Industrial fans are the backbone of many commercial and industrial spaces, providing crucial air flow and temperature control. Whether you’re looking to maintain a comfortable working environment or keep your products at the right temperature, an industrial fan is a must-have.
In countries like the US and Canada, they play a critical role in maintaining the air flow and temperature control in large facilities and commercial spaces. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which fan is right for you. That’s why it’s important to choose a fan that’s not only reliable but also powerful and efficient. In many cases, bigger is indeed better when it comes to industrial fans.
At Refresh Fans, we’re dedicated to providing high-quality and efficient industrial fans to businesses across the USA and Canada. With years of experience in the industry, we’re confident that we can help you find the perfect fan for your needs, whether you’re in need of a large industrial fan or a compact one. Read on to learn more about why bigger industrial fans are the better choice for most industrial settings.
But first, let’s learn some basics of HVLS fans:
WHAT IS AN HVLS FAN?
An HVLS fan is a type of large industrial ceiling fan with propellers of seven feet or more. HVLS fans are predominantly used in the commercial, industrial, and agricultural industries since they often have large, high-ceilinged open-concept buildings. HVLS fans provide an array of benefits through high-volume, low-speed air circulation.
With its long propellers, an HVLS fan produces enormous columns of air, pushing and circulating large volumes of air that are orders of magnitude higher than that of small household fans or high-speed generators using the same amount of electricity to run.
The reason why HVLS fans are so much more efficient has to do with science, and with fluid dynamics in particular. It turns out that higher velocity air, the type you might find moved by small household fans, is harder to produce, and requires more energy to do so.
A household fan is the opposite of an HVLS fan, in that its blades turn extremely quickly. This generates much more friction and air resistance, which is created when a column of fast-moving air comes into contact with stationary air on its peripheries. Because HVLS fans generate a low-velocity air column, there is much less friction and air resistance, which means the fan costs much less energy to run.
In terms of cost and energy use, doubling the speed of fan blades costs four times as much energy, and tripling the speed of fan blades costs eight times as much energy. The relationship of fan speed to cost is not linear. In fact, quadrupling fan speed costs 16 times as much energy!
That’s why the slowly-moving blades of an HVLS are such an important cost-savings decision. Large industrial ceiling fans create the necessary air movement and associated air circulation that can be such a benefit to indoor industrial environments and buildings, but at a much lower cost.
Here are some examples of great indoor locations in which to use an industrial fan:
Warehouses
Manufacturing Plants
Barns
Distribution Centers
Auto industry
Shopping Malls
Airports
Sports Centers
Greenhouses
Cannabis Production Facilities
Dairy Farms
The most obvious advantage of industrial fans of large size is that they can move more air than smaller fans. This can be crucial in large industrial spaces where huge airflow is required to keep workers comfortable and maintain optimal production conditions. In addition, bigger fans can move larger volumes of air, which can help improve the air quality in the space. Finally, industrial ceiling fans are essential in industrial environments where there may be hazardous materials present.
Bigger industrial ceiling fans are also more efficient at cooling large spaces. Because they can move more air, they can dissipate heat more quickly and effectively. This can help keep workers comfortable and increase productivity. In addition, the larger the fan, the more air it can circulate, which can help cool the entire space more effectively. It is essential in our North American climate, where the temperature can be scorching during the summer months. Industrial fans play a crucial role in keeping the working environment cool and comfortable.
Bigger industrial ceiling fans can also help improve air quality by circulating fresh air throughout the space and removing smoke and fumes. They can also help reduce harmful pollutants and improve the air quality in the room: better air quality can also help to improve workers’ productivity by reducing the risk of absenteeism due to health issues. Workers are more likely to be productive and engaged when they are healthy and comfortable.
While industrial fans may have a higher initial cost, they can be more cost-effective in the long run. Because they are more efficient at moving air and cooling large spaces, they can help reduce energy costs. The energy savings that come with using a large industrial fan can offset the fan’s initial cost over time. Additionally, bigger industrial ceiling fans are more durable, making them less likely to break down and require costly repairs or replacements. This can save you money in the long run as you won’t have to replace the fan as often.
Increased safety is one of the key benefits of using larger industrial ceiling fans. By circulating air more effectively, these fans can help to reduce the build-up of combustible gases in space. This is particularly important in industrial settings where there may be a fire risk due to flammable materials or gases. Proper ventilation is crucial for reducing the concentration of combustible gases and vapours in the air. In addition, industrial fans can move more air and increase the air exchange rate, which can help reduce the fire risk.
