Hidden blades
Dyson bladeless fans actually have hidden blades in the base of the fan that pull air in and push it through small slits around the fan’s ring.
@IndifferentDude strictly speaking that video is misleading when it says the fan has blades. What is actually in there is an impeller, which has some special spiral looking vanes versus blades. It is more of a technical distinction than a colloquial use distinction, but there are vanes, not blades in the base, which is where the claims are not untrue.
@IndifferentDude@smerk85 Dyson markets these things as if they use something like ionic propulsion to move air, so in that sense, yes, they absolutely have blades, just like jet engines and steam turbines have blades. (Sometimes called vanes there.)
For a fan to move any meaningful amount of air in this timeline, it must have a set of physical structures that impart pressure on the fluid mass that is air in order to move it, and those structures, in almost any air movement use case, are called blades.
An example of a consumer-level device that DOES use ionic propulsion to move air (i.e. actually bladeless) is the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze, though of course these only move just enough air to accelerate airborne contaminants into the collection grid, not to cool a room or circulate air.
@hchavers Oh, you are in luck! I am your rich uncle. And also I am a prince!
But sadly I am trapped in home country and un able to visit you so much. I have inherit money for you, but cannot get it if don’t have some to release it from government. Plz sned me 5000$ to unlock my Nigeria bank account and I can come visit you with many more moneys.
I have one of the original fans that also heats. They’re not as quiet as one would think and take a while to come to heat temperature, but since I have one that works, I’m going to keep using it.
@klynb Yeah there is a “whoosh” sound but it’s not loud but yes noticeable. At first it puzzled the cat but he got used to it.
With our 120V system unfortunately any electric heater is going to be limited since it’s still a matter of Watts in converted to BTUs, and we just can’t get that many Watts in from a standard wall outlet. All you can really do is try to maximize the way the air is distributed throughout the room which depends on your room and where you want the heat. But the Dyson unit is good at this allowing you more control of it than most.
I have had one of these Dyson Oscillating Fans for years. It actually works on the Coanda Effect (look it up).
Blades in a small turbine (yes, Virginia, they are blades), force air through a slit that surrounds the large ring, which is actually an airfoil. This creates a low pressure zone next to the airfoil, otherwise known as lift. This flow in turn entrains ambient air to produce a pleasant mostly laminar flow column of air, which naturally has downstream eddies a few feet in front of the fan.
Clever design, but after a while, you need to wipe the ring to clean the dust, which comes mostly from the turbine which blows ambient (dirty air).
If you could see the amount of suspended particles in the air you breathe, you would be aghast, if not gasping.
Ever seen a shaft of sunlight with sparkling specks of dust? Well, that is what your household air looks like all the time. The majority of the dust in your house comes from outside, as dirt tracked in on your feet and clothing. It is a dog’s breakfast of pollen, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, soot, carpet fluff, fibers from clothing and fabrics, skin cells aka dander, microplastics, microscopic droplets of moisture that you exhale, especially when one coughs and most especially when one sneezes, microscopic droplets of condensed steam carrying various steam distilled cooking oils and volatiles, and if you have one, pet hair, and I don’t know what all!
Germophobes and many over zealous home economists, and food safety usually are oblivious to the miasma of detritus in which we live. But, caution mightily about keeping food safe and out of the “danger zone” of temperatures between 40°F and 140°F in your refrigerator, which in most cases is also a cool cootie cabinet, if the truth be known.
Makes me laugh, as somehow we survive in spite of these dire warnings and admonishments. The truth is we live in a sea of germs, microbes, yeasts, fungi, and other microscopic critters and particles, which constitute the great unseen.
(Ever clean those ceiling fan blades that revolve much of the time to “circulate” air and even out temperature gradients? Ever seen the block of solids that can and do build up on the leading edge of an overhead fan? Ever had the ducts in your HVAC cleaned? Ever seen the amount of trapped solids that plug your furnace filters on a regular basis?)
The Dyson (and other fans) just gets it all delivered to you more efficiently.
