Fan & Pump Systems

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By improving fan and pump components and optimizing system requirements, a significant increase in the efficiency of the systems can be achieved. Pumping systems that move liquids, as well as convey materials, are often overlooked.

• Monitor fan systems
• Improve fan components
• Reduce flow resistance in fan systems
• Use high efficiency fan blades
• Maintain pump system and replace components if necessary
• Reduce overall pump system requirements 

Monitor fan systems
Improve operation and maintenance practices by regularly:

• Tightening belts
• Cleaning fans
• Changing filters
• Lubricating all electric motors, pumps and fans as needed
• Check alignment of fan belts and motors. Keep screens and guards in duct systems clean and clear of obstructions. 

Improve fan components

• Replace fans with more efficient models (types vary in efficiency depending on the application).
• Replace the standard V-Belt (efficiency is 90–97%) with a cogged belt (efficiency is 94–98%).
• Have your system properly designed to reduce air resistance. 

Reduce flow resistance in fan systems
Increase the efficiency of your fan system by reducing flow resistance.

• Install turning vanes in square duct elbows or have elbows with as large a radius as possible.
• Ensure that ducts are clean and smooth.
• Make flow length as short as possible.
• Size ducts and other flow passages as large as is practical.
• Use inlet guards, filters and/or screens judiciously or you will waste energy.
• Use air filters only when necessary. Filters cause flow resistance and increase the fan's energy consumption.
• Use efficient flow control devices such as multi-vane dampers instead of single vane dampers (or better still-install an adjustable speed drive). 

Use high efficiency fan blades
Typical fan blades used in refrigeration systems have an efficiency rating of around 40%. Better design can result in savings of approximately 15% of fan power. 

Maintain pump system and replace components if necessary

• Inspect and repair all components of your system, such as bearings, lip seals, packings and other mechanical seals.
• Replace worn impellers (especially in caustic or semi-solid applications).
• Consider replacing typical pumps with more efficient models (newer pumps are 2 to 5% more efficient).
• You can reduce or control pump speed by trimming the impeller or changing gear drives to lower gear ratios.
• Replace throttle valves with speed controls (e.g. adjustable speed drives) to meet variable loads (this typically applies to circulating pump systems, not systems with static heads that use or have constant pressure).
• Match pump size to better fit system load characteristics. Pumps are often 15 to 25% oversized. Have your pump supplier check your pumping system and replace oversized pumps with smaller ones. 

Reduce overall pump system requirements

• Equalize flow over production cycle using holding tanks.
• Eliminate bypass loops and other unnecessary flows.
• Increase piping diameter to reduce friction.