Fans are known for enhancing airflow in a house or a building to make it more habitable for the occupants. With so many fans in the market in different sizes and of different types, it can be a daunting task to choose the right fan. Portable fans can be moved from one area to another or a room to the other to boost air circulation.
This article seeks to give you some tips on choosing the right portable fan
Efficiency
This is the ability of a fan to ensure maximum airflow to the system without failure. Efficiency of a fan can be determined by,
The case design: There is more efficiency for fans that are housed inside casings than the ones in open wire guards. With the same diameter of the fan, the airflow in the housed fan can be 50% higher- a marginal disparity.
The fan design: compared to the paddle fans, axial fans are up to 70% more efficient with the blades aerodynamically designed to move large volumes of air while using minimal energy.
Speed control: Some low cost fans are made with simple stepped speed controls thus when the fan is at low speed, an electric brake is applied to the motor. A lot of energy is lost in the form of heat and this can easily reduce the life of the motor. High efficiency portable fans are controlled electronically and therefore little energy is lost.
Highly efficient portable fans may appear to be expensive when purchasing them but the cost of maintenance is very low compared to their cheaper counterparts. When buying the portable fan, it is important to compare the energy consumption in terms of watts.
Fan and air noise
If the blades of the portable heater or fan are carefully designed, the noise levels are reduced substantially. This might not be very important in a factory but crucial in an office or a small room set-up. When choosing the right fan for you, check the noise level. Noise is measured in dBA; a meter from the fan and for an office or small shop fan, 60dBA is acceptable.
Impellor size and airflow
Some people will go for the biggest fan thinking that it will be more effective. However, as aforementioned, other factors like the design of the fan and the casing affect the airflow in a big way. A large fan will certainly use the most energy while giving the lowest airflow.
When choosing a portable fan, get one that will give you the best service while using less energy. It might be tricky to choose the best especially if it’s your first time and therefore, you need to look for a reliable online shop for guidance.
