An important difference between FANWALL® systems and other fan array systems available today, is the ability of FANWALL systems to provide on/off control of fans to maintain peak energy efficiency and static pressure over the airflow range of an air handler. This capability has been further enhanced with three new offerings available with FANWALL systems.
Improved System Optimization Controls for FANWALL systems optimize the ability to automatically reconfigure the number of active fans, and control the speed of enabled fans. This allows the air handler to achieve peak efficiency, and maintain static pressure over its airflow range. The controls also include:
The controller displays the following information on a standalone interface at the control panel, or remotely through a BAS interface:
A dedicated VFD for each fan and motor combination provides the electrical means for on/off fan and motor speed control. In addition to refining control, the individual VFD’s eliminate the need for a bypass VFD and reduce wiring requirements and the overall size of the control panel required for a FANWALL system.
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An integral part of System Optimization Controls for FANWALL systems is the new model FBD backdraft damper. Disabling a fan or fans in a FANWALL system requires a means to prevent backflow of air through the idled cube. Traditional dampers, while capable of performing this function, were not designed for a fan array application and impose unwanted airflow and static pressure losses (system effect), in addition to adding to acoustic and leakage concerns.
The patent pending model FBD backdraft damper has a revolutionary new blade profile that laminarizes incoming air and actually improves flow characteristics. In testing, this revolutionary new damper has been shown to impose near zero system effect with reduced acoustic impact (see graph).
In addition, the new model FBD backdraft damper has a low leakage rate of only 2 cfm/sq. ft. at one-inch of static pressure. This far exceeds requirements for a 1A class rating for control dampers and is nearly nine times less than the industry standard backdraft damper, which has a reported leakage of 17.5 cfm/sq. ft. at the same static pressure!
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Motor
Frame Size
Typical
Horsepower Selections
Expanded Horsepower Selections
143T
1.0
145T
1.5
2.0
2.5
182T
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
184T
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
213T
7.5
8.0
8.5
9.0
9.5
215T
10.0
10.5
11.0
11.5
12.0
254T
15.0
One of the hallmarks of FANWALL TECHNOLOGY is the use of smaller motor sizes, typically less than 10 horsepower (hp). This design principle provides several benefits:
Incremental horsepower motors support this design principle by allowing expanded motor selections within a given horsepower range versus what is traditionally available from motor manufacturers (see chart).
For example, if the design fan brake horsepower (bhp) for an application is 5.13 bhp, a designer would traditionally be required to select a nominal 7.5 hp motor for the fan according to the chart shown on the right. While the fan would only consume 5.13 bhp at design, both the motor and the building's electrical system (wiring, VFDs, and electrical components) would be sized for 7.5 hp. As motors get larger, the gap between traditional selections becomes greater, leaving more potential for oversizing.
Expanded horsepower motor selections would allow a designer to select a 5.5 horsepower motor–much closer to the design fan bhp–and reduce the connected load, wiring, and switchgear costs for the building.
Availability of incremental horsepower motors is the same as standard motor selections because they are not a unique product for motor manufacturers. They are standard NEMA motors that have been re-rated, nameplated, and fully warranted based on their use in a FANWALL cube.
This is made possible by the unique airflow pattern in a FANWALL cube, and the Coplanar Silencer® that encases the airflow while providing acoustic benefits. These serve to force more air over the motor fins for cooling, which is important to improving the capacity of a motor. In regular open plenum fan type arrangements, airflow is not directed over a standard motor—so the added efficiency is not realized.
FANWALL TECHNOLOGY is only available from CES Group, Inc. companies, including: Eaton-Williams®, Governair®, HUNTAIR®, Mammoth®, Temtrol®, Venmar CES™, Ventrol®. Contact your nearest authorized CES Group representative to learn more about how you and your clients can enjoy the FANWALL advantage.