Panasonic engineers have worked on one of their own outdoor air conditioning systems, adding the ability to form an image directly in the air. The new product is called Silky Fine Mist and is primarily positioned as a means of combating heat.
The design of the device uses unique two-fluid Green AC Flex and Green AC nozzles developed by Panasonic. They use a combination of pressurized water and compressed air to atomize particles 6 to 10 microns in diameter, creating a fine, smooth plane of water mist. This flow does not feel wet to the touch, but at the same time provides pleasant coolness on a hot day. According to the company, since the system’s debut in 2019, such air conditioners have become widely used in railway stations and public buildings in Japan.
Over time, Panasonic engineers realized that the water mist created during operation of the device could be used for art installations. As a result of some refinement, the company achieved that during the operation of the air conditioner, an image is formed directly in the air. It looks almost like a hologram. However, the image on the fog surface is not as clear as on other transparent surfaces.
Note that the Silky Fine Mist device can hardly be called compact, since it is about a meter wide and high, and its weight is 190 kg. In addition to this, the device consumes 2.4 kilowatts of energy.