AC to EC Fan Upgrade for APAC S60 Evaporator Fan
The building’s air conditioning system consists of two air package-type air-conditioners. The old AC fans were replaced with two ebm-papst fan boxes.
Background
Computer Cool, a Melbourne-based contracting firm, have recently completed an EC fan upgrade of an APAC S60 split-type commercial air conditioner in a commercial building in Blackburn, Victoria. The trial was conducted to analyse the effectiveness of the replacement of conventional, AT15/15 belt-driven forward-curved fans with new ebm-papst EC direct-drive backward-curved fans into APAC S60, S75 and S85 series airconditioning units.
Verification
The building’s air conditioning system consists of two APAC S60 air package-type air-conditioners. The old AC fans (pictured above) were replaced with two ebm-papst BF500RC-002 fan boxes. Monitoring equipment was connected to the unit before and after the replacement fans were installed. Seven measuring points monitored temperature, pressure and current draw 5 days before and after the fan replacement.
Results
The results show that the new EC direct drive fans operate with 41% reduced energy usage at the same capacity.*
The upgrade lead to a 41% reduction in input current, with the old fan consuming 7.1A and the new EC fan using 4.2A in input current. The cooling capacity and airflow remained unchanged, and this was confirmed by static pressure and room air temperature readings.
*Calculated average across the monitoring period.
Further benefits of EC Upgrades
Alarm capability
Alarm capability
- EC fans can be connected to the unit’s general alarm, and have the ability to communicate to building management systems via high-level interface.
- ebm-papst EC Fans are direct-drive fans and therefore do not need belts, pulleys or other equipment to speed control, further reducing operation costs.
The new EC direct drive
fans operate with 41% reduced energy usage
at the same capacity.
