Fan Efficiency Grades and

System Effect and Their Effects

on HVAC Systems

Matt Spink, P.E.

Greenheck Fan Corporation

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

 Learning Objectives
• Understanding Fan Efficiency Grades (FEG)
• Selection of fans within acceptable efficiency
tolerances
• System Effect: Understanding their impact on
performance/energy

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

 Background
• US total energy consumption for 2010…
98 Quadrillion BTUs!
(1.0 quadrillion = 1,000,000,000,000,000 BTUs)

• According to the DOE US fans consume:

– 0.9 quads of electricity in industrial applications
– 1.6 quads of electricity in commercial applications
(2.5 quads is about 2.5% of total)

* Sources: DOE and LLNL

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 Background
Savings Potential in HVAC Systems

System Leakage

Fan Efficiency
System Effects

Drive Efficiency

Fan Selection

Source: AMCA International

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• DOE suggests 65% Background • DOE
fan efficiency. publishes
• ASHRAE & AMCA • AMCA begins intent to
collaborate on certifying FEGs regulate fan
AMCA 205 – Fan • 2012 IgCC energy
Efficiency Grades. adopts FEG 71 efficiency

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

AMCA 205-10
Fan ASHRAE
Efficiency 90.1 adopted
Classification – FEG 67
For Fans

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Fan Energy Consumption

Power Input (Electrical)

Power Loss !

Power Output
(Flow and
Pressure)

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 Fan Energy Consumption
Fan
Efficiency

Drive Bearing Aerodynamic

Electrical Motor Loss Loss Fan
Loss
Power Loss (3%) (10% to Power
(3% -
In (10%) 20%) Out
10%)

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

 What is Fan Efficiency?

Power Output
Efficiency =
Power Input

CFM x Pressure
Fan Efficiency =
BHP

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 What is Fan Efficiency?

CFM x Ps
Static Efficiency = x 100%
6343.3 x BHP

CFM x Pt
Total Efficiency = x 100%
6343.3 x BHP

PT = PS + PV

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

 Fan Curves
6.0
Ps vs. CFM
5.0 10.0
BHP vs. CFM
4.0 Surge Area 8.0

BHP
3.0 6.0
Ps

2.0 4.0
1.0 2.0
0.0 0.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
CFM x 1000

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 Fan Curves
6.0
Ps vs. CFM
5.0 100
4.0 Peak 75% 80

Efficiency
3.0 60
Ps

Static Efficiency
vs. CFM
2.0 40
1.0 20
0.0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
CFM x 1000

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 Fan Selection for Efficiency
6.0
5.0 Ps High Efficiency, 10.0
Low Sound
4.0 Surge Area 8.0

BHP
BHP
3.0 6.0
Ps

2.0 4.0
1.0 2.0
Low Efficiency, High Sound
0.0 0.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
CFM x 1000

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 Fan Selection for Efficiency
18
20

22

24
Ps 27
Design Duty
30

CFM

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 Fan Selection for Efficiency
High Efficiency,
Low Sound
Static Efficiency

% Ps

Actual Peak SE
Selections

% CFM
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 Fan Efficiency Grades
• ANSI/AMCA Standard 205-10 – Energy Efficiency
Classifications for Fans
• ISO 12759:2010 Fans – Efficiency Classification for
Fans

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Fan Efficiency Grades AMCA 205
85

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Fan Efficiency Grades AMCA 205

Airfoil Centrifugal

Backward Inclined

Forward Curved

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 AMCA 205
AMCA 205, Annex A:
In order to achieve the goals in energy savings by
operating fans it is important that the fan is selected
in the system close to the peak of the fan efficiency.
The fan operating efficiency at all intended operating
point(s) shall not be less than 15 percentage points
below the fan peak total efficiency (see figure).

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

 Fan Efficiency Grades
6.0
Ps vs. CFM
5.0 100
4.0 Peak 75% 80

Efficiency
3.0 60
Ps

Total Efficiency
vs. CFM
2.0 40
1.0 20
0.0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
CFM x 1000

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 Fan Curves
6.0
Ps vs. CFM 60% Minimum
5.0 within 15 points of 100
peak efficiency
4.0 80

Efficiency
3.0 60
Ps

Total Efficiency
vs. CFM
2.0 40
1.0 20
0.0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
CFM x 1000

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

 ASHRAE 90.1 Addendum u
6.5.3.1 Fan System Power and Efficiency Limitation
6.5.3.1.3 Fan Efficiency. Fans shall have a Fan Efficiency Grade (FEG) of 67
or higher based on manufacturers’ certified data, as defined by AMCA
205. The total efficiency of the fan at the design point of operation shall
be within 15 percentage points of the maximum total efficiency of the
fan.
Exceptions:
a. Single fans with a motor of 5 hp or less.
b. Multiple fans in parallel or series that have a combined motor power of 5
hp or less and are operated as the functional equivalent of a single fan.
c. Fans that are part of equipment listed under 6.4.1.1 Minimum Equipment
Efficiencies – Listed Equipment – Standard Rating and Operating
Conditions.
d. Fans included in equipment bearing a third-party-certified seal for air or
energy performance of the equipment package.
e. Powered wall/roof ventilators (PRV) as defined by ANSI/AMCA-99-
2010.

