Fan review - 10/2019

The ideal solution for circulation and cooling

Technical developments in recent years have made electronic devices more affordable and versatile. Different fans are no exception. The practical articles appear in countless variations, which are recommended for changing projects. In order not to lose sight of the wide range on offer today, this guide explains the peculiarities and advantages of the available types.

In the search for cooling on hot days, opinions differ. Many people are of the opinion that a fan only sets the heat in motion when the ambient air is humid. However, this is not entirely correct and a look at the physical basics proves the refreshing effect at any temperature. The human body regulates itself through the production of sweat. If the sweat evaporates on the skin, it automatically withdraws heat energy from the environment and the person. However, the evaporated liquid with its stored heat accumulates directly on and above the skin. The biological process loses its effectiveness over time. Moisture and heat are removed by the fan, which circulates the entire room. As a result, the humidity around the human body drops and the evaporation works again without restriction. Despite high ambient temperature, a cooling effect has been scientifically proven.

Intended use in summer

In the warm half of the year, the sense of a fan is obvious. As explained in the previous paragraph, the aid does not need cool temperatures to actually provide more well-being. In addition, circulation improves the general room climate. On hot days, heat accumulates in windows and doors. The entire room heats up continuously. With the correct position, a fan promotes circulation and distributes moisture and heat.

Use in winter

In autumn and winter, the positive effect of a fan cannot be neglected. Heaters remove moisture from the environment. Dry air is not good for the lungs or the skin. Therefore, a circulation can improve the conditions. In this way, rooms achieve more even temperatures with a more pleasant climate. Cooling is therefore not the only use for a powerful fan.

The idea of artificial wind generation is anything but new. As early as 1740, Stephen Hales developed muscle-powered devices that ventilated the tween decks of ships with hoses. At the beginning of the 19th century, circular fans with ceiling mounting appeared in India. With ropes, owners created an air flow that could not yet be constantly maintained. Starting in 1851, Christian Schiele produced blower machines in Frankfurt that drove pedals or cranks. Automation then took place in the USA from 1860 onwards. Increasingly popular ceiling fans required bulky steam engines and complex deflection systems as motors. Philip Diehl was the first fan to be electrically driven in 1882. In 1902 James Wood patented the first electric fan. The following decades led to specialisation, optimisation and new technologies.

Basically, fans are distinguished according to two criteria. The first one is very technical and rather negligible for the household. However, a brief mention is indispensable.

Axial fan

This category is automatically found by private individuals. The axial fan consists of a simple propeller or paddle wheel. It attracts air from behind and distributes it forward again. This air movement is parallel, i.e. axial, to the drive axle. This results in the designation. The majority of commercially available devices use this design. The advantages include an extremely compact end result. However, these models only slightly increase the pressure. The modified form of the diagonal fan provides some relief. Due to the conical housing, the outlet opening is larger than the inlet. This improves air distribution.

Centrifugal fan

The radial fan sucks in the air parallel to the wind direction. The outlet lies behind a 90° angle. In this way, the system accelerates the wind and creates a higher pressure. Such units ventilate mainly in industry.

Tangential fan

With the tower fans explained in more detail below, the tangential principle has applications in the private sector. The decisive component is the fan wheel. It does not consist of different rotor blades, but of cylindrically arranged blades. These have a particularly effective blade effect. This means that lower speeds are sufficient for tangential fans than for other designs. This results in reduced power consumption and a quieter operating noise. The dispersion is therefore slightly limited.

Design types of commercially available fans

Floor-mounted fan/floor fan
There is only a tiny difference between these two types: The stand fan is equipped with a foot and a hip-high housing. Thus the air flow is at head height while sitting and provides optimum cooling. Numerous free-standing fans have an adjustable height, several output levels and an oscillating head. The angle of inclination is often configurable. Like the floor model, the floor fan uses a conventional propeller, which is generally surrounded by a protective metal grid. However, it is placed on the ground and is often inclined upwards. This reduces flexibility, but improves circulation in high spaces. For a targeted breeze, the stand variants make more sense.

Table fan

In principle, the significantly smaller table fans hardly differ from the stand-alone version. They should stand at the workplace without any problems, without swirling documents or making annoying noises. This is primarily due to the compact design with low speed. Manufacturers use inexpensive plastic for protective grilles and housings. The result is a manageable weight and versatile application possibilities. They are usually flexible when it comes to the angle of inclination, oscillation rarely exists. Companies are optimizing this product range with practical USB power supply or simple table clips instead of feet.

Tower fan

The tower ventilator became established worldwide, especially in the 21st century. Modern manufacturing processes and materials facilitate the use of the tangential principle. This results in the space-saving design, which you also discover under the name of column fan. Despite the narrow housing, the impellers create an efficient air circulation. This is primarily due to the larger intake area. At first glance, models of this type do not show any oscillation. In fact, column units use barely visible lamellas inside for the dispersion. This further reduces space requirements, as you don't have to plan for space for rotation. A final advantage is the comparatively quiet operation of this version. In modern series, these models usually have the best values.

