Exhaust fan selection

Selecting the right fan...

 By far the most important aspect of
designing a tunnel ventilated house:
1) Determines the grower’s ability to cool his
birds:
 Wind-chill
 Temperature uniformity
 Trapped heat removal
 Reduces the effects of high humidity
2) Determines the grower’s electricity costs
 Electricity is quickly becoming a grower’s largest
expense.
Six factors to consider:
1) Air moving capacity
2) Energy efficiency
 energy efficiency ratio
3) Air moving capacity vs. static pressure
 air flow ratio
4) Drive type
5) Quality of construction
6) Price
1) Air moving capacity
 Air moving capacity of a 48 - 50” fan
 15,000 to 30,000 cfm+
Bird cooling
 Large differences in air moving capacity
can result in large differences in cooling
if a poultry company only specifies the
number of fans a house should have.
12m X 150m House with nine
fans
15,000 cfm 23,000 cfm
 Cfm = 135,000 cfm  Cfm = 207,000 cfm

 Temp diff. = 7.9 F  Temp diff. = 2.8 C

 Air vel. = 1.63 m/s  Air vel. = 2.5 m/s

 Wind-chill = 2.7 C  Wind-chill = 6.1 C

Most poultry companies do
not do this anymore...
 But, you must be careful not to specify
tunnel fans just by type or
manufacturer either.
 Because there can be large differences

between fans of the same type, even

within the same manufacturer.
Example:
 Choretime cone fans (0.05”)
 38450-4822 17,900 cfm
 38441-4822 20,400 cfm
 43575-4822 22,800 cfm
 38264-4821 24,000 cfm
Tunnel fan selection:
 The first step in selection a fan for a
tunnel house is to understand the
different styles of fans available.
 Three basic fans
configurations
1) Traditional exterior shutter
2) Slant wall
3) Slant wall – Cone
 Most fan models are offered in all
three configurations
Exterior shutter
 Fan is often installed
in it wooden
shipping box.
 48” shutter mounted
on the outside of
the house.
Exterior shutter
 The relatively small
shutter, 48” shutter
on 48” diameter fan,
reduces air flow.
 The exterior
mounted shutter
makes it difficult to
push air out of the
house.
Air flow into a fan
Spinning fan blades
Spinning fan blades
Air exiting a fan
Shutters restrict this flow
pattern
Slant wall fan
 Larger shutter
 Air is pulled though
shutter instead of
being pushed.
Interior shutter
 Slant wall
 Larger shutter
 Air is pulled though
shutter
 Fan is tilted slightly
 Match shutter angle
 Protects fan from
weather
Tilted fan
 Slant wall
 The combination
of the slant and
the interior
shutter increases
air flow 5 to 10%
 Fan configuration example
 Belt drive (Coolair NBF/CBL 48)
 exterior shutter (17,100 cfm)
 slant wall (19,200 cfm)
 Slant wall
 Larger shutter
 Air is pulled

though shutter
 Fan is tilted

slightly
 Easier to clean!

 Collects less dust

 Three basic fans
configurations
1) Traditional exterior shutter
2) Slant wall
 5 to 10 percent more air
3) Slant wall – Cone
 Discharge cone fans
 Interior shutter
advantages
 Reduces “back”
pressure on fans
Tilted fan
Discharge cone
 Discharge cone fans
 The discharge cone
can increase air flow
an additional 5 to
10%
 Fan configuration example
 Belt drive (Coolair NBF/CBL 48)
 exterior shutter (17,100 cfm)
 slant wall (19,200 cfm)

 slant wall with cone ( 21,000 cfm)

Though…
 Slant wall tend to move more air than
fans with exterior shutters…
 Cone fans tend to move more air than

slant wall fans…

 There can still be significant difference

between fans of the same configuration

Example
 Choretime slant wall (0.05”)
 38785-4822 16,500 cfm
 42331-4822 18,000 cfm
 45576-4822 20,500 cfm
Though…
 Slant wall tend to move more air than
fans with exterior shutters…
 Cone fans tend to move more air than
slant wall fans…
 There can still be significant difference
between fans of the same configuration
 This is why you must specify either fan
cfm or total cfm
Fan specifications:
 Total cfm
 Or number of fans of that move a specific
amount of air
 I.e. nine fans that move between 22,000 and
24,000 cfm
 Interior shutter
 Cone optional
Six factors to consider
1) Air moving capacity
2) Energy efficiency
 energy efficiency ratio
3) Air moving capacity vs. static pressure
 air flow ratio
4) Drive type
5) Quality of construction
6) Price
Exhaust Fan Selection
(energy efficiency)
 Not specifying specific energy efficiency
ratings for fans can result in...
 excessive energy bills for the producer
 poor bird management

 loss of income for the grower/company

 How much power will a
particular fan use?
 The label “Energy Efficient” on a motor
means very little...
 How much power will a
particular fan use?
 Motor size does not tell the whole story.
 1 h.p motor can use more power than a 1.5
h.p. motor
 Fan power
(Two different 48” fans with discharge cones)

 Bess #92093  Bess #98229

 1.5 h.p motor  1.0 hp motor
 24,600 cfm  21,500 cfm
 1300 watts  1310 watts
How much power does a fan
use?
 Motor size does not tell the whole story.
 1 h.p motor can use more power than a 1.5
h.p. motor
 Plate amperage can be misleading.
 indicates full load amperage…not necessarily
working amperage.
 Energy efficiency
 How much power will the fan use?
 motor size does not tell the whole story.
 1 h.p motor can use more power than a 1.5
h.p. motor
 plate amperage can be misleading.
 indicates full load amperage…not necessarily
working amperage.
 Just because a fan uses less power
does not mean it will save you money.
 Fan power usage:
(two different 48” fans)

 Bess # 96321
 918 watts
 16,800 cfm
 Fan power usage:
(two different 48” fans)

 Bess # 96321  Bess #96132

 918 watts  1116 watts (18 % +)
 16,800 cfm  24,000 cfm (30 % +)
 Energy efficiency
 A fan’s energy efficiency must be
expressed in terms of how much air it
will move per watt of power used:

Cfm/watt
 Energy efficiency
 A fan’s energy efficiency must be
expressed in terms of how much air it
will move per watt of power used:

1 Cfm/watt

For every 1 cfm moved…the fan will use 1 watt of power

 Energy efficiency
 A fan’s energy efficiency must be
expressed in terms of how much air it
will move per watt of power used:

The higher the number the better

 Energy efficiency ratings
 Energy efficiency ratings typically range
between 15 and 25 cfm/watt
 Can be obtained from independent fan

test lab booklets.

 Fan comparison
(20,000 cfm, power cost $0.09 per kw*hr)

 Fan A = 17 cfm/watt  Fan B = 22 cfm/watt

 Power usage
 Watts = cfm / cfm per watt
 Fan comparison
(20,000 cfm, power cost $0.09 per kw*hr)

 Fan A = 17 cfm/watt  Fan B = 22 cfm/watt

 Watts = 20,000 / 17  Watts = 20,000 / 22

 = 1,176  = 909
 Power usage
 1 Kw = 1,000 watts
 Fan comparison
(20,000 cfm, power cost $0.09 per kw*hr)

 Fan A = 17 cfm/watt  Fan B = 22 cfm/watt

 Watts = 20,000 / 17  Watts = 20,000 / 22

 = 1,176  = 909

 Kw = 1.18  Kw = 0.91
 Power usage
 Cost = Power rate X Kw

 Power rate is the charge of using 1 kw of

power for an hour
 Fan comparison
(20,000 cfm, power cost $0.09 per kw*hr)

 Fan A = 17 cfm/watt  Fan B = 22 cfm/watt

 1.18 Kw  0.91 Kw
 10.6 cents per hour  8.2 cents per hour
 Fan comparison
(20,000 cfm, power cost $0.09 per kw*hr)

 Fan A = 17 cfm/watt  Fan B = 22 cfm/watt

 1.18 Kw
 10.6 cents per hour
 Eight fans
 $ 142 per week
 $ 2,544 per year
 0.91 Kw
 8.2 cents per hour
 Eight fans
 $110 per week
 $1,968 per year
 Energy efficiency ratings
 A 2 cfm/watt difference will result in
approximately a 10 percent difference
in electricity usage…
 Minimum acceptable rating is 19.1
 Ideal rating is 20.1 or better
Fan specifications:
 Total cfm
 Or number of fans of that move a specific
amount of air
 Interior shutter
 Cone optional
 Minimum Cfm/watt = 19.1
 Ideal 20.1 or better
Six factors to consider
1) Air moving capacity
2) Energy efficiency
 energy efficiency ratio
3) Air moving capacity vs. static pressure
 air flow ratio
4) Drive type
5) Quality of construction
6) Price
 Fan Output vs Static Pressure
22000
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
Cfm

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
Static Pressure
Fans react differently to
increases in static pressure...
 Fan Output vs Static Pressure
22000
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
Cfm

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
Static Pressure
You want a fan that holds up
well under pressure…
 Most houses day one will operate at a
pressure around 0.10”
 Over time it will increase

 Dirty shutters
 Evaporative cooling pads

 Clogged evaporative cooling pads

 One way to quantify this is
comparing fans air flow ratio’s

 Air Flow Ratio = air flow (0.20)/air flow (0.05)

 Fan Output vs Static Pressure
22000
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
Cfm

10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
Static Pressure

AR = 1 AR=0.82 AR=.68 AR=0.55

Fan specifications:
 Total cfm
 Or number of fans of that move a specific amount
of air
 Interior shutter
 Cone optional
 Minimum Cfm/watt = 19.1
 Ideal rating = 20.1+
 Minimum air flow ratio = 0.67
 Ideal rating = 0.72 +
Independent fan performance
information
 Output at different static pressure
 Energy efficiency

 Air flow ratio

Independent fan performance
information
 BESS Labs (Univ. of Ill) or AMCA
Independent fan performance
information
 Tests conducted with shutters and
guards in place.
 Manufacturers can challenge one

another
 Poultry companies can send fans in for

testing
Obtaining information
 Test booklets
 Web site

 www.bess.uiuc.edu
 Fan manufacturers
Six factors to consider
1) Air moving capacity
2) Energy efficiency
 energy efficiency ratio
3) Air moving capacity vs. static pressure
 air flow ratio
4) Drive type
5) Quality of construction
6) Price
Direct drive vs. Belt drive
 Direct drive advantages:
 No belts to tighten
 No belts to replace
Direct drive vs. Belt drive
 Direct drive disadvantages
 Tend to move less air
 Tend to be less energy efficient
Direct drive vs. Belt drive
 ACME AGD direct drive with cone
 19,700 cfm (19 cfm/watt)
 ACME BDR 48” slant wall with cone
 21,400 cfm (21.4 cfm/watt)
Direct drive vs. Belt drive
 ACME AGD direct drive with cone
 19,700 cfm (19 cfm/watt)
 ACME BDR 48” slant wall with cone
 21,400 cfm (21.4 cfm/watt)

 10 percent less air

 10 percent less energy efficient
Direct drive vs. Belt drive
 Direct Drive
 Tend to move less air
 Tend to be less energy efficient

 Often do not hold up as well under higher

static pressures
Direct drive vs. Belt drive
 Direct Drive
 Tend to move less air
 Tend to be less energy efficient

 Often do not hold up as well under higher

static pressures
 expensive motors

 But, if they meet the previously listed

specs, they can be used.
Six factors to consider
1) Air moving capacity
2) Energy efficiency
 energy efficiency ratio
3) Air moving capacity vs. static pressure
 air flow ratio
4) Drive type
5) Quality of construction
6) Price
Quality of construction
 Difficult to determine
 Thickness of metal/fiberglass on

housing and fan blades

 Length of warrantee

 Reputation
Six factors to consider
1) Air moving capacity
2) Energy efficiency
 energy efficiency ratio
3) Air moving capacity vs. static pressure
 air flow ratio
4) Drive type
5) Quality of construction
6) Price
Price
 Better fans tend to cost more...
Aerotech, Inc.
American Coolair
Canarm
Chore-Time
Cumberland
Ellison & Ellison Co., Inc.

General Shelters of Texas,

S.B., Ltd.
Glacier Cor
Hired Hand, Inc.
Munters
TekSupply