Inline fans serve as critical components in residential, commercial, and industrial air handling systems alike. Typically attached to the inside of ducting, inline duct fans are responsible for extracting or moving air through a system. Multiple ductwork fans can also be used in different locations throughout a single system, working to pull air through inlets and exhaust it through outlets. Inline fan and ductwork design details ultimately depend on the size and scope of the system at hand.
When designing an inline system, proper fan selection is crucial. Factors such as the location of intake vent, length and diameter of ducting, size and power of fan, and location of external vent must all be considered to ensure that the system properly extracts air. There is a wide range of inline fan designs available with different types of motors to suit virtually any air handling application.
Types of Inline Fans
From home HVAC systems to large-scale, industrial hot air handling equipment, inline fans help to move air across ductwork according to specific application needs.
There are three primary inline fan types used by homes, businesses, and facilities today: axial inline fans, centrifugal inline fans, and mixflow inline fans.
Axial Inline Fans
Axial motor-driven fans power smaller rooms, bathrooms, and laundry closets — areas with a minimal distance of ductwork between the inlet and outlet. Axial inline fans allow for good air extraction at low pressures. Primarily used for domestic applications, axial inline fans excel at moving air through ductwork diameters ranging from 100 mm to 150 mm.
Centrifugal Inline Fans
This type of inline fan features a centrifugal motor that can handle duct runs over long distances, bends, junctions, and multiple inlets or outlets. Large spaces such as gymnasiums, indoor stadiums, and underground facilities that require more than 20 m of ducting are well suited to centrifugal inline fans.
Mixflow Inline Fans
Mixflow inline fans combine axial and centrifugal motor designs, creating a solution ideal for powering medium and large rooms, industrial laundries, and commercial bathrooms. These fans offer good airflow quality as well as superior pressure performance. Ideal for moderately long duct runs, bends, and Y branches, mixflow inline fans offer the size and performance characteristics provided by axial and centrifugal inline fans.
Applications of Inline Fans
Inline fans can be found almost anywhere air handling or HVAC is necessary. In heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration applications, industrial inline fans are often incorporated with low-maintenance bearings, vibration mitigation technology, and reduced-noise features. Designed to optimize energy use, these fans can maintain a continuous operational service life for as long as 30,000 hours.
Industrial inline fans are usually RoHS-compliant, IP44-rated, and available in different voltage configurations. Whether circulating air or removing heat, smoke, dust, and fumes, inline fans offer reliability and versatility for homes and industrial facilities alike. In homes, inline fans are used to circulate air in bathrooms, exhaust clothing dryers, vent kitchen ranges, and mitigate radon release. Inline fans are ubiquitous in the industrial sector as well, used for cooling equipment, extracting fumes, and cooling office buildings.
Working With Inline Fans
Innovations in air movement technology continue to advance based on new design challenges for heating and cooling homes, businesses, and large-scale industrial facilities. A number of industries — from aerospace to medical equipment — require precise, reliable air handling solutions in order to meet specific application requirements, making top-quality fans essential.
Whether working with heat duct fans or other types, proper design, installation, and performance quality are crucial for achieving the precision air handling that businesses and other facilities require to carry out daily tasks and operations.
Resources
- How Does an Inline Fan Work?
- Inline Fans, Uses, and Benefits
- Inline Fans
- Different Types of Inline Fans
Image Credit: oneSHutter oneMEMORY/Shutterstock.com