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What were the primary goals when developing the new S-Force generation of fans? |
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| There is a high demand for fans that offer more power while taking up the same amount of space or less if possible. The goal was to develop a new generation of fans that can provide a great deal more pressure and more airflow than previous models. We also wanted these fans to achieve ambitious blower output, and to have the lowest possible noise level even at high counterpressures. |
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What technical challenges resulted from a significant increase in speed? |
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| The substantial expansion of the speed level required particularly robust mechanical designs. The bearings, impeller, fan housing and fixed connecting link are subjected to significanltly higher strain. The desired performance data could be attained only with excellent motor and electronics technology. Of course, entirely new questions arose in the area of aerodynamics and fluid mechanics. |
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What are the design features of the fan? |
The fan housing has been made extremely rigid by optimizing the material strengths and using fiberglass reinforced plastic and aluminum in the larger units. The multiple fixed-link design and its asymmetric arrangement give the fan housing additional stability and robustness. At the same time, an optimum fixed link profile allowed the aerodynamics to be improved and the level of the pressure saddle curve in the fan curve to be raised.
The newly developed 3-phase multi-pole motors with 6 to 12-pole magnetized rotor units in the 9-slot stator pack provide up to 320 watts of peak power. In addition, outstanding values were attained by improving the air flow through the inside of the motor. The optimized self-ventilation is indispensable for the long service life of the motors. The use of winglets at the tips of the impeller and the particularly steep aerodynamic curves of the impellers set new benchmarks. All of this is testimony to the amount of knowledge and innovative capacity possessed by ebm-papst. |
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Will the new generation of fast-rotating fans have an effect on the development of installations such as control cabinets? |
| We are at the beginning of a new era. Our customers want solutions that allow them to provide a highly focused air flow through their installations. The prerequisite is the intelligent networking of the individual fans and the ability to control them individually according to the specific situation. The S-Force line's modern electronics make highly individualized solutions possible. On the other hand, there is already pressure from the market - particularly from our customers research departments - to provide space-saving, high-performance cooling solutions in response to the ever more compact equipment and associated build-up. |
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Three-phase multi-pole motors - doesn't that equal complicated motor technology with elaborate activation electronics and, above all, for technical knowledge on the part of the owner/operator? |
| Not necessarily. In S-Force fans, the operating electronics are fully integrated into the fan. The commutation and operating electronics are already onboard and require no particular attention from the user. By the way, the S-Force fans are equipped with a digital motor management system with microprocessor-controlled electronics. This means that the EC technology of the S-Force generation offers many additional features that are available as options and offer significant added value to the customer. |
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| What features are implemented in the S-Force? |
The S-Force fans are equipped with reverse polarity and overload protection with optional controls, interface and monitoring functions. Everything is possible, including speed monitoring, alarm signal, open loop speed control via PWM, control voltage or via integrated or external temperature sensor, and even special designs in IP54. |
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| Which sizes are currently available? |
Based on comprehensive market analyses, 5 sizes have been developed and implemented. The first step is axial fans in the standard dimensions from 80 to 172 mm. In the next step, centrifugal fans will be added to the S-Force generation. We will bring the first radial fan series to the market later this year; axial fans are already being sold and are currently in stock. |
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