Missed Our Latest Webinar? We’ve Got You Covered!
“Register Now! Engineering Webinar from Price Industries”
It’s everyone’s favorite subject line – another opportunity to deepen your HVAC knowledge and collect a PDH credit, free of charge.
However, time flies when you’re having fun designing HVAC systems, and carving out an hour to attend a live webinar isn’t always possible. We understand, and our feelings aren’t even hurt that much. We still want to provide you with the best technical guidance out there, so today we’re bringing you some key takeaways from our recent Fan Coils 101 webinar.
1. Fan Coils and Blower Coils Are the Same, Except When They’re Not
Whether it’s a fan coil or a blower coil, the main components are the same:
- A motor-blower assembly
- Water coils (chilled and/or hot water)
- A return air filter
However, differences in how these components are configured can have a big impact on unit performance. Having a draw-through or blow-through configuration is a major differentiator between fan coils and blower coils. Typically, blower coils use a draw-through configuration, while fan coils use a blow-through configuration.
2. Equipment Location, Equipment Location, Equipment Location
By considering the equipment location relative to the occupied space, we can ask (and answer) several key questions:
- Is this unit concealed, or is it visible to occupants? For visible units, a painted unit cabinet may be desired.
- What external static pressures are acting on the fan? Fan coils are designed for low- to medium-pressure systems. Blower coils are best under high pressure.
- What level of sound is acceptable from the unit?
- How much space is available?
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| Price’s Horizontal Low-Profile Fan Coil (top) is available with an 18-gauge painted exterior (bottom) that can be used in exposed applications |
Answering these questions is crucial for selecting the best fan coil model for your project.
3. Select ECMs for the “Sweet Spot”
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Direct-drive electronically commutated motors (ECMs), pictured left, are the industry standard for fan and blower coil units. Ideally, units will be sized so that design-day airflows are between 50% and 85% of the maximum fan airflow. This avoids operating at the unit’s maximum setting, which can lead to excessive sound. Additionally, there will be ample capability for fan speed turndown for efficient system sequencing. |
4. Filter Fiction and Fallacies
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One common misconception is that filter thickness has an effect on filtration rating, but this is not the case. A 1 in. MERV 8 filter has the same rating (MERV 8) as a 2 in. MERV 8 filter. Increasing a pleated filter’s thickness increases the total filter area, which lowers the pressure drop of the filter. Using thicker filters minimizes filter effect on airflow performance! |
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5. Breathe Easier With Fresh Air Inlets
Packaging fresh air inlets (FAIs) with fan and blower coils is a highly effective way to simplify ceiling layouts and minimize required ductwork.
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| Price’s Horizontal High-Performance Blower Coil, shown here with a fresh air inlet |
The FAI includes a damper and airflow sensor, essentially adding a built-in VAV box to the fan or blower coil product. This type of system can also improve thermal comfort, as the ventilation and thermal loads of the space are now decoupled from each other despite both being satisfied by the same piece of single-zone equipment.
Beyond these points, the world of fan coils is wide and nuanced. Whether you’re dealing with a unique space, a sound-sensitive project or simply a task that you’d like a second opinion on, the Price Air Moving team is here to help! If you have questions, reach out to our team at airmovement@priceindustries.com.
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Mason Kujanpaa is Senior Project Engineering Specialist for Price’s Fan Coils team. He is based out of Price’s headquarters in Winnipeg, MB. Click here to connect with him on LinkedIn. |
