field exists in the gap between the emitter and the collector and consists of the ionization zone and the ion drift zone. The ionization zone is very small, just a few microns in width, and is located next to the emitter.
4. As positively charged ions move toward the collector, they enter the ion drift zone where they collide with neutral air molecules. These collisions impart momentum to the neutral air molecules, causing them to move toward the collector. The result is an avalanche of air molecules, in motion toward the collector.
5. When this swarm of neutral and positively charged ions reach the collector, the positively charged ions pick-up electrons at the collector. These are the electrons that were stripped from the ions; they flow in the opposite direction of the current, through the ICE power supply to the collector. This results in the outflow of primarily neutrally charged air molecules.

Ventiva’s ICE9® thermal management system, which is based on our patented ICE technology, enables optimal performance in electronics devices—without any moving parts, acoustic noise, or vibration. It uses intelligent software control to continuously monitor its operation and can adaptively deliver more or less airflow as an electronic system requires. Combining advanced monitoring and algorithms, the ICE9 solution’s real-time software can be combined with overall system performance monitoring to provide a robust device-wide thermal solution that is thin, silent, and totally cool.

Our ICE technology provides high-value size and acoustic benefits for a wide range of electronic applications including notebooks and laptops, tablets, wearable devices, and AR and VR headsets.

The ICE9 solution has been tested in anechoic chambers, showing less than 15 dBa sound pressure. This is an imperceptible level that is barely above the background noise level in an anechoic chamber.

Unlike traditional blowers which are “bottom-in / side-out” air flow devices, the ICE9 solution does not need an air gap to draw in air; it is a more space-efficient “side-in / side-out” device. This allows for a lower internal height for a laptop or tablet, of up to 2mm, which enables thinner and more elegant product designs.

It’s very easy! Remove two Philips head screws on either side of the ICE9 device, replace it with a new device, and then replace the screws. No special cables or connectors are required.

No. ICE9 devices are not currently intended or optimized for use in data center applications.

No. Our patented ICE technology leverages EHD airflow instead of utilizing mechanical, moving parts (vibrating membranes), which means we are competing with the traditional fans that have been used since the early days of portable computers.

Yes, the ICE9 solution is green and fully recyclable. The devices use no rare earth materials, and we only source readily available electronic components.

Dust is a fact of life, and no electronic device is completely immune to its effects. For example, any air inlet obstructed by dust halts the airflow in an electronic system which reduces or even eliminates its cooling capability. So, our focus is on ensuring that any systems that incorporate ICE technology have as little airflow degradation as possible over the product’s lifetime.

The ICE9 solution uses intelligent software control to automatically monitor for dust. When dust is detected, it self-corrects by altering the system’s electrical characteristics. This enables system designers to continuously monitor dust – in real time – for the first time

Like many products in use today (e.g., laser printers, vacuum cleaners, photocopier machines, kitchen blenders, etc.), Ventiva ICE9 solutions generate a small amount of ozone. This ozone is a by-product of the cooling process and is only generated when the device is in use.

Ventiva has developed effective and efficient catalytic decomposition techniques to speed the conversion of ozone back into oxygen, before the air is exhausted from a device that is being cooled, so that the device can be fully compliant with rigorous indoor air quality standards.

While it is possible for the electrodes in these devices to become less efficient over time, Ventiva has greatly mitigated this problem with its ICE technology.

The ICE9 thermal management system uses intelligent software control, which continuously monitors for system issues, with innovative materials to give our patented air-cooling solution the longevity needed for modern electronic products.

Please fill out this form and we’ll notify you when samples are available for general use. We are currently prioritizing laptop applications.