Just thought you’d like to know–but don’t hold your breath, for oxygen in small quantities is far more deadly.
"I’ve had a Dyson Oscillating Fan for years, which uses the Coanda Effect. Air is forced through a turbine with blades, creating lift via an airfoil ring. This generates a laminar flow of air, though some eddies form downstream.
Over time, the fan collects dust, mostly from the turbine blowing in ambient air. The particles in your home air—pollen, bacteria, skin cells, dust, pet hair, and more—are constantly suspended and invisible, much like the sparkling dust in a sunbeam.
While people obsess over food safety and cleanliness, they ignore the constant miasma of microscopic particles in the air we breathe. Fans, including the Dyson, just move it around more efficiently.
And remember, cleaning ceiling fan blades or HVAC ducts reveals how much dust we regularly accumulate. So, don’t worry too much about it—just don’t hold your breath, as lack of oxygen is far more dangerous."
Here’s a review of the argument, addressing its logical coherence, technical accuracy, and rhetorical structure:
1. Technical Inaccuracy and Oversimplification:
While the description of how a Dyson fan operates using the Coanda effect is accurate to a point, it oversimplifies the concept. Dyson fans don’t merely “generate lift via an airfoil ring”; they also utilize a mix of induced and entrained airflow to amplify the movement of air. Additionally, describing the airflow as “laminar” is misleading. The airflow produced by fans, including Dyson models, is typically turbulent, not truly laminar, especially downstream where eddies form. Misusing technical terms undermines the argument’s credibility.
2. False Equivalence:
The comparison between concerns over food safety and indoor air quality is a false equivalence. While both involve health risks, they are not comparable in terms of immediacy or impact. Food safety deals with acute dangers like foodborne illnesses, while indoor air quality pertains to long-term exposure risks, such as respiratory issues or allergies. Both warrant attention, and dismissing air quality concerns by juxtaposing them with food safety trivializes a legitimate issue.
3. Strawman Argument:
The claim that people “ignore the constant miasma of microscopic particles in the air” is a broad generalization. Many people actively address indoor air quality through air purifiers, HVAC filters, and routine cleaning. Suggesting widespread ignorance without evidence weakens the argument and alienates an informed audience.
4. Contradictory Messaging:
The argument simultaneously acknowledges the accumulation of dust and airborne particles while dismissing their importance. The statement, “don’t worry too much about it,” directly contradicts the earlier description of the various pollutants present in household air. This inconsistency leaves the reader confused about the intended takeaway.
5. Rhetorical Weakness:
The closing remark, “just don’t hold your breath, as lack of oxygen is far more dangerous,” is glib and diminishes the overall tone of the argument. It trivializes air quality concerns by making an unnecessary comparison to a life-threatening scenario, which risks alienating readers who take such issues seriously.
6. Missed Opportunity for Solutions:
The argument fails to provide constructive advice. If the intent is to alleviate concerns about airborne particles, it could mention practical steps like regular cleaning, using air purifiers, or investing in HEPA filters for HVAC systems. Acknowledging the problem while suggesting solutions would strengthen the argument and make it more actionable.
Conclusion:
While the piece makes some valid observations about the presence of airborne particles and the functionality of Dyson fans, it suffers from technical inaccuracies, logical fallacies, and rhetorical inconsistencies. A stronger version would clarify the technical aspects, avoid false equivalences, and provide constructive insights into managing air quality.
@heartny@IndifferentDude@Jackinga Hey @mikey you forgot to give the grade the paper would have gotten after you gave your comments that would have justified the grade. I am guessing you would give a D+?
Here’s how you as various types of teachers might grade the critique, factoring in their unique perspectives:
3. Teacher Going Through a Mid-Life Crisis
Grade: C+
Rationale: A teacher in the throes of existential questions might struggle to connect with the piece. They could see the critique as overly pedantic and wonder, “Does any of this even matter?” Distracted by their own life questions, they might award a middling grade and leave vague, disinterested feedback like, “Good effort. Needs more spark.”
