Agriculture Ventilation Fans: Agriculture Ventilation Fans: A National Energy Efficiency A National Energy Efficiency
StandardStandardR. D. MacDonald, P.Eng, M. E. Armstrong, P.Eng, and K. Gibb,
Agviro, Inc., Guelph, ON
Introduction
• Increased energy costs and demand management issues have made ventilation fans a large opportunity for utilities and farmers to save $$$
• There is no agricultural fan ventilation standard in North America
• Developing standard that classifies fans into two tiers of energy efficiency
• Designed for easy cross referencing• Method of energy efficiency labeling also proposed.
Fan Test Method
Based on the ASHRAE Fan Test Standard modified for agriculture by the BESS lab and ASABE Standards and Efficiency Standard EP.
Fan Testing• ASABE S 565 OCT 2005 Agricultural Ventilation Constant Speed
Fan Test Standard
Fan Efficiency• ASAE/EP566 DEC 01
Independent Third Party Fan Performance andEfficiency Verification are:• AMCA (Air Movement and Conditioning Association) • University of Illinois BESS Laboratory
There are no other independent labs in N. America willing to perform these 3rd party tests at this time.
Fan Test Method
Measurement Criteria• AIR10: AIRflow performance at a static pressure of 0.10” water column• VER10: Ventilation Efficiency Ratio at a static pressure of 0.10” w.c • AFR: Airflow Ratio. The Air Flow Ratio at a static pressure of 0.2” w.c.
divided by the airflow at a static pressure of 0.05” w.c • AFR vs. VER10: An analysis considering the combination of AFR and
VER10
Fan Test Performance Data
Efficiency Metrics
1. VER10 [CFM/W] Example with 18” fans• Standard label used by BESS to identify fan performance, at
0.10”
(VER05 at m 0.05” was previously used)
18" Fans - VER10 Histogram# of Fans Tested vs VER10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00
VER10 (CFM/W)
# o
f F
an
s T
es
ted
All Tested CDN Fans
Notes:1) Chart indicates tested ventilation eff iciency ratio at a static pressure of 0.10" w .c.
2. AFR Example for 18” Fans • Standard test result published by BESS; air flow at 0.20’/0.05”
w.c.• Identifier of performance over a wider static range without need
to list at static pressures
of 0.05” and 0.20”• Provides a simpler
method of comparing
fan performance
Efficiency Metrics
18" Fans - AFR Histogram# of Fans Tested vs AFR
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0.60 0.65 0.70 0.75 0.80 0.85 0.90 0.95 1.00
AFR
# o
f F
an
s T
es
ted
All Tested CDN Fans
Notes:1) Chart indicates tested airf low ratio (airf low @ 0.20"w .c. divided by airf low @ 0.05"w .c.
• Method to categorize fans is based on fan diameter in inches; most common N. American sales units
• Selected sizes: 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”, 18”, 20”, 24”, 36”, 48”, 50-53” • Analysis was conducted and final results were designed to ensure at
least one Canadian manufacturer per category
Fan Size Categories
Two Tier Rating Program
Tier 1: ASABE EP566 VER10 Values24, 36 and 48” fans• ASABE EP566 VER10 values for recommended efficiency
levels 18” and 20” fans• The average value of all Canadian fans tested minus ½ of 1
standard deviation. 50-53” fans• The value was taken as the same value for 48” fans from the
ASABE EP566 as this was similar to the average value minus ½ of 1 standard deviation
Tier 2: Premium Efficiency VER10 Values• The values determined for an Premium Efficiency VER10 rating
were calculated as being 1 standard deviation above the average values for all Canadian fans tested
Tier 1& 2Air Flow Ratio (AFR)
Need fan diameters to match the AFR • Minimum level of 0.7 for summer ventilation fans. • 0.75 or higher for smaller minimum ventilation fans.
