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AC Fans are devices grounded in electric motor technology and used in any application that demands the production of air movement. Common applications include cooling electronics, moving air in HVAC systems and providing forced-air convection for comfort or process heating. AC Fans may also be referred to as blowers or impellers, depending on the application and setup.

Fans and blowers are broadly classified according to their operating principle. We can distinguish between centrifugal fans and axial-flow fans. Centrifugal fans are the most commonly used type of blower and offer a variety of advantages. Their construction makes them ideal for sub-atmospheric pressure applications such as dust collection and zero-pressure transport. The design of axial flow fans makes them suitable for delivering higher volumes of air at relatively low pressure but high velocity.

The AC Fan is also known as an electro-mechanical fan or an AC centrifugal fan and is the most common type of fan. It is powered by an electric motor, which turns an impeller connected to a fan shaft. The impeller is the driving force in the AC Fan, creating an airflow through centrifugal force. The impeller is usually made of steel or aluminum, and the blades are carefully designed and tested to ensure the greatest performance and reliability at the given application.

As the electric motor turns the impeller, air is drawn from the back of the fan, moves along the curved vane of the impeller and is then discharged through the fan housing. This cyclical action is what generates the airflow. Depending on the size of the fan, airflow can range from lowvelocity and low pressure to high velocity and high pressure. The electric motor is usually connected to the fan via a direct drive; meaning that the fan impeller is connected to the motor shaft directly, without any belts or pulleys—making for a simpler and more reliable setup.

In order to accommodate various applications and meet different performance criteria, AC Fans come in many shapes, sizes and configurations. These include backward curved, forward curved, low-profile, flat plate and multiblade fan designs. The design of the fan housing and impeller are optimized depending on the application, and the result is a great balance between performance, efficiency and air flow quality.

As the efficiency of AC Fans has improved over time, they have become increasingly popular for general purpose cooling and air circulation applications. Additionally, the use of variable speed drives has become more useful and more prevalent, allowing the user to control the speed of the fan and modify the performance of the fan according to the application requirements. AC Fans provide a reliable and long-lasting solution for any air moving application.