Replacing AC fans with EC fans: An economic efficiency calculation illustrates why it's worth switching.

 

Sunon's EC axial fans and individual motors are high-efficiency, brushless, direct-current motors driven directly from an AC power supply. They reduce power consumption by around 80% compared to conventional AC fans and shaded-pole motors. The combination of alternating voltage and DC motor is made possible by an integrated AC/DC converter.

This gives the new EC fans greater scalability compared to AC fans, along with more options for producing variants, for example with rpm or alarm outputs. The EC fans also save on weight because their standard housings are made of plastic instead of aluminium, and no additional grounding wire is needed.

As a replacement for conventional AC equipment fans, the EC fans also offer another persuasive argument: cost savings, as the following example calculation shows:

The following example compares the 22W DP200A2123XBT AC fan (230VAC, 164.8m³/h, 45dBA) and the 5.1W CF4113HBT-000U-A99 EC fan (230VAC, 185.1m³/h, 45dBA) in terms of their energy costs.

The calculation is based on average power costs per kilowatt (according to the Federal Statistical Office, 2017)
• for commercial customers, esp. SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) – 21.7 cents/kWh
• for industrial customers – 14.9 cents/kWh.
 
• Commercial rate:
AC standard: 22W x 24h = 528W = 0,528kW x 365 days = 192,72kW x 0,217€/kWh = 41,82€
EC series: 5,1W x 24h = 122,4W = 0,1224kW x 365 days = 44,676kW x 0,217€/kWh = 9,69€
>> Difference: 32,13€

• Industrial rate:
AC standard: 22W x 24h = 528W = 0,528kW x 365 days = 192,72kW x 0,149€/kWh = 28,71€
EC series: 5,1W x 24h = 122,4W = 0,1224kW x 365 days = 44,676kW x 0,149€/kWh = 6,66€
>> Difference: 22,05€

The higher energy costs for SMEs means that, in terms of the amortization period, the switch to the new fan generation pays off faster. The DP purchase price is increasing due to raw material costs, and this is already being reflected in the sales price.
 
• The scaled price for 240 units DP 4,70€
  The scaled price for 200 units CF 35,00€
• Amortisation commercial: 30,30€/(32,13€/12) = 12 months
  Amortisation industry: 30,30€/(22,05€/12) = 17 months

With purchase volume above 5000 units, the procurement costs sink further. In 24/7 operation, the amortization period even for industrial purchasers reduces to less than 9 months:

• DP price scale 3 €4.70
  CF price scale 3 €20.00
  >> 15,50€ Differenz in der Anschaffung
• Amortisation commercial: 15,30€/(32,13€/12) = 6 months
  Amortisation industry: 15,30€/(22,05€/12) = 8.4 months

The environmental balance sheet also speaks for itself: even if the fan is not the major power consumer in a piece of equipment, it still contributes significantly to the overall environmental cost:

192,72kWh - 44,676kWh = 148,04kWh less energy consumption per fan, corresponding to a reduced CO² output of: 489g x 148,04kWh = 72kg CO²
(according to Statista 2017: 489g CO²-emissions/kWh power in Germany-wide energy-mix)

• Efficiency: Customers who already use conventional AC fans in existing applications achieve improved efficiency with the new fans. With new environmental regulations on the horizon, this matters. EnEV already affects heating and air-conditioning equipment in buildings.

• Range: For customers who have so far been using AC fans because there is no DC power supply in the device, there are now more opportunities for using the fans. With regard to both size and type, a wide range is now available.

Schukat electronic: We supply Sunon's new, power-saving EC fans for a variety of industrial and commercial application areas, including heat exchangers, building fans, air conditioners, as well as for cabinets used in telecommunications and data centres. We also advise our customers about new product characteristics and fields of application.