Is it worth investing in ebm-papst EC fans?

A few words about how we developed our own savings calculator for ebm-papst fans with EC motors versus AC

Although fans with electronically commutated motors are almost three times more expensive than comparable asynchronous motors, it may be worth considering a more expensive fan if ventilation is a постоянный and significant cost in livestock farming. It could help the investor reduce electricity bills. The payback on the investment naturally depends on electricity rates and the individual level of ventilation use, so we decided to create a tool that lets users estimate the financial benefit for themselves. Today we worked on a calculator to work out the savings from using ebm-papst EC fans instead of AC fans.

For the measurements, we used two ebm-papst wall fans with a diameter of 63 cm and different motor types — AC (asynchronous motor) and EC (electronically commutated motor). Using a tachometer and our

ventilation controller

SC-S, we measured power at different motor speeds.

We entered the measurement results into a spreadsheet and plotted graphs showing the differences in electricity consumption between the two fans. These data enabled us to develop a mathematical model for the savings calculator.

The calculator is intended to work out the annual savings from using EC fans instead of AC fans. After entering the details from their electricity bill, users will be able to calculate for themselves how much they will save each year by using an EC fan. For the calculator to work correctly, it needs data such as the price per kWh, the electricity transmission charge and the ventilation level at which the fans most often operate in the livestock building (from 0-100%). The difference between the blue (AC) and red (EC) graphs represents the savings. The difference in electricity consumption is clearly significant. How much is that difference worth in money? Our calculator will work it out. An article featuring the completed calculator and instructions for using it correctly will appear on the blog soon.