To cut maintenance costs, EJS New York recommended an upgrade to a Q-PAC ECM fan array system. The new system has no belts, no bearings, and no regular maintenance required. The Q-PAC system is comprised of small direct drive plenum fans with EC motors complete with a plug-in disconnect power panel and full fan array control system. Each Q-PAC fan weighs approximately 75 pounds and because of the plug and play quick-connect electrical connections, a fan can be replaced in a matter of minutes. The upgraded system also offers the client peace of mind with fan redundancy. If one fan fails, the system remains at 100%, so repairs become required but not system critical. Q-PAC systems also come with a 5-year parts and labor warranty.
Although the client’s main focus was reducing maintenance costs, they were also interested in the improved energy performance that Q-PAC fans offer. Q-PAC EC fan technology has approximately 93% motor efficiency and the system has a constant unloading factor, meaning the system will be at 93% regardless of the load on the motor. Belt driven fans with AC motors have losses associated with the belts and the VFD, and AC motors, in general, operate less efficiently the more they are unloaded. For this project, we tested the existing fan before change out and compared the results to the new system during commissioning. The new fan system uses 12.7% less KW at full load.
Ultimately, EJS New York installed an upgraded system that presented long-term benefits of near-zero maintenance costs and improved energy savings.
