Industrial fans are crucial components that should be included in an industrial manufacturing plant. These fans do more than improve efficiency and versatility in an industrial environment. Having the right type and number of fans in a factory helps you increase manufacturing capacity and maintain safe working conditions for employees. The big question is whether direct-drive or belt-driven blowers will do the work.
Belt-Driven Blower
The motor is fixed independently from the blades of the fan in a belt-driven blower. The motor is connected to the fan’s moving parts with one or more belts.
Pros
- Speed control – A belt driven blower with varying sheave diameters allows you to control the fan’s speeds. Such flexibility is essential in material handling tasks where speed specifications may change over time.
- Less wearing – The belts between the motor and fun absorb most of the wear and tear that could affect the fan and motor. This ensures the longevity of the system, unlike a direct drive blower.
Cons
- High energy and maintenance costs – The friction between the two moving parts lead to higher energy and maintenance costs. These can be costly to the plant in the long run.
Direct Drive Blower
The direct-drive blower has a motor that directly controls the rotation of the blades. These blades are either connected to a shaft or axle. This fan, therefore, rotates at the same speed as the motor or less. However, it is essential to use a direct drive blower that rotates at the same speed as the motor.
Pros
- Low maintenance – Direct drive blowers are built with simple designs that require fewer parts which means less maintenance. They only have a blower, motor, and coupling.
- Tighter footprint – A direct-drive blower is compact and can seamlessly fit in tighter spaces with the wheel directly mounted on the motor shaft or coupled to the shaft.
- Good for large applications – In blowers with over 200 horsepower, a direct drive is the best option. It promotes efficiency and motor longevity. This avoids the potential power loss resulting from belt tension pulls on the fan shaft in a lateral direction.
Cons
- The direct-drive fan is less flexible than the belt-driven fan. This explains why it is also one of the expensive fan options when compared against the direct-drive fan.
- Belt drive fans have a belt that acts as a noise reduction system. Direct drives tend to be louder because of the direct contact at the shaft.
Choosing Between a Direct Drive and Belt-Driven Blower
When choosing an industrial fan, you must consider energy efficiency, flexibility, and maintenance costs. Both blowers have their benefits and limitations, so it is better to choose based on objectives and industrial process specifications.