Post on 23-Apr-2018
Background Project Results
www.ECupgrades.com.au | www.ebmpapst.com.au
Commercial AC to EC fan upgradeBF500RC-002 fan box for evaporators
Computer Cool, a Melbourne-based
contracting firm, have recently completed
an EC fan upgrade of an APAC S60 split-type
commercial air conditioner in a commercial
building in Blackburn, Victoria. The trial was
conducted to analyse the effectiveness of
the replacement of conventional, AT15/15
belt-driven forward-curved fans with new
ebm-papst EC direct-drive backward-curved
fans into APAC S60, S75 and S85 series air-
conditioning units.
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Upgrade
Red Phase
Logging time
White Phase
Blue Phase
The building’s air conditioning system
consists of two APAC S60 air package-type
air-conditioners. The old AC fans (pictured
above) were replaced with two ebm-papst
BF500RC-002 fan boxes.
Monitoring equipment was connected to
the unit before and after the replacement
fans were installed. Seven measuring
points monitored temperature, pressure and
current draw 5 days before and after the fan
replacement.
The results show that the new EC direct drive
fans operate with 41% reduced energy usage
at the same capacity*.
The upgrade lead to a 41% reduction in input
current, with the old fan consuming 7.1A and
the new EC fan using 4.2A in input current.
The cooling capacity and airflow remained
unchanged, and this was confirmed by static
pressure and room air temperature readings.
Further benefits of EC Upgrades
Alarm capability
EC fans can be connected to the unit’s general
alarm, and have the ability to communicate to
building management systems via high-level
interface.
Reduced maintenance
ebm-papst EC Fans are direct-drive fans and
therefore do not need belts, pulleys or other
equipment to speed control, further reducing
operation costs.
*Calculated average across the monitoring period.
APAC S60 Indoor Fan Retrofit
• AC to EC fan upgrade
• 41% reduction in indoor fan energy
• Maintenance and service- free design