Paper Conference

ASHRAE & IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2016: Building Performance Modeling Conference

     

Evaluation of Fan Models for Application to Ecm Fan/Motor Combinations

Dennis O'Neal, Peng Yin, Douglas Ingram
School of Engineering and Computer Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Baylor University Waco, TX

Abstract: Electronically commutated motors are applied to drive the fans in fan powered terminal units for variable airflow applications. Two fan models used to characterize larger commercial variable speed fans were evaluated to determine if they could be applied to model electronically commutated fan/motor combinations used in fan powered terminal units. These models included those by Clark (1985) and Stein and Hydeman (2004). Four manufacturers provided detailed performance data on 36 fan/motor combinations that were used in commercially available series and parallel fan powered terminal units. All of the fan motors were electronically commutated motors with motor sizes ranging from 0.33 to 1 hp (249 to 746 W). The data included airflow, power, and power factors that were measured over a range of static discharge pressure from 0.1 to 0.75 in w.g. (25 to 187 Pa). Both fan models correlated performance data of individual fan/motor combinations. However, neither model was able to provide a generalized method to satisfactorily correlate the wide range of provided by the manufacturers. In addition, the performance data for some of the smaller fan/motor combinations showed considerable variation at lower controller settings than the data at higher controller settings. A new model was developed that provided a better correlation for the fan/motor performance data. This model could be used by building simulation model developers seeking a generalized model of ECM fan/motors used in fan powered terminal units.
Pages: 157 - 164
Paper:
simbuild2016_C021