Have you ever wondered why small fans appear to be more efficient in lowering your temperature? Small fans are also exceptional and more efficient than large ones; therefore, they are common in places where quick airflow is needed. But what is the key to this phenomenon?
Small fans are designed to provide a lot of air movement with little or no effort; in other words, they can provide lots of focused airflow. Small fans can cool a room, circulate air in an area that seems to be congested with heat, or even provide a quick breeze.
Factors that can affect how much air a fan moves
1. Shape and pitch of a fan blade
The size and the angle to which a fan is constructed, without any doubt, define the amount of air that this specific fan will be able to move. In addition, the blade pitch is further inclined at 12 to 15 degrees to provide the fan the capability to slice through the air and create a more vigorous airflow. The low-pitch fans are not as efficient in air circulation, and the blades are not so effective for air downward circulation. In the same manner, the blade shape also influences the fan's design; the better the design, the more it is able to move air.
2. Ceiling fan size
Another factor is the size of the fan. Fans with a blade span of 56 inches and above can move more air because they cover a larger area. But size is not the only factor that controls the airflow of a particular device. Small fans are not necessarily bad if they have high RPM and the blade pitch is fine-tuned for the same. For example, a 44-inch fan that is well-designed will produce a higher amount of airflow than a large fan that is poorly designed.
3. Ceiling fan motor performance
The flow rate of a fan depends on the quality and the power of the internal motor of the fan. A strong motor is capable of sustaining a high number of revolutions per minute that enables the blades to circulate more air. Not only do quality IC motors lead to proper airflow, but also to the durability and noise level of the fan. A fan with a powerful motor and well-engineered blades will normally move more air, which is expressed in cubic feet per minute or CFM.
4. Fan distance from ceiling and floor
Ceiling fan height can also be a determinant of the efficiency of the fan when it is put in place. This is because fans that are placed near the ceiling are likely to draw air from above the ceiling and blow it downwards, hence inadequate air circulation. It is recommended that a ceiling fan should be mounted at a height of 8 to 9 feet from the ground level or floor. Ceiling height also permits the fan to suck air from above the end and force it down in order to create better circulation within the room.
5. Ceiling fan direction
Other factors, such as the direction in which a ceiling fan rotates, can also influence the amount of air that it circulates. In summer, the fans should be placed in a clockwise manner to force blowing air downwards in a bid to cool the room. To counteract this process, the process should be reversed clockwise during the winter in order to spread warm air that has risen from the ceiling to other parts of the room. The correct rotation helps the fan to run at the optimum output of its airflow with respect to the season.
What is the difference between a small fan and a big fan?
Working speed
A clear-cut difference between the small and large ceiling fans is the rate at which they operate. Surprisingly, the large ceiling fans are slower than one might imagine them to be, as they can be used at lower speeds. The large fans generally have the standard RPM in the range of 50-100 RPM, depending on the size and the model. This is so because the fan is designed to move a large volume of air across a large area that does not necessarily call for high rates of rotation per minute.
Small ceiling fans, on the other hand, spin at much higher rates and range from 300 to 400 RPM. This has to be faster in order to generate an adequate amount of airflow, especially in small rooms. However, each fan type works at the optimum speed depending on its size and the purpose for which it is used.
Dimension & size
Another feature that should not be overlooked is the size of the ceiling fans; the small and large ones are unique in size. These are fans that are commonly used at home. They are relatively small, ranging from 3 to 4 feet in diameter, and they are best suited for a room of about 144 square feet.
They are normally compact and thus can be installed almost everywhere in homes. Large ceiling fans, which are common in commercial or Industrial applications, can have blades that are 8 to 24 feet in diameter. These big fans are used for covering wide spaces, such as warehouses, malls, cafeterias, and the like. Because of this, they are relatively large, and they need support structures to be put in place when installing them.
Number of fan blades
The number of blades also differs between small and large ceiling fans. Small ceiling fans are commonly designed with three or four blades since they are intended for use in homes. Nonetheless, commercial ceiling fans and other massive ceiling fans are generally recognized to have between five and eight blades.
For instance, most RTFANS industrial fans have a 6-blade design, which is particularly suitable for high efficiency at low speeds. A larger number of blades, in combination with a larger diameter of the fan, ensures that the large fans can handle large volumes of air without necessarily having to work at high rotations per minute.
Airflow
Among all the differences between small and large ceiling fans, the factor of airflow may be considered the most crucial one. Small fans that operate at 75 watts are intended for use in rooms of around 13-25 square meters. On the other hand, large industrial ceiling fans are larger in size and can cover places ranging from 6300 to 18000 square feet.
These fans, using not more than 1,500 watts, are designed to deliver HVLS, or high-volume, low-speed airflow, which is particularly suitable for large rooms. Although the large fan is capable of replacing several small fans in terms of coverage, its electrical power consumption is several times more.
How to increase fan airflow?
There are other factors that must be changed in order to enhance the circulation of a fan in a particular zone; some of them include; the rate of the fan, the pitch of the blades, the location of the fan, and the dimension and configuration of the blades. Here’s how you can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your ceiling fan:
1. Adjust the fan speed
Fan speed is particularly important to the level of airflow or stream in a computer case. The rate at which the blades will turn determines the amount of air that the fan is capable of moving. There are models of fans with adjustable speed, which means that you can set the optimal speed for the given room and your comfort. In case the air must circulate throughout the entire space, it is better to turn on the fan at a higher rate, especially if the room is extensive. Check on the capacity of your fan’s motor to run at higher speeds efficiently.
2. Adjust the blade pitch
Blade pitch is the position of the fan blades or the slope or incline of the fan blades. As they spin, this angle determines how much air is displaced by the blades. A lot more air can be moved when the blade pitch is higher (approx 13 to 16 degrees), but the fan would need to be larger to turn the blades at the same speed. A flatter pitch, namely between 9 and 11 degrees, will use up less energy. However, the amount of airflow might be an issue. One thing that can be done is to position the blade of the fan in a way that matches the horsepower of the motor you have on the fan.
3. Position the fan correctly
It must be installed in a manner that will promote the best airflow; that is why the placement of ceiling fans matters. The fan should be mounted on the ceiling with the base being 10-12 inches above the ground, and ideally, it should be placed in the center of the room. This can assist the fan to circulate air within the room without pointing out selective air circulation points. Large rooms should have as many fans as possible to be able to circulate the air in the room. It is not recommended to mount the fan on the walls or other objects that can limit air circulation.
4. Consider the blade size and shape
Thicker and wider blades may look like they can blow more air, but most of the time, this is not true. Blades that are too large or wide also make the fan drag and, therefore, perform poorly. On the other hand blades that are small or narrow may not be able to move enough air through the blades as is required. To get the right airflow, you must make the right decision concerning the type and size of the blade of the room and the fan motor.
Focusing on speed, blade pitch, positioning, and blade size and shape can increase the flow of air from the ceiling fan and thus improve temperature and air circulation in the room.