High-volume Low-speed fans are referred to as HVLS. These fans are larger than seven feet in diameter and are normally mounted directly from the ceiling or on down-red if the ceiling is quite high. These fans travel slowly, with a maximum speed of 200 RPM and a speed of less than 60 MPH at the fan blade tip, as the name implies. Another requirement is that the amount of air moving through the fan in one revolution be at least 500 cubic feet. In comparison, depending on the size of the fan, conventional residential floor fans have an RPM of around 300 (at low speed) and over 1500 (at high speed).

HVLS ceiling fans have been spotted in local gyms, ballparks or stadiums, and airport terminals. HVLS fans are large, slow-moving fans that silently circulate the air, and we'll take a closer look at them in this article. We'll go over how HVLS fans function, where they may be used, and some of the other advantages of employing them.
 

How Do HVLS Fans Work? 

When cool air flows over the body, it breaks up the moisture-saturated boundary layer and speeds evaporation in order to create cooling effects. When ceiling fans turn, they create a column of air. Along the floor, this column of air flows down and out. This deep wall of horizontal moving air, known as a horizontal floor jet, is proportional to the fan's diameter and, to a lesser extent, its speed. When the floor jet reaches its maximum capacity, it migrates outward until it encounters a vertical surface such as a sidewall.

A fan with an 8-foot (2.4-meter) diameter creates a 36-inch (910-mm) deep floor jet under optimal conditions. A fan with a diameter of 24 feet (7.3 meters) creates a floor jet that is 108 inches (2,700 mm) deep, tall enough to envelop a human standing on the floor or a cow, which was the original development goal.

In terms of diameter, rotational speed, and performance, commercial HVLS ceiling fans differ from domestic ceiling fans. While some fans use modern blades to move air, other ways, such as Airfoils, are being used to make it more efficient.

At the same speed, larger fans may move more air than smaller fans. A chaotic, high-velocity air jet swiftly disappears. Because of the friction between moving air and stationary air at the moving column's edge, a large column of air "travels" farther than a small one.

The diameter of an air column has a direct relationship with its perimeter. While the cross-sectional area grows in proportion to the square of the diameter, the huge column has fewer peripheries and thus less drag. As a result, the air column from a 3 foot (0.91 m) diameter fan has more than six times the friction interface as the air column from a 20 foot (6.1 m) diameter fan per volume of air pushed.

When an HVLS fan's downward air column reaches the floor, the air rotates horizontally away from the column in all directions. The "horizontal floor jet" is the air that flows outward. Because the diameter of the air column determines the height of the floor jet, a larger diameter fan produces a larger air column and hence a higher floor jet. Smaller high-speed fans with the same displacement cannot achieve the same effect. The power required to drive a fan rises roughly in proportion to the cube of the fan's typical airspeed. A commercial fan that delivers air at 20 mph (miles per hour) uses 64 times more power than a fan that delivers air at 5 mph (miles per hour). When it comes to cooling people or animals, airspeed mixed with fan "efficiency" means that very huge, low-speed commercial fans are more efficient and effective than small high-speed fans.

What Solutions Can HVLS Fans Provide?

HVLS fans are suited for applications where equipment or impediments could obstruct optimum airflow from a wall or floor fan. The air column circumvents equipment to reach humans or cattle since the fans are often positioned near the ceiling. HVLS fans improve comfort by consistently spreading temperatures in the winter and keeping personnel cool in the summer without requiring regular adjustments to the HVLS equipment.

Because the fan has larger props to move more air without using more electricity to raise speed, an HVLS fan saves energy. The low-power characteristic of HVLS ceiling fans assures that a building won't have to use too much energy to run the equipment while yet providing adequate airflow.

Furthermore, HVLS supporters promote greater health and wellness. Bacteria build-up on damp surfaces can be avoided by controlling humidity and moisture. The continual air circulation prevents slick floors by reducing condensation and drying out moisture. An HVLS fan can also be used to suck pollutants from space and out of the building, or to introduce fresh air into a place that contains pollutants.
 

How to Choose Best HVLS Fan – Selection Criteria

Several building characteristics must be considered when determining the appropriate size and wattage for your business HVLS ceiling fan. Use the following criteria to choose the correct HVLS fan for your facility:

Product Design: Depending on the brand and model, HVLS ceiling fans have a variety of processors, motors, and controllers. Direct-drive motors, onboard computers, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and control interfaces are all possibilities. Consider how you want your fan to fit into your larger HVAC system when deciding which functions you need on it.

