Turbine Airflow – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
Turbine Airflow is a vapetank design that uses a spinning, fan-like chimney to swirl incoming air before it reaches the coil. Inspired by jet-engine turbines, the system channels air through angled slots or a miniature impeller, creating a cyclone effect inside the chamber. This turbulence cools the temperature control (TC) coil faster, smooths the Hit“>throat hit, and produces denser, more flavourful vapour. Because the air spirals rather than rushes straight in, Turbine Airflow reduces whistling, minimises spit-back, and allows higher-wattage vaping without harshness, making it popular among Australian cloud-chasers and flavour seekers alike.
Technical Details
Internally, a Turbine Airflow head contains a Delrin or PEEK impeller with 3–5 helical blades angled 30–45°. Air enters via 2 × 3 mm intake ports at the top fill cap base, strikes the blades, and is forced into a rotational velocity of roughly 15 000 RPM at 60 W. The resulting vortex lowers coil surface temperature by 8–12 °C and increases Reynolds number, improving vapour-to-liquid contact time by 0.15 s. Variants include fixed-blade “mini turbines” for MTL tanks and adjustable turbines where the blade pitch can be narrowed for tighter draw or opened for direct-lung. Most turbines are stainless steel, but Wire“>titanium wire turbine inserts are sold as aftermarket accessories for TC purists.
Usage & Tips
- Prime the coil with 5–7 drops before first use; the vortex can dry-wick faster than standard chimneys.
- Keep blade windows clear of sweetener build-up by rinsing under warm water weekly—gunk unbalances the spin and reduces flavour.
- If you hear a high-p whistle, back airflow ring off 1 mm; turbine slots may be partially blocked.
- Run 10–20 W below your normal setting when switching to TC mode; the cooler swirl can trick some mods into under-powering.
- Never overtighten the turbine insert—micro-cracks in PEEK will cause air leaks and diminish the cyclone effect.
History & Context
Turbine Airflow debuted in 2018 when Melbourne-based manufacturer Vapejet retrofitted RC helicopter blades into a Sub-Ohm Tank”>sub-ohm tank to combat Aussie heat-induced dry hits. The design quickly spread to Asian factories, becoming a staple feature in 2021 “cloud competition” tanks Down Under, where outdoor vaping in 35 °C summers demands superior cooling.