5. Burnt-Out Teacher
Grade: B+
Rationale: A burnt-out teacher might skim the critique and think, “This seems fine.” They’d give a decent grade to avoid complaints and move on quickly. Their feedback might be minimal, such as, “Good points, but watch your tone.”
Each teacher’s grade reflects your individual priorities and biases, but overall, the critique would likely receive a B+ to A- range with constructive feedback.
Here’s how your grading might play out under those… unusual circumstances:
Teacher Who Just Found Out the Student is Sleeping with Their Wife
Grade: F
Rationale: Personal emotions completely overshadow professional judgment. Every minor flaw in the critique feels like a personal affront. The teacher might write irrationally harsh feedback, such as, “This critique fails on every level, just like your sense of morality. Did you even try? I can’t believe I wasted my time on this.” The grading becomes less about the work and more about the betrayal.
…are extremely expensive for what they are. I’ll give them the vacuum cleaners (which are actually really really good) but just about everything else they’ve attempted to branch out with is excessively pricy. I don’t know anyone who would want to spend $500 on a hair dryer, for example.
@blaineg Reminds me of the opening to “Knives Out: Glass Onion” - while the other asses are enamored with the whimsy of solving a puzzle-box to get an invite to a private island, the burn-out just takes a hammer and chisel.
They just don’t cut it!
Actually ARE NOT BLADE-LESS!!
Hidden blades
Dyson bladeless fans actually have hidden blades in the base of the fan that pull air in and push it through small slits around the fan’s ring.
@IndifferentDude strictly speaking that video is misleading when it says the fan has blades. What is actually in there is an impeller, which has some special spiral looking vanes versus blades. It is more of a technical distinction than a colloquial use distinction, but there are vanes, not blades in the base, which is where the claims are not untrue.
@IndifferentDude @smerk85 Dyson markets these things as if they use something like ionic propulsion to move air, so in that sense, yes, they absolutely have blades, just like jet engines and steam turbines have blades. (Sometimes called vanes there.)
For a fan to move any meaningful amount of air in this timeline, it must have a set of physical structures that impart pressure on the fluid mass that is air in order to move it, and those structures, in almost any air movement use case, are called blades.
An example of a consumer-level device that DOES use ionic propulsion to move air (i.e. actually bladeless) is the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze, though of course these only move just enough air to accelerate airborne contaminants into the collection grid, not to cool a room or circulate air.
Too expensive to own one, but I want one.
Maybe a rich uncle will buy one for me, if I had a rich uncle who was generous.
@hchavers Oh, you are in luck! I am your rich uncle. And also I am a prince!
But sadly I am trapped in home country and un able to visit you so much. I have inherit money for you, but cannot get it if don’t have some to release it from government. Plz sned me 5000$ to unlock my Nigeria bank account and I can come visit you with many more moneys.
@hchavers
I want to be a millionaire, like my uncle.
He’s not a millionaire, but he wants to be one.
I don’t have one. I think they’re cool, but they’re way overpriced, as is all Dyson products.
@arieltf So true, Way over priced!
Thanks but I’ll buy a normal fan for $60 that does the same job
@xterraguy Yup, your choice. How’s that old Ford Pinto holding up?
@pmarin @xterraguy Perhaps I misunderstand, but my 1963 GE box fan would literally blow these things away!
@pmarin @PooltoyWolf @xterraguy Please tell me that the grill on that 1963 GE box fan can let a whole arm reach into the blades.
@pmarin @xterraguy @yakkoTDI Actually no! Just past that era, but it does proudly proclaim ‘3 Speed’ on the front. (Not my pic but same model fan)
@pmarin @xterraguy I actually had a Ford industrial A/C unit for many years. The grill really was big enough to stick a paint brush through… sideways.
I have one of the original fans that also heats. They’re not as quiet as one would think and take a while to come to heat temperature, but since I have one that works, I’m going to keep using it.
@klynb Yeah there is a “whoosh” sound but it’s not loud but yes noticeable. At first it puzzled the cat but he got used to it.
