Iron Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Products Design · 2022

Torus Fan

by Dosun Shin and Seyla Muise

A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Products Design
Awarded April 15, 2022
CLIENT: Arizona State University
Estimated Number of Design Views: 26,418
Verification code FF4F432051 · Verify this award

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About Torus Fan

Torus is a portable fan that distributes air in 360 degrees. Two motors drive the airflow, so several people around the fan can be cooled at the same time and without interruption. The circular air distribution removes the need for oscillation, which many standard fans use to reach a wider area. Noise produced during operation is kept low to improve comfort. The outer shell is inspired by the Venus flower basket, a natural structure of glass fibers that form small squares in a cylinder. Torus measures 18 inches in height and 10.5 inches in diameter.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: Torus is the fan that distributes air in 360 degrees and offers a more efficient and sustainable way to better circulate and cool the air in a space. Torus uses two motors that provide 360° air flow, and this allows the fan to simultaneously cool multiple people around the fan continuously. In order to maximize comfort, Torus also aims to minimize the amount of noise that it produces while operating.
Dimensions & Packaging: Height: 18 Inches
Diameter: 10.5 Inches
Tags: 360° air flow, Inspired by Biomimicry
Production Technology: Torus uses a cutting-edge DC motor developed by LG to provide 360° air flow.
Design Challenge: When it comes to cooling a space down, stagnant air causes a great deal of discomfort for people. To manage the stagnant air in their home many people will opt to a standard box fan. Many standalone fans of today’s market lack the ability to properly circulate air within a space. User’s must settle for a fan that only blows in one direction or wait for a model that oscillates to swing back and forth in their direction. This forces users to choose between enduring long periods of stagnant warm air or sacrifice areas which their fan would help to cool down. In typical households, quick cooling for large rooms requires several of these inefficient fans placed in different locations to circulate air properly.
Project Duration: The project started in August 2018 at Arizona State University in the U.S and finished in May 2019.
Operation Flow: Torus uses a cutting edge DC motor developed by LG
to provide 360° air flow. This allows the fan to simultaneously cool multiple people around the fan continuously. In order
to maximize comfort Torus also aims to minimize the amount of noise that it produces while operating. The new motor
and unique vent design provide users with a single solution to cooling and comfort.
Research: According to US-Inventions.com, Franklin Institute in 1904 officially credited Schuyler Wheeler for inventing portable fan in 1882. The fan had two blades and used extremely dangerous open wound motor to push air forward. Since then, over 130 years, the fan has more or less stayed the same blowing air in only one direction. Our team aimed to change a market that has stayed the same for over 130 years. Although there have been some innovations in the shapes of the
fan blades and energy efficiency, one-directional air flow is a highly inefficient way to circulate air throughout a space.
Our product circulates air in 360 degrees without oscillation. Our team was seeking ways to change current standalone fans to better circulate air around the room. Torus blows air in 360 degrees and offers a more efficient and sustainable way to better circulate and cool the air in a space.
Inspiration: The outer shell of Torus was inspired by the Venus flower basket. Flexible but tough, these glass fibers make small squares and form a cylinder.
Image Credits: Image #1: Rendered by Dosun Shin
Image #2: Rendered by Dosun Shin
Image #3: Rendered by Dosun Shin