Today, web searches are part of everyday life, and this also applies to the search for suit­able fans for an appli­ca­tion. The large selec­tion that motor and fan specialist ebm-papst has in its port­folio, for example, doesn’t neces­sarily make it easier to reach the right deci­sion, espe­cially if users have no in-depth exper­tise in venti­lation tech­nology and aero­dy­namics.

This is why the tried-and-tested FanScout selec­tion tool is being contin­u­ously devel­oped. The tool is now avail­able as a web-based solu­tion and can be oper­ated conve­niently and intu­itively in a browser, so the right fan can be found even faster. No instal­la­tion is required for this, no updates are neces­sary, and users can be sure that they are always working with the latest data.

To narrow down the suit­able fans in a first step, there are indi­vidual product filters (Figs. 1 and 2) where up to five appli­ca­tion-specific oper­ating points and the required oper­ating times can be entered for a fan, for example. Addi­tional filters are avail­able for voltage, frequency, mains type, and the desired motor tech­nology (AC or EC). Spec­i­fi­ca­tions regarding instal­la­tion space, size, etc. narrow down the suit­able results even further. For noise-sensi­tive appli­ca­tions, the maximum permis­sible noise level can also be entered.

The right product with indi­vidual filters

The RadiPac centrifugal fans, for example, are avail­able in different versions (Fig. 3). Whether users opt for the new RadiPac C Perform fans with air guide module or the proven vari­ants with open support bracket depends mainly on the type and dura­tion of use, required air perfor­mance, desired speed range, pres­sure ratios of the appli­ca­tion, and permis­sible noise emis­sion levels. Here, the selec­tion tool provides the right assis­tance, because all filters can be set indi­vid­u­ally.

The selec­tion tool auto­mat­i­cally calcu­lates whether a single fan or several fans oper­ated in parallel in a FanGrid are the right solu­tion for the appli­ca­tion (Fig. 4). Users can also specify the maximum number of fans required and include redun­dancy require­ments. The program then shows them how many fans can be switched off while main­taining the required air flow.

Two impor­tant points must be taken into account here: Firstly, the reserve of the remaining fans must be large enough to compen­sate for the missing volume of air of the fans that are not in oper­a­tion. Secondly, there must also be a way of compen­sating for the volume of air flowing back through the idle fans. A distinc­tion is made here between the vari­ants with and without back­flow. This is also shown by FanScout.

Compare details of up to 5 fans

Once the filters have been entered, FanScout calcu­lates which solu­tions are suit­able. However, it not only suggests the most suit­able fans, but also how many fans are needed to meet the appli­ca­tion require­ments in the most energy-effi­cient way. All rele­vant product data is displayed and can be compared at a glance, including oper­ating point data, dimen­sions and specific measure­ment data. Once the pres­e­lec­tion has been made, the next step is to get down to the details. All product char­ac­ter­is­tics of the suggested fans can now be compared with each other; the best values are high­lighted in the selec­tion and can be down­loaded if required. Sound and air perfor­mance diagrams can be displayed for up to five different fans and help with the further selec­tion.

Those wanting more tech­nical details on the indi­vidual fans can also use the expert mode (Fig. 5). In this mode, effi­ciency curves, for example, or the FEI (Fan Effi­ciency Index) – i.e. the ratio between the elec­trical input power of a (ficti­tious) refer­ence fan and the elec­trical input power of the real fan under consid­er­a­tion – are displayed as isolines to enable an even more detailed selec­tion.

Fig. 5: Those wanting more tech­nical details on the indi­vidual fans can use the expert mode. (Graphic | ebm-papst)

Fig. 6: The life cycle cost calcu­la­tion can be used to compare the long-term costs of the preferred fans. (Graphic | ebm-papst)

Life cycle costs and sustain­ability

Finding the right fan for every appli­ca­tion

Simply with the new, web-based FanScout selec­tion tool from ebm-papst.

Read more

To make the eval­u­a­tion of the various options even more infor­ma­tive for users, there is also the option of deter­mining the life cycle costs of the combi­na­tion under consid­er­a­tion (Fig. 6). This involves multi­plying the power consump­tion of the fans at each oper­ating point by the oper­ating time and elec­tricity costs, and adding up the total. The result repre­sents the pure oper­ating costs of the system over a spec­i­fied period. Competitor fans can also be used for compar­ison. If the procure­ment, instal­la­tion and indi­vidual service costs are also entered, the total costs of the fan or FanGrid are presented over time. This provides users with a robust cost break­down at this early plan­ning stage as a reli­able basis for invest­ment deci­sions. In addi­tion, all data sheets and oper­ating instruc­tions are avail­able in several languages in the down­load area.

Those looking for a partic­u­larly resource-effi­cient fan will also find what they are looking for, as the Sustain­ability Report (Fig. 7) makes compar­isons easy. CO₂ emis­sions are deter­mined using the auto­mat­i­cally calcu­lated energy consump­tion of the fans and presented in a clear table. The result describes the CO₂ emis­sions of a product over its entire service life and per year.

Share results and help shape the future

The results of the selec­tion tool can be shared with others at any time. This can be done directly via the Share button in order to use the results as a basis for discus­sion in a meeting, for example. The selec­tion can also be saved in a clear and print­able format via PDF export and shared with colleagues. Since FanScout will continue to be devel­oped further, every user can use the feed­back button to help shape the future of this prac­tical selec­tion tool with sugges­tions and requests.