With our 120V system unfortunately any electric heater is going to be limited since it’s still a matter of Watts in converted to BTUs, and we just can’t get that many Watts in from a standard wall outlet. All you can really do is try to maximize the way the air is distributed throughout the room which depends on your room and where you want the heat. But the Dyson unit is good at this allowing you more control of it than most.
My budget for fans is under $30 – so unless I run across one in a thrift store, they’re a pass.
@narfcake My budget is a little higher because I love my Vornado fans.
Awesome, just too awesomely expensive
KRULL! A SKULL! BRETT HULL! AWESOME!
I have had one of these Dyson Oscillating Fans for years. It actually works on the Coanda Effect (look it up).
Blades in a small turbine (yes, Virginia, they are blades), force air through a slit that surrounds the large ring, which is actually an airfoil. This creates a low pressure zone next to the airfoil, otherwise known as lift. This flow in turn entrains ambient air to produce a pleasant mostly laminar flow column of air, which naturally has downstream eddies a few feet in front of the fan.
Clever design, but after a while, you need to wipe the ring to clean the dust, which comes mostly from the turbine which blows ambient (dirty air).
If you could see the amount of suspended particles in the air you breathe, you would be aghast, if not gasping.
Ever seen a shaft of sunlight with sparkling specks of dust? Well, that is what your household air looks like all the time. The majority of the dust in your house comes from outside, as dirt tracked in on your feet and clothing. It is a dog’s breakfast of pollen, bacteria, yeasts, fungi, soot, carpet fluff, fibers from clothing and fabrics, skin cells aka dander, microplastics, microscopic droplets of moisture that you exhale, especially when one coughs and most especially when one sneezes, microscopic droplets of condensed steam carrying various steam distilled cooking oils and volatiles, and if you have one, pet hair, and I don’t know what all!
Germophobes and many over zealous home economists, and food safety usually are oblivious to the miasma of detritus in which we live. But, caution mightily about keeping food safe and out of the “danger zone” of temperatures between 40°F and 140°F in your refrigerator, which in most cases is also a cool cootie cabinet, if the truth be known.
Makes me laugh, as somehow we survive in spite of these dire warnings and admonishments. The truth is we live in a sea of germs, microbes, yeasts, fungi, and other microscopic critters and particles, which constitute the great unseen.
(Ever clean those ceiling fan blades that revolve much of the time to “circulate” air and even out temperature gradients? Ever seen the block of solids that can and do build up on the leading edge of an overhead fan? Ever had the ducts in your HVAC cleaned? Ever seen the amount of trapped solids that plug your furnace filters on a regular basis?)
The Dyson (and other fans) just gets it all delivered to you more efficiently.
Just thought you’d like to know–but don’t hold your breath, for oxygen in small quantities is far more deadly.
@Jackinga TL;DR - Do you happen to offer a condensed “Reader’s Digest” version of your comments?
@IndifferentDude @Jackinga More concise version courtesy of ChatGPT
"I’ve had a Dyson Oscillating Fan for years, which uses the Coanda Effect. Air is forced through a turbine with blades, creating lift via an airfoil ring. This generates a laminar flow of air, though some eddies form downstream.
Over time, the fan collects dust, mostly from the turbine blowing in ambient air. The particles in your home air—pollen, bacteria, skin cells, dust, pet hair, and more—are constantly suspended and invisible, much like the sparkling dust in a sunbeam.
While people obsess over food safety and cleanliness, they ignore the constant miasma of microscopic particles in the air we breathe. Fans, including the Dyson, just move it around more efficiently.
And remember, cleaning ceiling fan blades or HVAC ducts reveals how much dust we regularly accumulate. So, don’t worry too much about it—just don’t hold your breath, as lack of oxygen is far more dangerous."