Bigger industrial ceiling fans offer more versatility in terms of their usage. You can use them in various settings, such as warehouses, manufacturing plants, and other large industrial spaces. They can also be used in environments requiring specialized ventilation, such as removing smoke and fumes in industrial environments. In addition, their large diameter allows them to move a large amount of air, which is essential in the case of emergency ventilation.
A quieter work environment is a significant benefit of using larger industrial fans. Smaller, high-speed fans can generate a substantial amount of noise, distracting workers and making it difficult for them to concentrate on their tasks. In contrast, a large industrial fan is designed to run at a slower speed, which can make it much quieter when it is in operation.
Not all solutions need to be complicated or expensive. A simple, expertly designed industrial fan solves many problems facilities face today, and can actually save you money. Large open-concept buildings are susceptible to moisture and airborne contaminants, which can include volatile organic compounds, pollen, and chemical fumes. Without proper air circulation, this can lead to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
Staff, visitors, and even farm animals can experience negative health effects, which can range from headaches to nausea and dizziness to respiratory diseases. An industrial HVLS fan promotes better air circulation, so your staff, visitors, and animals can breathe easier while inside the building.
Industrial ceiling fans offer many benefits for industrial operations in the USA and Canada. They can move more air, cool large spaces more efficiently, improve air quality, and be cost-effective and durable. They are ideal for large industrial areas where huge airflow is required, such as warehouses and manufacturing plants, and for environments requiring specialized ventilation. At, Refresh Fans, we not only have some of the best Italian-engineered industrial ceiling HVLS fans on the market, but we are also a great resource for information in case you’re starting out your research.
If you’re looking to improve the air quality and comfort of your industrial space, consider using the services of Refresh Fans. Contact us to learn more about how they can help your business.
Do you have an industrial space like a factory, warehouse, or shop floor that you think would benefit from an industrial fan? If so, you might be wondering whether an industrial fan will be effective for the space.
The answer is: it depends on what you want the fan to do. Industrial fans are effective in some situations that require only moving air. However, industrial fans are not effective at cooling.
Industrial fans have essentially one function: moving air. The good news is that they can do it very well. Industrial fans come in many shapes and sizes so that they can move air in all different situations. You can always find an industrial fan for your setting that will create airflow.
Moving air makes industrial fans very effective for purposes like air destratification, ventilation, pressurization, and drying.
When the air is still, it can create zones of air that are very different from one another. It is common to have zones of hot air accumulating above zones of cool air. However, it can also occur that cold air discharged from overhead vents can be held aloft by rising hot air. Stratified air can lead to buildings overheating and considerable energy waste.
Industrial fans can break up stratified air to make the temperature more uniform in large spaces with high roofs. The result can be good energy savings and more efficient functionality of already-installed cooling systems.
Many industries work with solvents, paints, and other chemicals that give off dangerous, even deadly fumes. To maintain safe working conditions, it’s important to exchange the air in the workspace regularly. Industrial fans can draw air into the workspace, discharge it out of the workspace, or both, to create the necessary airflow to maintain safe air in the workspace.
Fans can also be used to draw air into a space to create positive pressure. Sometimes additional pressure is necessary for specific chemical reactions, but usually pressure is used to help keep contamination out of certain workspaces.
Moving air can facilitate the evaporation of water and other liquids. By moving air around the workspace, fans can expedite drying paint or help to mitigate sweating slab syndrome.
However, as a general rule, industrial fans are not effective at cooling a workspace. They can be used to cool a workspace if:
If there is a reservoir of cool air available to draw from, an industrial fan can cool a workspace. This is effective if, for example, one corner of a machine shop generates a lot of heat, but other parts do not. An industrial fan can help distribute heat among the different parts of the shop so that the one part doesn’t concentrate dangerous heat levels.
Fans can also help cool people if they can have exposed skin. In that case, a fan can make a workspace feel 6°-8° F cooler. Without large amounts of exposed skin, the cooling effect from fans alone is negligible.
If you can’t meet one or both of these conditions, then an industrial fan is unlikely to provide reasonable cooling. But there is an alternative: industrial evaporative coolers.
Industrial evaporative coolers not only move large amounts of air, achieving good ventilation in many situations, but they also cool the air. How much can they cool it? In ideal conditions, an industrial evaporative cooler can drop the air temperature by 30° F. This can provide a comfortable environment in even hot, demanding industrial work environments.
Are you looking for an industrial evaporative cooler? Portacools have been made in the USA since 1990, and we are the industry leader in large-scale movable evaporative coolers. To find a Portacool that’s right for your industry, please visit an online or local retailer today.