Centrifugal Fan VFD – Precision Speed Control for Lower Energy Costs

Component Overview

If a centrifugal fan is running 24/7 at top speed, then it can be the reason for unnecessary electricity utility. The power consumption of the fan increases in scales with the cube of the speed, so even a slight decrease in speed can result in huge savings on electricity bills during low peak hours. One of the most common causes of energy waste on the plant floor is running fans at a fixed full speed regardless of any process demand. The previous solution was damper throttling but it wasted the energy rather than saving it. Because the motor is forced to work against an artificial resistance.

A Centrifugal Fan VFD solves this problem at the root by directly adjusting the frequency and voltage of the motor. As a result, instead of throttling the output at full speed, the fan speed is perfectly matched to the actual airflow demand of the system. Independent studies have shown that using variable speed control on centrifugal fans can reduce electricity consumption by 15% to 50% depending on the load profile. Interestingly, a fan running at half-speed consumes only one-eighth of the power of full-speed. In addition to energy saving, a Centrifugal Fan VFD provides smooth startup, reduces mechanical shock and precisely controls airflow and pressure in variable-demand operations. Additionally, it completely eliminates hard on/off cycling, greatly reducing stress on belts, bearings, and motor windings. This is a must-have upgrade for factories where fans run at a fixed speed or schedule despite variable process loads or demand. Because not only does it reduce your utility or electricity bill, but it also significantly increases the service interval of the equipment as the parts last longer.