Nearly every HVAC equipment manufacturer is chasing peak efficiency, regardless of the component or product. OEMs are striving to improve efficiencies at all costs and seeking ways to offer better options and improved solutions to consumers. However, in the blower marketplace, tightening global regulations are forcing manufacturers to create products that cater to highly-specific consumer needs based upon different requirements in different regions.

THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Jennifer Heerschap, national sales manager, wholesale products division, Continental Fan Mfg. Inc., said that although there have been slight modifications in certain types of fan impellers (e.g. serrated edges on leading or trailing edges), the focus today is on improving motor efficiencies.  “Europe has been using electronically commutated motors (ECMs) and DC motors for some time as a result of tighter regulations,” she said. “In North America, we’ve been hearing for the past decade about the shift to greater efficiencies using ECMs and DC motors, but it seems that only recently have these technologies become assets in the residential HVAC market. Certain industries in North America have been using this technology with ventilation for some time, but now it’s making its way into people’s homes.”

Tom Tjernlund, marketing executive, Tjernlund Products, also highlighted that ECMs and small inverters to operate DC motors are being used in more applications to increase operating efficiencies and for efficient speed control. He believes there are increased efforts by designers to match motor/housing/blower wheel attributes to get the best performance and efficiency for a specific application.

“[There are an] increasing number of blowers developed for specific applications and an evolving market for new applications that incorporate intelligent blower control,” he said.

Andy Krug, product manager, EC fans, cabinet thermal solutions, fans & thermal management business group, Delta Products Corp., added that lower energy consumption and greater efficiency will continue to drive demand and new product design with new applications being uncovered every day.

Krug also said Delta’s lineup keeps expanding to larger diameter fans and blowers while backward-curved impellers are growing in popularity.

“Backward-curved impellers have been popular for their stability in high static pressure environments and for their enhanced operating efficiency (versus forward-curved),” he added.

REFINING PRODUCT LINES

With tighter regulations and constant attention needing to be paid toward increasing efficiencies, manufacturers are also cognizant of the consumer base’s shifting needs.

“Homeowners today are more educated about ventilation than ever, thanks in great part to the various online publications that display guidelines for ventilation and news on the latest and greatest our industry has to offer,” said Heerschap. “We are also seeing the most ‘tech-savvy’ generation ever entering into home ownership. These individuals want their homes to reflect their relationship with technology and the world it has created for them. This means automation with systems activating as required and being able to be accessed remotely, whether by smartphone, control, occupancy sensor, humidity sensor, etc.”

With these thoughts in mind, Continental Fan Mfg. Inc. recently launched the TF Tranquil Series ceiling mount bath fan. Heerschap said Continental Fan offers easy-to-install controls that allow occupancy and humidity sensors to be easily plugged into the unit.

Tjernlund Products has also been at work updating its portfolio of products utilizing blower technology. Specifically, the company has expanded its line of products dedicated to clothes dryer exhausts.

“Residential dryers are more frequently installed in places where their max exhaust duct length is exceeded, such as apartments and condominiums, and facilities with laundry rooms or laundromats want to reduce lint-related fire risk and maintenance costs,” said Tjernlund. “We’ve also expanded our line of air transfer fans beyond room-to-room models with our new high-velocity D-Strat fan for commercial spaces with higher ceilings. The room-to-room fans take care of the room or space not being directly served by a mini-split air handler or ductless heater. The D-Strat fan complements rooftop units and unit heaters by transferring air stratified at the ceiling level down to the occupied space. In both cases, we are making more efficient use of the conditioned air.”

Tjernlund also noted the importance of having products designed for a specific use.

“The transfer fans use extremely low-watt motors and their blower wheels and housing are chosen for quiet operation,” he said. “The dryer booster fans have specially designed material-handling blower wheels and incorporate Tjernlund-designed operating controls that efficiently and safely boost a clothes dryer’s exhaust velocity.”

With the knowledge that efficiency standards and regulations will only increase over time, Tjernlund took a look outside the box at something new that could shake up the blower marketplace in the future, even if it hasn’t quite penetrated it just yet: 3-D printing.

“[I see] 3-D or additive printing of custom housings and blower wheels being used for development purposes and then eventually production products,” he said.  

Publication date: 5/15/2017

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