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

 International Green Construction
Code 2012 IgCC
CHAPTER 6

607.2.2.3 Minimum fan efficiency. Stand-alone

supply, return and exhaust fans designed for operating
with motors over 750 watts (1hp) shall have an energy
efficiency classification of not less than FEG71 as
defined in AMCA 205. The total efficiency of the fan at
the design point of operation shall be within 10
percentage points of either the maximum total
efficiency of the fan or the static efficiency of the fan.

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

“Things are not always as they seem; the first
appearance deceives many.”
- Phaedrus (Roman Poet)

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 Fan Types
40,000 CFM at 0.25” Ps
$
Model Impeller Dia BHP FEG Cost
Sidewall Prop 54” 7.11 56 1.0

Tube Axial 54” 8.30 67 1.7

Vane Axial 54” 6.87 75 4.4

Housed Centrifugal 49” 13.4 90 3.8

Housed Centrifugal 60” 6.8 90 6.1

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 Fan Types
Adhering to codes that require minimum Fan Efficiency Grades
will result in replacing this:

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 Fan Types
With this:

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 Fan Selections
15,000 CFM at 4” Ps

Peak Peak
SW Airfoil Fan Oper Static Total Static Total
Centrifugal Class BHP Eff Eff Eff Eff FEG
22 III 24.5 38% 55% 75% 79% 85

24 III 19.0 50% 64% 74% 79% 85

27 II 16.2 58% 70% 74% 79% 85

30 II 13.6 70% 79% 78% 83% 85

33 I 12.5 75% 82% 78% 83% 85

36 I 12.0 78% 83% 78% 83% 85

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 Summary
• New standards are going to require Fan Efficiency
Grades
• FEGs are an indicator of Peak Total Efficiency, not of
Fan input power
• For fan comparison and selection, use the actual Fan
BHP
• Future standards will likely start to look at installed
systems, not just individual components

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 System Effects

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 Design Airflow
6.0
Design System
5.0
Curve
4.0
Ps

3.0
2.0
Catalog Fan
Curve
1.0
0.0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
CFM x 1000

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 Fan Curves
• Show how a fan will operate in any system (installation)

• Based on standardized tests

– AMCA 210

• Tested under ideal conditions

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ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter
System Effects Defined:
•Anything you place in close
proximity before or after the
fan that effects the cataloged
performance.

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 System Effects

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 Actual Airflow
6.0
5.0 System Curve
4.0
Ps

3.0 Catalog Fan

2.0
Curve

1.0
Actual Fan
0.0
0 2 4 6
Curve
8 10 12 14
CFM x 1000

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

Why System Effect is Important

• Can decrease performance

• Can cause excess vibration
• Can cause excess noise
• Can require more energy (HP) to achieve
rated performance
• Takes time to determine and understand

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Three most common causes of deficient
performance of a fan/system are:

• Improper outlet connections

• Non-uniform inlet flow

• Swirl at the inlet

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 Fan Outlet Velocity Profiles
Blast Area
Outlet Discharge
Cut off
Area Duct

25%

Centrifugal Fan
50%

75%

100% Effective Duct Length

Axial Fan

Adapted from AMCA Publication 201-202, Fans and Systems.

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 Effective Duct Length

Effective Duct Length = 2.5 Duct Diameters for

2,500 FPM or less

Add 1 duct diameter for each additional 1,000 FPM

For rectangular ducts, the equivalent duct diameter is

(4 x width x length / 3.14) ^ 0.5

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System Effect
1
Curve

22
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Adapted from AMCA Publication 201-202, Fans and Systems.

4
System Effect
Bla st A rea Outle t D isc har ge
A rea D uc t
Cu toff

Curves for
Outlet Ducts -
Centrifugal 1 00% Effective Duct L ength

Fans
No 12% 25% 5 0% 10 0%
Duct E f fect ive Eff ective E ffe ctiv e E ffe ctiv e
Duc t D uc t D uct Du ct

Bl ast Ar ea
System Effect Curve
Outlet Area
0.4 P R-S U W --
0.5 P R-S U W --
0.6 R-S S-T U- V W- X --
0.7 S U W-X -- --
0.8 T-U VW X -- --
0.9 W-W W-X -- -- --
1.0 -- -- -- -- --

Adapted from AMCA Publication 201-202, Fans and Systems.

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System Effect
Curve 1

+0.45 in w.g. 3

2
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Adapted from AMCA Publication 201-202, Fans and Systems.

4
ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter
Thank you for your
time.

Questions?

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 -+

The mission of Greenheck is to be the market leader in the

development, manufacture and worldwide sale of quality air moving
and control equipment with total commitment to customer service.

ASHRAE Rocky Mountain Chapter

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