HVLS (high-volume, low-speed) fans are generally ceiling-mounted and are less often of the wall-mounted type. They are more than 7ft (2.1 m) in diameter. Their functional principle relies on size and not on speed to move a large amount of air. Though HVLS fans are used in a wide variety of applications, they are predominantly used in the agriculture industry and in food storehouses, thus controlling temperature and reducing the spoilage of perishables goods. Other important application areas are manufacturing shop floors and warehouses where they efficiently control the temperature and increase the comfort of employees. This in turn increases the productivity of the workers in those spaces. There is yet another important advantage of using HVLS fans in manufacturing environments. By virtue of their function HVLS fans have the ability to reduce condensation and high humidity. As a result, rusting of machines and metal parts that are stored in manufacturing settings is effectively reduced. This doubles the benefit to business owners by making their employees happy and also protecting their goods. In the end, this means reduced costs.
Function Principle
While turning at slow speeds, HVLS fans produce a column of air that moves downward vertically. When this horizontal floor jet reaches its potential, it moves sideways and then turns up again when it meets a side wall. HVLS fans works on the principle of destratification. Destratification is the process of mixing the air with ceiling fans to evenly distribute heat. Destratifying room air brings heat down to floor level where it is needed to keep people comfortable. Mixing the air also reduces ceiling temperatures, which in turn reduces energy losses through the roof and saves money.
Advantages
HVLS fans work efficiently both in summer and in winter. They mix the warm air at the ceiling with cool air at the floor level and finally create an even temperature throughout the covered space. This eliminates huge cooling systems in summer and heating systems in winter thus reducing energy costs.
Energy efficiency is the best route for reducing carbon footprint. Commercial and industrial spaces are more responsible for producing greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting energy efficiency measures in industries can significantly reduce emissions contribution. Thus, HVLS fans are becoming a major contributor in energy efficiency goals and help protect the environment, and, simultaneously, increase the quality of life.
Construction & Requirements
HVLS fans have a huge structure which features a top mounting system for ceiling mounting and from there hangs the heart of the system, the main drive. The geared motor has to be connected to the forged hub that has the blades bolted along its periphery. This heavy unit with diameters of more than 7ft (2.1 m) needs to be fastened with the motor shaft. Reliability is of utmost importance for this connection. Unlike horizontal connections, this heavy assembly comprising hub and blades fully relies on this connection as they hang vertically. Failure of this connection would be costly not only in terms of money but also in the loss of life for people on the floor.
Locking Assemblies feature High Reliability
Keyed connections have been the traditional method, but demands for reliability and safe transmission of high torques due to heavy air columns are increasing. RINGFEDER® Locking Assemblies have replaced keyed connections in this most demanding application. Locking assemblies take a very different approach to torque transmission. They feature a pair of double-tapered thrust rings that, when tightened, expand radially to create a compression fit between the shaft and its mating component, locking them together.
Unlike keyways, which concentrate stresses along a single line of contact, locking assemblies distribute torque-transmission stresses evenly over 360 degrees of contact. This uniform stress distribution eliminates the wear and maintenance costs associated with keyways and delivers a highly reliable connection.
Other Application Areas
Simple and quick assembly and disassembly, complete freedom from maintenance and wear, absolutely backlash-free power transmission: RINGFEDER® Locking Assemblies are friction-locked shaft-hub connections manufactured to the highest quality standards. They are suitable for the precise fastening of all types of hubs, e.g. toothed gears, running wheels and chain sprockets, levers, cam discs, belt and brake discs, slip-on gears, couplings or flanges, shafts and axles. Compared to external clamping connections, e.g., shrink discs, locking assemblies are installed between the shaft and hub. By tightening the clamping screws, the inner and outer rings press themselves onto the contact surfaces of the components to be connected, thus creating a friction-fit press connection. This allows not only the highest torques but also axial and radial as well as bending loads to be transmitted reliably. Keyless RINGFEDER® Locking Assemblies are the superior alternative to conventional shrink-fits, wedge, keyway, or polygonal connections and offer outstanding concentricity and resistance to alternating torsion. Our locking assemblies are available in various standard designs and sizes as well as customized special solutions.
To learn more about our Locking Assemblies for different applications, visit our website or send us contact request.
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