Compact fans

What is a compact fan?

Compact fans offer high air performance and efficiency despite their small size. They are used in many areas, such as electronics cooling, heating and air conditioning technology, industrial applications, and more.

How does a compact fan work?

A compact fan consists of an impeller, a drive motor, and a flow-optimized housing. The air is accelerated by the rotation of the impeller and directed in a defined direction. Depending on the design – axial, radial, or diagonal – the direction of flow and the pressure generated vary.

Axial compact fans
Flat, efficient, and quiet

Axial compact fans convey air parallel to the motor axis and are characterized by their flat design. They are ideal for applications with high airflow rates and low counterpressure, such as in free-blowing systems. Thanks to external rotor motors, axial compact fans can be integrated in restrictive spaces, but free inflow and outflow are required for efficient operation.

Learn more about axial compact fans

Centrifugal compact fans
For top performance at high pressure

Centrifugal fans conduct the air in the impeller at 90° and discharge it radially. They are great for applications with high counterpressure, such as air conditioners or cooling power electronics. There are variants with backward or forward curved blades, depending on the desired efficiency and noise behavior. Scroll housings are optional, depending on the design.

Learn more about centrifugal compact fans

Diagonal compact fan
The hybrid solution

Diagonal compact fans combine the advantages of axial and centrifugal airflow. They convey air diagonally through conically shaped housings and are ideal for medium pressure ranges with high airflow. Diagonal fans are the preferred choice when axial fans do not provide enough pressure, and centrifugal fans do not provide enough air volume. For example, they are especially great in confined installation spaces, where they provide uniform airflow and reduce hot spots.

Read more about diagonal fans.

What the Tech:
How is an industrial fan constructed?

How is a compact fan constructed?

Inlet ring and housing:

Flow-optimized housing shapes and inlet rings improve air duct design and reduce losses.

Impeller:

The impeller is the central element for air delivery. Depending on the design, the air flows axially, centrifugally, or diagonally. The blade geometry influences pressure increase and noise behavior.

Motor:

The motor is usually designed as an external rotor motor, whereby the impeller is mounted directly on the rotor. This enables a compact design with a good balance.

Mounting elements:

Mounting elements like fan housings, guard grill, and connection variants facilitate integration into customer-specific applications & also reduces turbulence and air vortices.

What are the advantages of compact fans?

Compact fans offer the following technical and functional advantages:

  • Space-saving
    Ideal for confined installation situations where classic industrial fans cannot be used due to their size.
  • Quiet operation
    Optimized flow control and EC technology reduce noise and ensure quiet operation.
  • Efficient
    High efficiency thanks to coordinated components and modern motor technology increases efficiency.
  • Flexible
    A wide range of sizes, degree of protection, and approvals enable compact fans to be used worldwide.

FAQ – frequently asked questions about compact fans

Compact fans usually use external rotor motors with EC or AC technology. EC motors offer precise control and high efficiency.

Thanks to optimized flow control and modern commutation electronics, compact fans are fairly quiet. The noise level depends on the application and design.

Depending on the degree of protection and design, compact fans can also be used in moisture-protected or temperature-critical environments.

The term panel fan refers to a machine that conveys air or gases and supplies them with pressure and kinetic energy. A panel fan consists of an impeller, a drive motor, and a housing for flow control. The term compact fan is often used synonymously, but in a narrower sense it usually describes smaller fans for specific applications such as electronics cooling or HVAC systems. Technically speaking, every fan is a ventilator, but not every ventilator is called a fan.

The service life depends on storage, temperature, and operating conditions. Ball bearings typically offer a service of approx. 40,000 operating hours at 40°C.

Compact fans can usually be installed horizontally. Vertical installation positions are possible on request, depending on the model and motor position.

The optimal operating range is in the last third of the air flow curve, where efficiency and noise levels are at their best.