Size and Number of Fans: The size and number of fans in your space will affect how well airflow is distributed. Aajjo.com, for example, sells fans in sizes ranging from 7 to 24 feet, with covering radii of 17 to 75 feet.

Proper Placement: When dealing with equipment that could restrict airflow, consider where the fans should be placed. Ensure that impediments do not completely block the air column or deflect it in an unwanted direction.
 

Why HVLS Fans Make Us Feel Cooler (Or Warmer)

A running HVLS fan has a significant impact on air velocity and humidity, both of which affect thermal comfort. No fan, whether it's an HVLS fan or a standard high-speed fan, alters the temperature of the air.

HVLS ceiling fans work primarily by providing a breeze that produces an evaporative cooling effect. Small amounts of the moisture evaporate as the air passes over the person's skin. The subsequent phase change absorbs heat, making the person feel cooler as the moisture moves from liquid to gaseous form. In fact, without lowering the thermostat, the room can feel up to 7 degrees colder, saving you money on your cooling expenditures.

This evaporative impact removes humidity from the air as well. Less humidity helps to make things more comfortable since damp air makes warm air feel hotter and cold air feel cooler.

Finally, the air in a large building generally stratifies into strata during the winter. Warm air is pumped into a room, but it rises and collects at the ceiling, leaving individuals on the ground level freezing. An HVLS fan softly mixes the layers of air to keep the temperature comfortable without boosting the temperature. Despite the fact that HVLS fans do not directly heat or cool the air, they may make a place seem a lot more comfortable for a fraction of the cost of running the air conditioning.
 

Environmental Benefits of HVLS Fans

The most energy-efficient climate control solution is HVLS ceiling fans. They utilize very little energy to deliver airflow, which saves money on heating and cooling. HVLS fans also transport air so effectively that they complement, if not outperform, HVAC ductwork.

1. Reduced Cooling Costs

Employees feel cooler when HLVS fans create airflow because convective and evaporative cooling is aided, not because the air temperature is any colder. Cooling indoor environments for human comfort is normally the goal, and we can achieve that goal in more ways than just turning down the thermostat! You can increase your thermostat setting while remaining equally comfortable by using fans to help with climate control.

2. Reduced Heating Costs

Buildings with high ceilings experience heat stratification, with cooler air at the floor level and warmer air at the ceiling, if there is no air circulation. The temperature rises half a degree per foot, thus the difference in temperature between the floor and the rafters of a 20-foot building would be around ten degrees. During winter, HVLS ceiling fans can run in reverse to de-stratify and re-distribute the air. This is especially useful if you're going to use a forced-air heating system as part of your air circulation strategy. By generating warm air at ground level and limiting heat loss via the roof, combining a heating system with HVLS fans can save up to 30% on heating expenditures.

3. Decreased HVAC Tonnage & Ducting

HVLS ceiling fans are entrusted with spreading air across a building when they are included in the building planning process. HVLS fans, as previously indicated, effectively mix air to attain comfort levels while reducing HVAC demand. Incorporating HVLS fans into a building's architecture can also help to reduce the amount of HVAC tonnage required and eliminate the need for ductwork. Removing ductwork has the effect of eliminating the space, labor, and resources formerly dedicated to accommodate ducting for air management. Companies may lower their carbon footprint by reducing the size of their HVAC systems with HVLS fan technology. Furthermore, using HVLS fans rather than ducting is consistently effective since HVLS fans are in use all of the time, mixing the air in the area and maintaining a steady comfort level rather than leaving hot or cold air into a space. Ducting costs around the same as the matching HVLS fan or fans, so it's worth considering the benefits – not least how much more appealing the aesthetic appeal of a sleek fan is compared to metal ducting and vents.

The Bottom Line

HVLS ceiling fans provide an effective year-round climate management option when installed in your facility. These fans can help increase productivity by covering a large area with low energy consumption, low noise feature, and high air volume. Thus, a fan is made to move air, so you must check that the fan you choose has the capacity to move the volume of air you require to circulate in your space. Hope you find this guide quite helpful and informative in choosing the right HVLS fan at your workplace.