The Modeling, Engineering and Testing Behind a Pretty Cool Product
Whenever I stay at a hotel, I like to take a few minutes to inspect the air conditioner. Most of the time it’s a fan coil, and I think they’re pretty cool. Hopefully after reading this blog post, you will too.
 |
| Price’s Horizontal Low-Profile Fan Coil |
First off, what even is a fan coil? We’ve written about this on the blog before, but to refresh your memory, it’s a device that uses a motor-driven fan and water coil to heat or cool air in a specific zone, often with built-in dehumidification and filtration.
Fan coils are surprisingly complex, despite their plain appearance. Packaging components into a compact unit, ensuring they perform reliably and making them serviceable is no small feat. As we say at Price, we must deliver the straight goods.
So what goes into that? Step into our 40,000 sq. ft. laboratory, Price Research Center North (PRCN), or the Price Predict office in Winnipeg, MB, and you’ll see the science at work.
Building and testing any product is time-consuming and expensive, and fan coils have more testing requirements than many of our other products. To speed development, our engineers lean on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. This virtual testing helps optimize airflow, reduce sound, and keep size and cost within industry standards – all before a prototype is even built. Early collaboration between the Price Fan Coils and Price Predict teams ensures the components are sized and positioned for peak performance. The result: fewer design iterations, faster speed to market and better products for customers.
 |
| CFD modeling from the Price Predict team gives designers a look at airflow within the fan coil – before the prototype is even built |
Fun fact: Air can travel faster than 40 mph inside a Price fan coil!
Once a unit enters PRCN, it goes through a “boot camp” of airflow, sound and thermal testing. Fan coils commonly operate near the occupants they serve, and engineering a 70 lb. fan-and-motor assembly rotating at more than 2,000 rpm to be quiet and unobtrusive is critical. We don’t just measure sound levels; we evaluate sound quality. A unit that’s quiet but produces an irritating tone can ruin a hotel stay just as quickly as one that’s too loud.
 |
| A Price blower coil being tested in the sound lab at Price Research Center North in Winnipeg |
Lastly, one of the primary functions of fan coils is dehumidification. They remove moisture as air passes over the cooling coil. My No. 1 rule for fan coils is to keep water where it is supposed to be and prevent it from going where it is not supposed to be. PRCN has two psychrometric chambers, where engineers measure thermal performance and verify that units are managing condensate correctly without violating rule No. 1. (Never violate rule No. 1.)
This only scratches the surface of fan coil design, but it highlights the effort behind a product most people never notice. Lots of science, testing and engineering – all so guests can enjoy a quiet, comfortable night’s sleep when they are away from home.
Want to learn more about fan coils? Visit our website or reach out to our team at fancoils@priceindustries.com.
 |
Tim Wilson is General Manager of Price Fan Coils. He is based out of Price's facility in Winder, GA. Click here to connect with him on LinkedIn. |
