Industrial Cooling Fans
Industrial-strength fans for heat control, equipment protection, & maximum efficiency.
AirPro // Applications
Centrifugal Fans for Process Cooling Systems & Applications
Process cooling plays a critical role in keeping industrial systems running safely, efficiently, and within the right temperature range. Nearly every manufacturing operation generates excess heat, whether from high-temperature process heating or the friction created by moving machinery. Left unchecked, this heat can reduce efficiency, compromise product quality, or even damage equipment.
Centrifugal fans are the workhorses of process cooling. They supply the precise pressure and airflow needed to move heat away, whether cooling process air, materials, or exhaust streams. Often positioned between key process stages, such as between a combustion burner and an SCR system or a rotary dryer and a cyclone separator, these fans introduce ambient air to lower temperatures and stabilize operations.
Primary Industries for Process Cooling Fan Applications
Process cooling fan applications are found across industries. However, because they are often used to remove heat between process applications like dryers, burners, and boilers, any or all of these industries may require process cooling:
- Agricultural Processing
- Automotive OEM
- Building Materials
- Chemical Processing
- Dairy Processing
- Food Processing
- Galvanizing Metals
- Glass Manufacturing
- Metals & Mining
- Oil & Gas
- Paint & Surface Coatings
- Petrochemical Plants
- Pharmaceuticals
- Power Plants
- Printing, Packaging & Labeling
- Pulp & Paper
- Rubber & Plastics
- Semiconductor & Electronics
- Wastewater Treatment
Process Cooling Fan Selection & Specification
Process cooling fans and blowers most often sit outside the gas stream and inject cooling ambient air at volumes and pressures that are dictated by the specific application.
Typical Process Cooling Fan Types
- Backward Curved (BCHS, BCLS, BCMS)
- High Pressure Blowers
- Backward Inclined (BIHS, BIMS)
- Radial Tipped (RTHS, RTMS)
FEATURED FAN
Process Cooling Fan for Cheese Plant
Built with food-grade construction to meet strict safety standards, this cooling fan was designed for reliable performance in a dairy processing environment. All airstream components were fabricated from 304 stainless steel with smooth, continuous welds, while the housing features a bolted access door with a flush interior surface and a tri-clamp ferrule drain for easy cleaning and maintenance. Stainless steel parts were finished with an SSPC-SP10 glass bead blast, and carbon steel components were coated with a durable white epoxy.
To improve efficiency and reduce operating costs, the fan wheel was engineered with a backward curved design, achieving 80% static efficiency. The unit is mounted on a unitary base with spring vibration isolators, ensuring stable operation and long service life in a demanding food production setting.
- Product Type: BCLS (backward curved)
- Description: Class 50, Arr. 8, 150ºF max temp design
- Performance: 2,000 CFM @ 20.1″ wg static pressure
- Features: Custom-designed; 10 HP motor; direct-coupled drive with unitary base; spring vibration isolators; tri-clamp ferrule drain; bolted access door
Process Cooling Fan Arrangements
Fan arrangements indicate how the motors mount to and drive the fans. The specification will depend on your application and the fan(s) selected. Here are two examples:
Arrangement 1 – Belt Drive with an overhung impeller. The fan and motor mount separately to a unitary base.
Arrangement 8 – Direct Drive with an overhung impeller. The fan shaft is directly coupled to the motor shaft with a flexible coupling.
Fan Accessory & Design Considerations for Cooling Applications
Protecting fans in industrial cooling systems starts in the design phase and continues throughout their operating life. While process cooling typically uses ambient air—which is less demanding on fans than hot or contaminated airstreams—imbalance and excessive vibration can still cause significant wear if not addressed.
Proximity to high temperatures or corrosive gases may also require design adaptations to handle environmental extremes. In many cooling applications, systems are further supported with duplicate fans, either for added pressure or built-in redundancy to ensure reliability where downtime is not an option. Below are a few of the most important design considerations:
Duplicate Fans for Redundancy
In many cooling applications, two fans are used, either to provide additional pressure in extreme temperature environments or as a built-in backup. Redundancy ensures that operations don’t come to a halt if one fan fails.
Bearing Protection
Bearings are the most common point of failure in industrial fans, making their protection and maintenance a top priority. In high-temperature cooling processes, bearings are shielded with insulation, heat slingers, and custom shaft seals to prevent damage from excessive heat and to extend service life.
Vibration Management
Extreme heat often leads to vibration, which can create dangerous imbalances and shorten equipment life. To prevent costly outages, vibration sensors are recommended to continuously monitor performance and alert maintenance teams if levels exceed safe limits.
Additional Accessory & Design Considerations
Features:
- 304/316 Stainless Steel – for durability and corrosion resistance
- SSPC-SP10 Bead Blast Surface Prep – for a cleaner, more resilient finish
- Food-grade Teflon Shaft Seals – to ensure sanitary, leak-free operation
- Stainless BFM Fittings – for quick, secure connections
- Double-width Housing – to deliver higher airflow capacity
- Isolated Bearings & Motors – for longer equipment life and reduced contamination risk
- Ceramic Felt Shaft Seals – for added protection in harsh conditions
Accessories:
- Flex Connectors – to accommodate shifting during rapid temperature change
- Spring Vibration Isolators – to protect the bearings and fan from excessive vibration and dangerous imbalances and help avoid outages that can be very costly
- Inlet Silencer – for noise control on the fan inlet
- Flow Control Options – includes inlet vane dampers, variable frequency drives (VFD), outlet dampers, or a combination, each offering control over airflow volume and pressure
- Purged Shaft Seal – for enhanced control of the critical seal that protects the bearings and airstream
- Inlet Filter or Screen – to keep debris from entering the airstream, preventing damage to the dampers
- Inlet Box – a solution for installations with limited ductwork space
- Vibration and Temperature Sensors – to monitor bearing and fan health in real time, enabling predictive maintenance and reducing unplanned downtime
- Split Housing – for easier maintenance access to the fan wheel and shaft for inspection and maintenance
- Proper Installation and Maintenance – to ensure safe startup and operations
Connect with a Process Cooling Fan Expert
Our experienced application engineers are ready to help you find the right fan. Whether you’re replacing an existing unit or designing a new system, we’ll make sure you get a solution that fits your specs, timeline, and budget.
Call, email, or submit your info to get started and our team will respond quickly.
