Ask anyone who works with high-level electronics, industrial equipment, or commercial-grade machinery, and they will tell you that one of the indelible hallmarks of their operation is the whirl of an internal fan. This is the tell-tale sign of fan assemblies, whose job it is to keep the machines in which they are installed cool. Without their presence, the heat created during normal operation would not be able to be dissipated properly, undoubtedly leading to damage of sensitive parts and becoming nearly prohibitively expensive to repair.
The presence of fan assemblies is nothing new. In fact, from a consumer standpoint, most of us are familiar with their function & familiar sound from our use of home desktop & laptop computers. Once the power was turned on, the familiar whirl was just one of the many sounds we checked down on the way to getting online. But dedicated computer users in the way of ‘gamers’ started to understand the limitations of these initial fan assemblies.
During normal operation, they did well enough. But over the course of hours & during use of multiple applications, their ability to effectively dissipate heat just could not cut it. Coupled with low processing speeds, and it was a recipe for a slow, unusable machine. Over time, operators started to increase processing speeds, as well as beef up their fan assemblies. Sometimes, they even rearranged internal components so as to include a second fan. Others went even further and started introducing liquid cooling methods into the mix. While some saw this as the death knell for the lowly fan assembly, others maintained their whirling friend for the sake of redundancy should all else fail.
When it comes to fan assemblies in the bigger, more complex sense, there is certainly some carry over from their smaller brethren, However, there is quite a bit more to take into consideration. For example:
Size & Voltage — Considerations for airflow have to be made in terms of cubic feet per meter. There is also the physical size of the actual fan assembly itself, not to mention airflow against static pressure & airflow changes to backpressure during operation. Also, the voltage source for the assembly (e.g., alternating current/AC or direct current/DC) needs to be considered.
Special Tools/Training — Depending on the application, type, size, and personnel working, will the fan assembly in question require any specialized tools to install or remove it? Will there be anyone onsite who will be responsible for troubleshooting issues should they arise? As complications present themselves, it may be best to have a third-party electrical firm take the lead, especially as fan assemblies take on greater roles in the facility.
Continuous Operation — If a fan assembly has been installed for heat dissipation purposes but must be serviced, repaired, or replaced, consideration must be given regarding heat dissipation during this ‘down time’. Well-designed systems will have multiple fan assemblies in place, allowing one to go down while the others increase function to make up the difference.
Well-designed and engineered fan assemblies, though, are just one of the many ways LoDan Electronics, Inc. of Illinois has brought peace of mind to its global clients since 1967. Our team is recognized the world over for being ready to tackle any project & exceed expectations every single time. Touch base with us here at LoDan when considering fan assemblies for your next project.