Industrial fans for ventilation are essential for controlling air quality, temperature, and hazardous fumes. It’s essential to choose the right type of fan for your facility and operation, but with so many factors to consider, it can be difficult to narrow it down.
Metal or fiberglass? What size and configuration? Where’s the best placement for optimal airflow?
At Eldridge, we’re experts in industrial ventilation assessment, design, and installation. We work with diverse industrial settings, from chemical plants to cleanrooms.
We’ll help you select the perfect industrial fan for your ventilation system. Contact us to schedule a technical assessment with our experienced team.
Fans are Key to Your Industrial Ventilation System
The performance of your industrial fan directly impacts the effectiveness and efficiency of your overall ventilation system. Proper fan selection and placement are crucial for balancing the ventilation system. This ensures even airflow distribution and prevents issues like dead zones or excessive pressure drops.
The main role of an industrial fan is to generate the necessary airflow to remove contaminants, regulate temperature, and maintain air quality. The blade size, shape, and rotational speed determine the volume and velocity of air moved. At the same time, the fan should be efficient enough to minimize energy consumption while still delivering the required airflow. Blade design, motor efficiency, and fan speed control all directly impact energy usage.
Industrial ventilation systems often encounter resistance to airflow due to ductwork, filters, and other components. This resistance is known as static pressure. Fans must overcome this pressure to effectively move air through the system. A fan with insufficient static pressure capability will struggle to maintain proper airflow, leading to poor ventilation.
While operating, industrial fans can generate significant noise, which in turn can impact worker comfort and safety. Fan design, blade profile, and operating speed all influence noise levels. If a fan is too noisy, you may need to implement additional noise reduction measures into your ventilation system design.
Comparing Metal and Fiberglass Materials
Industrial environments are tough on equipment. From scorching heat, corrosive chemicals, dust-filled air, and constant vibrations, your ventilation system needs to stand up to these challenges day in and day out.
Traditionally, industrial fans were made of metal such as steel or aluminum. But in harsh environments, these metals can degrade over time. Exposure to acidic fumes, caustic chemicals, salty air, or even high humidity can trigger corrosion in metal fans. Rust can also weaken the fan blades, housing, and supports, which compromises the fan’s structural integrity. These issues not only lead to costly repairs but also increase the risk of downtime and safety hazards. A corroded fan blade could break off during operation and potentially cause injury or damage to equipment. In environments with flammable materials, sparks from a damaged fan could even ignite a fire.
Fiberglass fans are an excellent alternative to metal fans. As a material, fiberglass is inherently non-reactive to most chemicals, acids, and alkalis. This means it won’t rust or corrode, even in highly corrosive environments where metal fans would quickly deteriorate. It also has an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, making it significantly lighter than steel while still matching it in durability. This means lower shipping costs, easier installation, and reduced strain on supporting structures.
Lighter Weight Fans for Lower Cost Installation
Heavy metal fans often require more robust supporting structures, which can add complexity and cost to your industrial fan and ventilation installation. Fiberglass is significantly lighter, making it easier and less expensive to integrate into your building. For example, a typical 36-inch diameter steel fan might weigh over 200 pounds. A comparable fiberglass fan could weigh less than 100 pounds—a 50% reduction.
Not only do lighter fans require less structural support, reducing labor time and the need for specialized lifting equipment, but it puts less stress on your building. This is especially important in older buildings or those with roof-mounted ventilation systems.
Best Applications for Industrial Fiberglass Fans
If you need an industrial fan that can handle tough conditions, fiberglass may be the way to go. These fans are built to last, even in the harshest environments.
Corrosive Environments
Chemical Processing: Chemical plants handle a wide range of aggressive substances that can quickly corrode metal. Fiberglass fans, however, are impervious to most acids, alkalis, and solvents.
Wastewater Treatment: Wastewater treatment facilities encounter highly corrosive environments due to the presence of sewage, chemicals, and byproducts. Industrial fiberglass fans are ideal for ventilation and odor control.
Pulp and Paper Mills: The pulp and paper industry utilizes strong chemicals and generates corrosive byproducts. Fiberglass fans provide reliable ventilation in areas like digesters, bleach plants, and paper machines.
Metal Plating and Finishing: Metal plating and finishing operations involve acidic solutions and corrosive fumes, but fiberglass fans resist these harsh conditions.
High-Moisture Environments
Cooling Towers: Cooling towers are constantly exposed to water and high humidity, making them prime candidates for corrosion. Fiberglass fans resist moisture damage and maintain optimal performance in these critical cooling systems.
Agricultural Settings: Greenhouses, livestock facilities, and other agricultural environments often involve high humidity, manure, and fertilizers. Industrial fans made of fiberglass provide reliable ventilation and resist corrosion from these substances.
Hazardous Locations
Oil and Gas Refineries: Refineries handle flammable and explosive materials, requiring equipment that minimizes the risk of sparks. Non-conductive fiberglass fans are a safe and reliable choice for ventilation in these hazardous environments.
Grain Handling Facilities: Grain dust is highly combustible, and sparks from metal fans can trigger explosions. Fiberglass fans eliminate this risk, ensuring safe ventilation in grain elevators, silos, and processing plants.
Paint Booths and Finishing Areas: Paint booths and finishing areas often contain flammable solvents and coatings. Due to their non-reactivity, fiberglass fans help minimize the risk of fire.
Cleanroom Applications
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Pharmaceutical production requires strict control over air quality and contamination. Due to their smooth surfaces and resistance to particle buildup, fiberglass fans are ideal for maintaining cleanroom environments.
Electronics Production: The electronics industry demands pristine air quality to prevent contamination of sensitive components. The non-reactive and non-conductive features of fiberglass helps maintain the necessary cleanroom conditions for manufacturing microchips and other electronic devices.
Laboratories and Research Facilities: Laboratories and research facilities often require controlled environments for experiments and testing. Fiberglass fans can provide reliable ventilation while minimizing the risk of contamination.
Expert Source for Industrial Fans and Ventilation Components
When compared to traditional metal fans, industrial fiberglass fans have a combination of durability, corrosion resistance, and lightweight strength that can’t be matched.
Upgrade your facility with a reliable industrial fan that helps your ventilation system perform as efficiently as possible. Our team at Eldridge can help find the perfect solution for your needs and ensure a smooth installation process. Contact us today to learn more.