Poor airflow can make working conditions unbearable in factories, warehouses, and other industrial spaces. Industrial fans are crucial for air circulation and dealing with heat load. Two common options are wall mount and roof mount fans, but which one is best for your facility’s airflow needs?
We can help you identify which style of industrial fan will best support your ventilation requirements. At Eldridge, we provide our customers with top-quality industrial fans and ventilation system components. Contact us today for a survey and assessment of your facility’s ventilation system and let us help you create a more comfortable and productive work environment.
Fans Designed for Industrial Ventilation
Industrial fans are designed to move large volumes of air in demanding environments. They are engineered with heavy-gauge metal construction and high-performance motors that allow them to endure the rigors of industrial use.
Beyond simply moving air, industrial fans help with temperature control by removing solar and operational head loads within factories and warehouses. This is key in industrial facilities, as heat not only affects worker health and safety, but also impacts the performance of machinery and equipment. With the right placement, industrial fans create an evaporative cooling effect to workers by moving more air and increasing the air change rate in the building.
Many industrial processes generate airborne contaminants, such as dust, fumes, smoke, and chemical vapors. Industrial fans help dilute and remove these contaminants by exhausting them outdoors or extracting them into filtration or containment systems. This also helps distribute fresh air more evenly throughout all areas of the workspace to support overall ventilation.
Comparing Industrial Fan Placement – Wall and Roof
Wall mounted fans are typically used for exhaust or intake. When used for exhaust, they pull air from the facility and expel it outside. This can create a negative pressure, drawing in fresh air through other openings. When used for intake, they bring fresh air into the facility to help create a positive pressure. These types of fans are most effective for localized ventilation or when targeting specific areas.
Roof mounted fans are often used for general ventilation in large spaces. They can exhaust hot, rising air, promoting natural convection. Roof mounted fans can also be used for supply, bringing in fresh air from above. Their placement allows for a more even distribution of airflow throughout the facility.
Calculating Airflow in an Industrial Facility
Calculating airflow movement involves understanding how air moves within a space. The most common metric for measuring airflow is cubic feet per minute (CFM). This indicates the volume of air a fan can move in a minute.
To calculate airflow, you need to consider the space’s volume and the desired air changes per hour (ACH). ACH refers to how many times the air in a space is completely replaced within an hour. Industrial facilities often require higher ACH due to machinery, processes, and potential pollutants. The standard formula for CFM calculation is CFM = (Room Volume in cubic feet) x (ACH) / 60.
Several factors directly influence your airflow and need to be taken into account when determining how to optimize airflow within your facility. They include:
- Temperature: Hot air rises, while cool air falls. This natural convection can impact how air circulates.
- Humidity: Humid air is denser than dry air, affecting its movement.
- Obstructions: Machinery, equipment, and stored materials can disrupt airflow.
- Building layout: The shape and size of the facility, along with the presence of walls and partitions, influence air movement.
Impact of Fan Placement on Airflow
Whether in a wall or the roof, your industrial fan greatly impacts airflow patterns in your workspace. For example, a wall-mounted exhaust fan creates a directional airflow, effectively pulling air towards the fan but potentially creating dead zones in other areas. A wall-mounted intake fan pushes air into the facility, which can create areas of high pressure and disrupt natural convection patterns. For roof mounted fans, an exhaust fan helps with natural ventilation as it promotes vertical airflow, capturing and exhausting hot air as it rises. An intake fan located in a central roof area is able to distribute fresh air more evenly throughout the space.
To optimize airflow in your industrial facility, you may need a combination of strategies. This could include using both wall-mounted and roof-mounted fans to create a balanced and efficient ventilation system; placing fans more strategically to avoid obstructions and maximize their impact on airflow; and using natural ventilation sources like windows and other openings to supplement mechanical ventilation.
Technical Design to Maximize Your Industrial Ventilation
Effective industrial ventilation design is far more than just installing the biggest fan available and hoping for the best. It’s a science that relies heavily on accurate technical calculations to achieve optimal performance and ensure a safe and healthy environment. Simply guessing at fan size and placement can lead to several problems, including inadequate ventilation, wasted energy, and even safety hazards.
Technical calculations are essential for determining the specific ventilation requirements of your facility, and consequently, a better understanding of what type of industrial fan you need. This involves considering factors like the size and layout of the space, the number of occupants, the heat generated by machinery and processes, and the presence of any airborne contaminants. Fan performance curves and system resistance calculations are used to match fan characteristics to the specific needs of the ventilation system.
Expertise in Industrial Fans and Ventilation – Eldridge
We are your go-to source for everything related to industrial fans and ventilation. Our team provides tailored solutions, from system design and installation to upgrades and retrofitting. Contact Eldridge today for a consultation and let us help you create a more efficient and productive facility.