10-ft Fan Comparison (Epoch 1.0 vs Hunter Eco)
10-ft Epoch HVLS fan draws 32% less current than Hunter ECO fan while outputting 28% more power, 15% more rpm and 53% more airflow.
Abstract: This article presents a side by side comparison between Epoch HVLS fans and Hunter Industrial fans. Both companies offer direct drive motor platforms for HVLS and Industrial fans. Published Specifications and Website information are taken into consideration. Parameters such as motor power, blade diameter, fan speed, current consumption, input voltage, power factor, torque, motor weight, number of blades, installation etc. are compared between the two companies.
Introduction: Direct drive platforms for HVLS fans are gaining in popularity over the past few years. Hunter launched its industrial fans in January of 2016[1]. MacroAir launched its direct drive fans called AirVolution-D in June of 2014[2] at the AIA expo. Several attempts have been made by several other HVLS fan companies to launch direct drive fans. Most are either in the development stage or have experimented with various available direct drive platforms. Chinese manufacturers have been more successful as compared to their US counterparts in launching direct drive HVLS fans. However, most of the manufacturers have a very poor understanding of the characteristics of the motors and inverters required for HVLS fan performance. This paper limits its comparison between Hunter Industrial fans and Epoch HVLS fans. Future papers will focus on wider comparisons between various HVLS fan platforms.
Hunter HVLS Fan Platforms: Hunter has two HVLS fan platforms. They call them ECO and TITAN respectively. ECO platform covers 8 to 24’ whereas TITAN platform covers 14 to 24’[3]. ECO platform covers both the commercial as well as industrial requirements whereas TITAN platform covers the industrial requirements only.
Hunter TITAN Fans: The TITAN industrial fans debuted at the AHR show in 2016. They were introduced in 5 different sizes from 14’ to 24’. Their press release claims competitive edge with respect to efficiency (CFM/Watt), installation cost, weight and maintenance. Hunter also claims to have the same or better output than competition while using less horsepower. The press release also claims to have fewer fan blades, generating airflow with better aerodynamics.
Hunter ECO fans: The ECO platform seems to be targeted towards the commercial applications as it has significantly lower power than the TITAN platform. Summary of the ECO platform specs is provided below:
Table 1: Summary of ECO Industrial Fans by Hunter (8 to 16’)
|
ECO 8 |
ECO 10 |
ECO 12 |
ECO 14 |
ECO 16 |
Comments |
|
|
Diameter (ft) |
8ft |
10 Ft |
12 Ft |
14 Ft |
16 Ft |
|
|
Weight (lbs/Kg) |
40 Kg |
43 Kg |
66 Kg |
58 Kg |
61 Kg |
|
|
RPM |
156 RPM |
139 RPM |
107 RPM |
107 RPM |
95 RPM |
|
|
Coverage Area |
1600 Sq.ft |
2500 Sq.ft |
3600 Sq.ft |
4900 Sq.ft |
6400 Sq.ft |
|
|
Input Current |
2.7 A |
4.7 A |
4.6 A |
4.5 A |
5.6 A |
|
|
Input Voltage Range |
200-240 V AC (1-Phase) |
200-240 V AC (1-Phase) |
200-240 V AC (1-Phase) |
200-240 V AC (1-Phase) |
200-240 V AC (1-Phase) |
|
|
Power (hp) |
5/8 Hp |
5/8 Hp |
5/8 Hp |
5/8 Hp |
5/8 Hp |
|
|
Blade Profile |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
Table 2: Summary of ECO Industrial Fans by Hunter (18 to 24’)
|
ECO 18 |
ECO 20 |
ECO 24 |
Comments |
|
|
Diameter (ft) |
18 ft |
20 ft |
24 ft |
|
|
Weight (lbs/Kg) |
62 Kg |
66 Kg |
72 Kg |
|
|
RPM |
78 RPM |
77 RPM |
61 RPM |
|
|
Coverage Area |
8100 Sq.ft |
10000 Sq.ft |
14400 Sq.ft |
|
|
Input Current |
4.9 A |
5.5 A |
6.3 A |
|
|
Input Voltage Range |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
|
|
Power (hp) |
5/8 Hp |
5/8 Hp |
5/8 Hp |
|
|
Blade Profile |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
Table 3: Summary of TITAN Industrial Fans by Hunter (14 to 24’)
|
TITAN 14 |
TITAN 16 |
TITAN 18 |
TITAN 20 |
TITAN 24 |
Comments |
|
|
Diameter (ft) |
14 Ft |
16 Ft |
18 Ft |
20 Ft |
24 Ft |
|
|
Weight (lbs/Kg) |
76 Kg |
79 Kg |
83 Kg |
86 Kg |
93 Kg |
|
|
RPM |
105 RPM |
102 RPM |
95 RPM |
74 RPM |
71 RPM |
|
|
Claimed Coverage Area |
7744 Sq.ft |
10000 Sq.ft |
12769 Sq.ft |
15625 Sq.ft |
22500 Sq.ft |
|
|
Input Current |
5.4 A |
7.2 A |
7.8 A |
7.2 A |
8.2 A |
|
|
Input Voltage Range |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
200-240VAC (1-Ph) |
|
|
Power (hp) |
¾ Hp |
1 Hp |
1 Hp |
1 Hp |
1 Hp |
|
|
Blade Profile |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
AirFoil Design |
Table 4: Summary of Epoch HVLS and Industrial Fan Platforms by Falco eMotors
|
Epoch 0.5 |
Epoch 1.0 |
Epoch 2.0 |
Epoch 3.0 |
Epoch 4.0 |
|
|
Weight (Only Motor) |
34 Kg |
38 Kg |
47.5 Kg |
57 Kg |
72 Kg |
|
Torque |
25 Nm |
50 Nm |
90 Nm (130 Nm Peak) |
170 Nm |
225 Nm (300Nm Peak) |
|
Power |
1 Hp |
1.4 Hp |
1.4 Hp |
2 Hp |
2 Hp |
|
Poles |
28 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
28 |
10-ft Fan Comparison (Epoch 1.0 vs Hunter Eco)
Table below summarizes the 10-ft fan comparison between the two companies.
