4 Ways to Maximize HVLS Fan ROI

In a typical space, physics will stratify the air, with heat at the ceiling and cold at the floor, where the people work (left). High-volume, low-speed fans break the stratification, improve worker comfort, and save energy dollars (right). Illustration courtesy Rite Hite

In a typical space, physics will stratify the air, with heat at the ceiling and cold at the floor, where the people work (left). High-volume, low-speed fans break the stratification, improve worker comfort, and save energy dollars (right). Illustration courtesy Rite Hite

Those large, slow-moving ceiling fans are powerful energy-saving tools when properly managed. Make the most of your investment with these tips.

High-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans move large volumes of air and generate a steady, light breeze, creating an evaporative-cooling effect that reduces a facility’s effective temperature by as many as 12 deg. F. The result is greatly improved worker comfort and productivity.

These units are also energy savers in that the floor-to-ceiling air movement they create helps improve air-conditioning system efficiency. In fact, an HVLS fan can make it possible to increase the air-conditioning thermostat setting by 5 deg. F with no change in employee comfort.

While the warm-weather benefits of HVLS fans are commonly understood, smart facility managers realize that operating them during the summer is just the tip of the energy-savings iceberg. Here are four tips for maximizing ROI on a year-round basis.

Run HVLS fans during the winter.

During winter, many plants often have more than a 20-deg.-F difference between the floor and ceiling. Typically, the air temperature will be 0.5 to 1 deg.-F warmer for every foot in height. As such, a heating system must work hard for extended periods to maintain the temperature near the floor, or at the thermostat set point, wasting precious energy and dollars. Operating HVLS fans during winter months can reduce energy consumption by as much as 30%.

Put the right fan in the right place.

Several factors must be considered when deciding how and when to use HVLS fans. They include obstructions such as pallet racks, machinery and product staging, personnel work areas, and overall building layout. Larger-diameter fans (24 ft. dia.) will move air further down rack aisles and over obstructions. Small-diameter fans (8-, 10- and 12-ft.) are most effective in specific work areas. In recent years, floor-mounted HVLS fans also have become available where overhead obstructions preclude the use of traditional ceiling-mounted HVLS fans.

Use centralized controls.

While advanced HVLS fans can cover an area as large as 22,000 sq. ft., in some facilities that isn’t enough. In those instances, a fan array driven by a centralized-control system is required. Programmable systems can manage as many as 18 HVLS fans, and allow personnel to:

• control fan operation based on facility temperature
• schedule fans to operate only when needed
• view individual fan settings (on/off and speed)
• monitor energy use and troubleshoot various VFD (variable-frequency drive) fault codes
• use an optional Modbus port for easy network connection.

Many control systems can also be integrated with building-management systems, making it possible to coordinate fan operation with other building functions.

Segment space with fabric curtain walls.

Small spaces take less energy to heat or cool than large spaces. Unfortunately, industrial facilities tend to encompass large, wide-open areas. Therefore, flexible fabric curtain walls can be an important supplement to HVLS fans. As an economical way to partition space, these curtain walls can maximize the effectiveness of a facility’s entire HVAC/HVLS environment-control system by segmenting off areas that require extensively treated air, further minimizing waste. MT

To learn more, visit ritehite.com.