A fluid can be accelerated to high velocities using electrostatic forces and no moving parts. This concept termed \"ion-driven\"" \""ionic\"" \""Chattock\"" \""electrohydrodynamic\"" \""electrokinetic\"" or \""corona\"" wind has been known for over a hundred years. However only a few meters per second have been obtainable for all designs until now. Typically a strong electric field is applied between a sharp and rounded electrode separated by some distance and submerged in a fluidic medium (gas or liquid). The Coulombic force on ions present in the interelectrode space drives the fluid from the sharp to the rounded electrode and the flow velocity increases with increasing electric field strength. However the electric field required for even modest flow velocities is large and the production of high velocities is prohibited by spark breakdown."
The advantage of high velocity ion-driven wind generators are silent operation and longevity due to no moving parts and flexibility in duct shape since the cross-section of the duct can be virtually any shape. Possibly advantageous on the small scale (< 1 inch) compared to fans which are inefficient at the small scale.