In order for the air currents to distribute well, oscillation should be switched on, especially for tower fans.

Ceiling ventilator

With a fixed installation, you place a ceiling fan in a room. These generally score with large rotor blades, as the space on the ceiling is unrestricted. Thus, low speeds allow the same result. Among other things, this results in a barely perceptible noise. Cleverly positioned, ceiling fans create absolutely complete circulation. However, they rarely produce noticeable wind.

Setting up tower fans is usually easier than setting up floor standing fans.

For on the go you can also purchase a USB fan.
With their USB port you can simply plug them into your laptop and they will run. You can find out which models are the best in our large USB-Fan Test.

Depending on the planned application, you should carefully consider which criteria the fan should meet. An almost endless selection with innumerable suppliers does not make the purchase any easier. Therefore you will find some information about the ideal system for your needs. The probably most important topics are power consumption, noise development and efficiency. For these data standardized comparison values exist. For example, table fans circulate about 1000 m³ per hour. High-quality floor or ceiling variants reach up to 20,000 m³ and more. When it comes to consumption, the energy efficiency class serves as a guide. You will receive a label between A+++ and G. Dealers will also help out with a dB specification for noise development. It should be noted that some manufacturers make minor adjustments or only test under laboratory conditions. The best way to check the volume in particular is to have customer reviews or a practical test. Of course, the size of the room, the available space, the installation option and the available budget should also be taken into account when making a purchase.

The Latin word ventilare means "to generate wind". This is the most important task of a fan. However, this is almost the only thing the designs have in common. Changing technologies facilitate application enormously. Among other things, models are now available with remote control. The infrared transmitter controls all elements of the device from a distance and thus increases comfort. For ceiling versions, wall panels with fixed installation provide a control option.

Normal remote controls can be used for some fans.

Complete electronic control with the mobile operation is usually associated with higher costs. This applies to almost all additional functions of a fan. Some offers include a shut-off timer for relaxed falling asleep or increase the cooling effect with spray mist. However, such additions require water tanks and other components that increase maintenance. Oscillation and multiple blower stages are common, but not self-evident. Cleaning, dehumidification or heating exceed the capabilities of a fan. Products with these modes can be found under Air conditioners.

When looking for electronic cooling, two options catch the eye. In addition to a fan, there is also an air conditioning system. The variants completely integrated into the building, which is to be discovered predominantly in trade real estates, need no detailed mention here. For comparison, acquisition costs and installation costs are too high. So-called monoblocks are another topic. They are usually movable on rollers. Only a power connection and a window are necessary. Through the latter, a hose dissipates the heat to the outside. This is the most decisive advantage compared to a fan: The latter constantly circulate the existing air but does not actively cool it.

The air conditioner uses various refrigerants to extract heat from the environment before it flows out again. Especially in the long term, this is an improved method for a pleasant indoor climate. Other variants are equipped with a dehumidifier. Reduced humidity can make a noticeable contribution to refreshment. The wind distribution in air-conditioning systems cannot be described in general terms, as it depends on the design. Average designs use conventional ventilation with several outlets. Again, there are axial or tangential principles with or without oscillation. Overall, air conditioners are more effective than fans over longer periods of time.

The simple rotors are better suited for rapid cooling. Furthermore, it should not be neglected that air conditioning systems are much more important in terms of purchase and operating costs. Added to this is a maintenance, which is limited to the occasional dusting of the fan.

Further alternatives to fans

The summer months, which are always felt to be sultry, bring with them some inconvenience. Offices or living rooms inevitably heat up when exposed to constant sunlight and hot air. Various, more or less costly measures provide a remedy. Basically, the aim should be not to let the temperature inside rising too high. This is much less complicated than cooling already warmed environments. Shadow is one of the most important prerequisites for this. Especially on the south side curtains or better roller blinds should cover the windows. This is preferably done on the outside so that the area between the panes and the light protection does not heat up too much. Specially developed coatings or glasses improve the result in heavily affected buildings.

Plants also serve as an effective procedure. They provide shade and also accelerate the evaporation of water. This leads to a cooling of the surrounding area. Extreme temperatures you can bear with a wet towel in the neck and sufficient drinking not too cold liquid is always to be considered. This makes summer more bearable without running electricity costs.

Conclusion

The demand for fans or air conditioning systems is growing all the time. Accordingly, manufacturers are expanding their selection and developing new circulation methods. If you simply want a fresh breeze, you should be satisfied with an inexpensive table fan. In open-plan offices or glazed rooms, for example, such a simple purchase is not enough. Here it is advisable to take a close look at airflow, consumption and other parameters. Then nothing stands in the way of the right fan for your requirements.