Industrial fan | Industrial compact fan

What is an industrial fan?

Innovative ventilation solutions for the most demanding requirements

A fan consists of an impeller, a drive motor, and a housing for flow control to move air. An industrial fan is a high-performance fan that has been specially developed for demanding industrial applications. These industrial fans are designed to operate reliably even under high loads and to meet a wide range of requirements in areas such as ventilation technology, air conditioning, and mechanical engineering.

ebm‑papst offers a comprehensive range of industrial fans that feature state-of-the-art technology, exceptional energy efficiency, and high performance.

What types of industrial fans are available?

The main way in which industrial fans differ from each other is through the airflow direction in the fan’s impeller. The flow can be axial, centrifugal, or diagonal.

As a leading manufacturer of industrial fans, ebm‑papst strives for maximum efficiency in industrial applications via tailor-made solutions. We offer a wide selection of industrial fans, including axial fans, centrifugal fans, diagonal fans, and tangential blowers, which are matched to the specific requirements of different industrial applications.

Our motorized industrial fans are pre-assembled, balanced, and adjusted at the factory for plug & play installation, exceptional efficiency and high performance. This ensures reliable air delivery even in the most demanding environments.

Axial fans

Axial fans

Axial fans draw in air and blow it out parallel to the axis of rotation without changing the direction of the airflow. Axial panel fans are often used in industrial applications where high airflow and low back pressure are required, especially in large rooms or outdoor air exchange systems. The larger sizes are referred to as axial panel fans, while the smaller sizes used for applications with constrained available space are reffered to as compact axial fans.

Industrial axial fans offer particularly high efficiency in applications such as ventilation systems, air conditioning systems, and air conditioners. They’re also often used in large industrial halls, storage rooms, and for ventilating buildings or in outdoor applications where air can flow without having to change direction.

Centrifugal fans

Centrifugal fans

A centrifugal fan or radial fan draws in air parallel to the axis of rotation and conducts it perpendicular to the axis, causing a 90° change in the direction of the airflow. This special flow direction makes them suitable for applications where a strong air deflection is required.

Radial centrifugal fans are divided into backward-curved impellers (freewheel centrifugal fans) and forward-curved impellers (centrifugal blowers).

Industrial centrifugal fans are especially advantageous when used in duct systems, where they enable reliable and efficient air circulation. They’re great choices for applications that require high pressure values at low airflow volumes.Larger sizes are often called centrifugal panel fans, while the ones used in constrained spanes are referred to as compact centrifugal fans.

Diagonal fans

Diagonal fans

Diagonal fans combine the advantages of axial and radial airflow and are particularly popular in industrial applications. They offer high pressure stability, efficiency, and low noise levels. The special geometry of diagonal fans allows them to generate higher pressures than axial panel fans while achieving uniform airflow and avoiding harmful "hot spots" – this helps to increase service life.

Industrial diagonal fans are used in ventilation and extraction systems where air has to be extracted against high counterpressure. Typical applications include process air suction system, industrial air conditioning, drying processes, and smoke extraction systems.

Tangential blowers

Tangential blowers

Tangential blowers, also known as cross-flow fans, provide uniform and low-noise air distribution. This design is ideal for applications in confined spaces, such as in air conditioners, heating units, industrial drying processes, cooling systems, ventilation systems and electronic devices, where targeted and uniform air duct design is required.

Industrial tangential blowers are increasingly used when high airflow must be handled efficiently at low counterpressure, offering a reliable solution for optimizing processes and increasing operating efficiency.

What role do industrial fans play in
energy efficiency and sustainability?

Industrial fans contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption in ventilation, cooling, and production processes. Through the targeted use of energy-efficient industrial fans, companies can reduce their operating costs, comply with legal environmental requirements, and contribute to climate protection.

1. Energy efficiency through modern technologies

  • EC technology (electronically commutated motors): Industrial fans with EC motors consume up to 30% less energy than conventional AC models because they operate at variable speeds and adapt flexibly to actual demand.
  • Variable Speed control: The use of variable frequency drives allows industrial fans to dynamically adjust their output, reducing energy losses and making operation more efficient.

2. Sustainability through optimized air duct design

  • Lower CO₂ emissions: Reduced energy consumption directly leads to lower CO₂ emissions, which improves the environmental performance of the entire system.
  • Extended service life: High-quality industrial fans are designed for a long service life, minimizing maintenance and component replacement.
  • Material selection and recyclability: Many modern industrial fans are made from recyclable materials and are designed to be recycled at the end of their lifecycle.

3. Use in energy-intensive industries

Industrial fans contribute to the sustainable optimization of processes in various industries, for example:

  • Ventilation and air conditioning technology: Efficient air duct design reduces the energy consumption of HVAC systems.
  • Production and manufacturing industry: Cooling of machines and processes with minimal energy consumption.
  • Drying processes: Uniform air circulation reduces the amount of heat energy required.

What are the new technologies and trends in industrial fans?

The development of industrial fans is characterized by technological innovation and increasing demands for energy efficiency, automation, and sustainability. Here are the most important trends and technologies:

1. Digitalization & Industry 4.0

  • IoT-enabled fans: Modern industrial fans are equipped with sensors that provide real-time data on temperature, airflow, and energy consumption. This data can be analyzed via IoT platforms and used to optimize operations.
  • Predictive maintenance: Smart sensor technology enables potential failures to be detected at an early stage and maintenance work to be planned proactively, reducing downtime.

2. More efficient motor technologies

  • EC technology (electronically commutated motors): Compared to traditional AC motors, EC motors offer higher energy efficiency and enable demand-based speed control. This saves up to 30% energy.
  • Permanent magnet motors (PM motors): These motors have a higher efficiency than conventional induction motors and are increasingly being integrated into industrial fans.

3.Intelligent control systems

  • Variable frequency drives (VFDs): These enable precise speed control depending on airflow or pressure requirements and contribute to further energy savings.
  • Automated adjustment: Fans can adapt to environmental conditions in real time by, for example, adjusting their output to changing temperatures or production loads.

4. Improved aerodynamics and materials

  • Optimized impeller geometries: Optimized impeller geometry improves airflow efficiency by reducing drag and minimizing energy losses.
  • Lighter and more durable materials: The use of composite materials and high-strength plastics reduces weight and increases the service life of the fans.

5. Sustainability & CO₂ reduction

  • Energy-efficient designs: Fans are increasingly being developed with maximum energy savings and low environmental impact in mind.
  • Recyclable materials: Manufacturers are increasingly turning to environmentally friendly materials to minimize their ecological footprint.