Two Tier Rating Program
Two Tier Rating Program
18" Fans - AFR vs VER10Airflow Ratio vs VER10
0.7
0.75
0.8
0.85
0.9
0.95
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
VER10 (CFM/W)
Air
flo
w R
ati
o
All Fans CDN
Baseline=7.0
ASABE EP566 =9.1
Premium Efficiency=11.1
AFR =0.75
Two Tier Rating Program
Tier 1: ASABE EP566 Tier 2: Premium Efficiency
Size VER10 [CFM/W @ 0.10”]
AFR VER10 [CFM/W @
0.10”]
AFR
18” 9.1 0.75 11.1 0.75
20” 9.1 0.75 11.1 0.75
24” 11.9 0.75 14.4 0.75
36” 16.2 0.70 17.4 0.70
48” 17.6 0.70 18.5 0.70
50-53” 17.6 0.70 19.6 0.70
Lower limits for tier selection
Sample Report
Manufacturer TestNum Model Size Cone Shutter Air05 VER05 Air10 VER10 Ratio CDNChore- Time 98009 40453- 1822 18" N P 3160 9.6 3010 9.2 0.84 NHired Hand 98210 6603- 6130 18" Y P 4180 9.7 4050 9.2 0.91 NPrairie Pride Polyfan 99127 TR18F 18" N P 3930 10.1 3730 9.4 0.8 YPrairie Pride Polyfan 99123 TR18 18" N P 3900 10.1 3680 9.5 0.78 YBetter Air 07478 LPF- 1800C 18" Y P 4160 10.4 3980 9.7 0.86 YAerotech 04218 AT18ZCP 18" Y P 4180 10.5 4020 9.8 0.87 NExacon 07488e AF18MQ 18" Y P 4020 10.9 3860 10.1 0.86 YAerotech 98297 AT18ZCP 18" Y P 4300 11 4120 10.2 0.87 NAerotech 03035 AT18ZCP 18" Y P 4210 11.1 4030 10.4 0.87 NExafan 00034 EU45 w/cone18" Y P 4180 11.2 4060 10.4 0.83 NChore- Time 96156 36760- 182 18" N D 3560 11.1 3410 10.5 0.86 NAirstream 96367 APP18 18" Y P 4890 11 4720 10.6 0.87 NAerotech 98295 AT18ZCA 18" Y A 4440 11.4 4240 10.8 0.87 N
Canarm 00097 FG118W60G3118" N P 3730 13.6 3470 12.2 0.75 YPW Aire 03105 EF1800MT w/cone18" Y P 4500 13.8 4310 12.9 0.88 NChore- Time 98008 40452- 1822 18" Y P 4010 14.1 3870 13 0.87 NPro Terra Systems 98008p A40452- 182218" Y P 4010 14.1 3870 13 0.87 N
AS
AB
E E
P566 (
9.1
)Pre
miu
m
Effi
ciency
(1
1.1
)
Qualification & Labeling
Qualification• Fans must be listed on the BESS Ventilation Fan Performance
Test website• Fans must meet the criteria as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 energy efficient
product
Labeling• Fans are currently available with AMCA or BESS labeling, but
with minimal information• Proposed labeling will provide more information than existing
labels
Existing Labeling
AMCA or BESS (or none)Purchasers assurance that:• The product has been tested using a recognized standard• The energy efficiency ratings for the fans are accurate
Note that there is no technical information
Proposed Efficiency Labeling
Tier 1: ASABE EP566 VER10 - EnerguideThe Tier 1 rating system should consist of the following:• Standard Energuide label• Rating by diameter with a daily 24 hour kWh minimum to
maximum scale (allows users to calculate annual usage)• Rating by AMCA or BESS that meets or exceeds AFR and
CFM/W ratings @ 0.10” w.c. s.p.
Proposed Efficiency Labeling
Proposed Efficiency Labeling
Tier 2: Premium Efficiency VER10The Tier 2 rating system should consist of the following:• Standard Energuide label• Rating by diameter with a daily 24 hour kWh minimum to
maximum scale • Rating by AMCA or BESS that meets or exceeds AFR and
CFM/W ratings @ 0.10” w.c. s.p.• Premium efficiency label similar to the Energy Star label
Proposed Efficiency Labeling
Potential For Energy Star
• Introduced as a voluntary labeling program in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Designed to promote energy efficient products that reduce GHG
• 1996 merged with the Department of Energy
• Provide labeling on all major appliances in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors
• Must meet strict guidelines set by the EPA to earn the energy star label
• 3rd party verification
• 2007: provided customers with total savings of $16 billion on utility bills and avoided GHG equivalent to those from 27 million cars
Stakeholders
• Piloted the concept in March 2007 with 3 manufacturers. Good buy-in; but concerns where they did not have 3rd party testing
• Also surveyed utilities, Government and other parties for feedback
• Currently refining the standard and will resend to stakeholders for final feedback
Summary
• An agricultural fan test standard has been developed– Grouped based on fan diameter
– Subdivided into fans meeting ASABE EP566 and Premium Efficiency standards
– Contains at least one Canadian manufacturer per category
– Designed for easy referencing
– Utilities can use for programs, farms for selecting EE fans
• Looking to release by the end of 2008
