Orion Fans announced that it has expanded its fan tray offerings to include EC Fan Trays that are designed to provide energy-efficient cooling while still producing equivalent or greater airflow than AC and DC fan trays offer.
EC fans are internally-converting brushless AC to DC motors, also known as EC motors, which are stated to be up to 30 percent more efficient than standard AC motors due to a design that uses internal intelligent fan controllers. The brushless motor’s increased efficiency means less energy is lost as heat, while more energy is turned into rotational force and airflow performance.
The company states that EC fans can be used as “drop-in” replacements in most applications where AC fans are used as long as the interface between the fan and the device is left unchanged. EC fans also offer the capability to add special features like Alarm and Tachometer Outputs and PWM control that can be difficult or impractical with traditional AC motor designs.
The EC Fan Tray launch consists of 3, 6, and 9-fan configuration series. Each module comes standard with a 401 CFM (other speeds available), universal AC voltage range, and vertical airflow.
The OET305 and OET605 trays come short-loaded with less than the full complement of fans but are modular to allow the addition 3-fan expansion modules for added flexibility as cooling needs increase. Additionally, trays with permanently shortened rails are available for applications having less clearance or depth.
The trays are constructed with heavy-duty steel, extruded aluminum side rails, and an integrated switch guard to prevent accidental switch actuation, and they come with a NEMA 5-15P or IEC320-C14 power cord. All modular EC fan trays measure 1 RU high and fit standard 19-inch racks. Common applications include networking equipment, enclosures, base stations, and battery backup systems.
