Duct fans increase the effectiveness of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings. They push warm or cool air through a room or space, remove toxic substances, and maintain temperature in critical environments. Duct fans can be placed at the mouth or intervals of a duct and carry the risk of injury. They are a recurring cinematic theme in various genres.
A duct fan is a propeller fan that is housed within a heating, cooling or ventilation duct. The purpose is to increase the effectiveness of the duct and of the system to which the duct is connected. Duct fans are most commonly used in industrial settings, although they can sometimes be found in commercial structures and in the kitchens and bathrooms of residential buildings.
When used in conjunction with heating and cooling systems, a duct fan is intended to push warm or cool air through a room or space. This increases the efficiency of the furnace or air conditioner by effectively increasing the number of blowers associated with the unit. Such fans are commonly used in spaces that are difficult to heat or cool using ductwork alone, such as manufacturing spaces with high ceilings. A duct fan can also be used when temperature maintenance is critical, such as in a room housing computer servers that need to be prevented from overheating.
Perhaps the most common use of duct fans is in industrial ventilation systems. Consistent airflow is critical to employee health and machine operation in many manufacturing processes. Equipment can also generate significant amounts of heat that must be removed from the room to maintain a comfortable temperature. Similarly, processes involving toxic or harmful substances require fans that remove these substances from the air. Government or environmental agencies generally regulate how these substances are removed and where they go once removed from the manufacturing environment.
Duct fans are often placed at the mouth of a duct, where the vent opens into the room. They can also be placed at intervals along the length of the duct. This is particularly common when air must be pushed through a very long horizontal duct or through a bend or narrowing in the duct. Vertical ducts, especially vertical ventilation ducts, are often constructed with a series of fans due to the force required to draw air up and out of the room below.
Like any fan, a duct fan carries the risk of injury when the blades are in motion. The force and speed with which most duct fans spin can cause dismemberment or even death, so they are placed well out of reach whenever possible. They are usually found in or near the ceiling. When at ground level, they are usually surrounded by barriers and posted with clearly visible notices.
Hollywood discovered the drama associated with this potential danger a long time ago. Fans of the rotating duct often appear in action films, dramas, horror films and even comedies. They have become a recurring cinematic theme, both as an obstacle for the hero to overcome and as an ever-popular method of ensnaring or destroying the villain of the piece.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
