When designing a kitchen ventilation system, there are a number of factors that should be considered, such as project budget, building layout, surrounding buildings, system maintenance, operational cost, fire risk from grease buildup, and more.

While both belt and direct drive fans have been around for a long time, the mainstay fan for most industrial fan applications under 250 hp has been the belt drive fan.

ABB is launching a new series of variable frequency drives (VFDs) that aim to enhance the performance of smart buildings and enable users to meet more stringent energy efficiency regulations. Company officials said the new ACH580 HVAC drives ensure that applications operate reliably and without costly unplanned outages, safeguarding the comfort and security of occupants in commercial buildings, including critical facilities such as hospitals and data centers.

Greenheck’s Utility Set Fan (USF) series has expanded with the addition of the model USFD-100 direct drive utility set. Model USFD-100 can be specified with either a Vari-Green® EC motor with a speed control dial for single-phase motor applications or a NEMA premium efficiency motor with a factory-mounted variable frequency drive (VFD).

According to Greenheck, its new Model AER direct drive sidewall propeller fan moves 30% more air compared to similar fans. This allows for a smaller fan size to be specified in order to achieve desired performance while reducing first cost.

Danfoss has received the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) certification for variable frequency drives, confirming the performance of its VLT® HVAC Drives based on rating standards.

Schaffner EMC introduces the ECOsine® Active 3420, a harmonic filter which provides harmonic compensation in real-time for industrial and commercial environments. With a capacity of 30 to 300A, operating at 200-480VAC (+/- 10%), the connection-ready 3420 (3-wire) cabinet models include forced air cooling and internal liquid cooling (200-300A), for the power electronics.

Greenheck’s new Model APD plenum fan features a direct drive fan with the wheel connected to the motor shaft. With no fan shaft bearings or belts to maintain, the company says its Model APD eliminates the cost and maintenance associated with traditional belt drive plenum fans.