Table 5: 10-feet fan comparison table
|
Fan Diameter |
10 Feet |
|
|
Types of motors |
Epoch 1.0 |
Hunter (Eco Series) |
|
Power (Watt and Hp) |
1.07 Hp (800 W) |
5/8 Hp (466 W) |
|
Speed (Max) |
160 RPM |
139 RPM |
|
Motor Input Current |
3.2 A |
Not Available |
|
Current Consumption(Amp) at Max Speed |
3.3 A |
4.7 A |
|
Input Voltage |
1 phase 200-260V 50/60 Hz |
1 phase 200-240 V 50/60 Hz |
|
Area Coverage |
6000 Sq.ft |
2500 Sq.ft |
|
Power Factor Correction |
Yes |
Not Available |
|
Input Power Factor |
0.99 |
Not Available |
|
Integrated Controller |
Yes |
No |
|
Torque |
50 Nm |
Not Available |
|
Fan Weight |
62 Kg |
43 Kg |
|
Smartphone App |
Yes |
No |
|
ModBus Integration |
Yes (optional) |
Yes |
|
Building Management System Integration |
Yes (Optional) |
Yes |
|
Analog Controls |
Yes (Optional) |
Yes |
|
Touchscreen Console |
Yes (Optional) |
Yes |
|
Blade Profile and Blade Material |
AirFoil Design / Anodized 6061-T6 Aluminium |
AirFoil Design / NA |
|
Dynamic Blade Adjustments |
Yes |
No |
|
Number of Blades |
5 |
5 |
|
Ease of Installation (on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the easiest) |
10 |
6 |
Discussion on 10-ft Fan Comparisons(Epoch 1.0 vs Hunter Eco): In the table above, we have highlighted in bold the various advantages for each of the companies.
Input Voltage Range: Input voltage range for the Epoch fans is substantially wider. Although Epoch fans can operate from 100 to 277V input without any damage to the controls, the performance is guaranteed between 200 and 264V, single phase input. Hunter fans on the other hand have a fairly narrow input voltage range of 200 to 240VAC. This is particularly concerning in third world countries where the voltage fluctuations can be quite wide. In country like India, input voltage can shoot upto 300VAC input and controllers need to be protected against such voltage variations.
Power Factor Correction: All Epoch HVLS fans come with built-in power factor correction. This allows for several significant advantages such as reduction in input harmonics, EMI/EMC noise, power consumption and savings.
Fan Speed and RPM: Epoch 10-ft fan based on Epoch 1.0 motor platform can deliver an RPM of 160 rpm as compared to 139 rpm by Hunter. Power draw by a fan is proportional to cube of the motor speed. For example for Epoch fans, the following formula approximates the motor performance.
Torque = k.(rpm)2
Power = Torque.rpm = k.(rpm)3
The weight of the blades are not known for Hunter fans. Epoch fan blades weigh 4.8 kg or 1.104 Kg/feet. Assuming the blade profiles for both the companies are reasonable efficient (claims of having more efficient blade designs are considered nonsensical as this is not a new area of research and any improvement claims are considered mostly marginal), the power consumption ratio between the two fans should be in the ratio of (1603/1393) or 1.53. The actual ratio is 1.28.
Conclusion: With this analysis, one can easily conclude that the Epoch 10-feet fan is a lot more efficient than Hunter ECO fan. Also, the input current draw is 3.2A vs. 4.7A. Epoch draws 32% less current than Hunter ECO fan while outputting 28% more power, 15% more rpm and 53% more airflow.
References: