Maintain Static Pressure with VFD for Air Flow Control

Using a variable frequency drive or VFD for air flow control on your industrial fan can increase efficiency and save on energy costs over time. That’s because it gives you a high degree of control while keeping the airstream clear, thus avoiding static pressure losses that inevitably reduce efficiency.

Most other methods of flow control like a damper or a variable inlet vane involve restricting the air flow on its way in or out of the fan. Instead of interfering with the flow, the VFD varies the frequency of the motor, which is external to the fan and the process air in the system.

How to Use VFD for Air Flow Control

This is one of the more simple calculations you’ll ever make in operating your industrial fan. Because the VFD doesn’t add to static pressure losses in the fan operations, it’s a straightforward proportional adjustment. Divide the target volume in cubic feet per meter (cfm) by the current volume in cfm and multiply the result by the current speed to determine the needed speed, and adjust the speed up or down accordingly.

Hear it from an Application Engineer

Chet White, Senior Application Engineer and Sales Manager, demonstrates how to optimize performance and efficiency using VFD for air flow control with a specific example in this 1½-minute video.

To determine the right specifications for your centrifugal fan application, reach out and connect with one of our application engineers to discuss the details of your project.

Related Content

Here are related posts and case studies that might be of interest as you think about your application.

We welcome comments and questions via our LinkedIn Page, and you can always Contact Us or Request a Quote for more details.