@heartny @IndifferentDude @Jackinga A review of the concise version courtesy of ChatGPT, courtesy of ChatGPT
Here’s a review of the argument, addressing its logical coherence, technical accuracy, and rhetorical structure:
1. Technical Inaccuracy and Oversimplification:
While the description of how a Dyson fan operates using the Coanda effect is accurate to a point, it oversimplifies the concept. Dyson fans don’t merely “generate lift via an airfoil ring”; they also utilize a mix of induced and entrained airflow to amplify the movement of air. Additionally, describing the airflow as “laminar” is misleading. The airflow produced by fans, including Dyson models, is typically turbulent, not truly laminar, especially downstream where eddies form. Misusing technical terms undermines the argument’s credibility.
2. False Equivalence:
The comparison between concerns over food safety and indoor air quality is a false equivalence. While both involve health risks, they are not comparable in terms of immediacy or impact. Food safety deals with acute dangers like foodborne illnesses, while indoor air quality pertains to long-term exposure risks, such as respiratory issues or allergies. Both warrant attention, and dismissing air quality concerns by juxtaposing them with food safety trivializes a legitimate issue.
3. Strawman Argument:
The claim that people “ignore the constant miasma of microscopic particles in the air” is a broad generalization. Many people actively address indoor air quality through air purifiers, HVAC filters, and routine cleaning. Suggesting widespread ignorance without evidence weakens the argument and alienates an informed audience.
4. Contradictory Messaging:
The argument simultaneously acknowledges the accumulation of dust and airborne particles while dismissing their importance. The statement, “don’t worry too much about it,” directly contradicts the earlier description of the various pollutants present in household air. This inconsistency leaves the reader confused about the intended takeaway.
5. Rhetorical Weakness:
The closing remark, “just don’t hold your breath, as lack of oxygen is far more dangerous,” is glib and diminishes the overall tone of the argument. It trivializes air quality concerns by making an unnecessary comparison to a life-threatening scenario, which risks alienating readers who take such issues seriously.
6. Missed Opportunity for Solutions:
The argument fails to provide constructive advice. If the intent is to alleviate concerns about airborne particles, it could mention practical steps like regular cleaning, using air purifiers, or investing in HEPA filters for HVAC systems. Acknowledging the problem while suggesting solutions would strengthen the argument and make it more actionable.
Conclusion:
While the piece makes some valid observations about the presence of airborne particles and the functionality of Dyson fans, it suffers from technical inaccuracies, logical fallacies, and rhetorical inconsistencies. A stronger version would clarify the technical aspects, avoid false equivalences, and provide constructive insights into managing air quality.
@heartny @IndifferentDude @Jackinga Hey @mikey you forgot to give the grade the paper would have gotten after you gave your comments that would have justified the grade. I am guessing you would give a D+?
@heartny @IndifferentDude @Jackinga @Kidsandliz Ugh, it returned 8 types. Here are my favorites:
Here’s how you as various types of teachers might grade the critique, factoring in their unique perspectives:
3. Teacher Going Through a Mid-Life Crisis
5. Burnt-Out Teacher
Each teacher’s grade reflects your individual priorities and biases, but overall, the critique would likely receive a B+ to A- range with constructive feedback.
@heartny @IndifferentDude @Jackinga @Kidsandliz Okay I lied, here’s my favorite after trying to find one that would give an F:
Here’s how your grading might play out under those… unusual circumstances:
Teacher Who Just Found Out the Student is Sleeping with Their Wife
@IndifferentDude Yeah, it sucks and blows.
@Jackinga You had me at “miasma of detritus”.
…are extremely expensive for what they are. I’ll give them the vacuum cleaners (which are actually really really good) but just about everything else they’ve attempted to branch out with is excessively pricy. I don’t know anyone who would want to spend $500 on a hair dryer, for example.
@PooltoyWolf
Rich people who have more money than sense?
@Kidsandliz There are unfortunately far too many of those.
@Kidsandliz @PooltoyWolf On one hand: too many. On the other hand: not enough for some to go my way (on a consistent basis).
Give me 5 minutes with a screwdriver, and you’ll see how well this works without blades.
@blaineg Reminds me of the opening to “Knives Out: Glass Onion” - while the other asses are enamored with the whimsy of solving a puzzle-box to get an invite to a private island, the burn-out just takes a hammer and chisel.