Plug and play!

High demands

“A new line of EC fans with a diameter ranging from 450 to 990 millimetres and with bus communication was specially developed for and with Güntner and these fans were aerodynamically adapted to Güntner vents – and all that was done in a required development time of 12 months,” explains Martin Schulz, summarising the development requirements.
With these marginal conditions, the engineers at Mulfingen started identifying 26 motor/electronics/impeller combinations and assigning each of them to the operating ranges. The complete series was equipped with energy-efficient EC motors using the very latest HyBlade® fan technology. Once the Mulfingen engineers had developed the electronics, they constructed the fan types as prototypes. Air performance and acoustic capacity in the Güntner vents were measured in the multipurpose measuring chamber. “This allowed us to provide Güntner with exact measured data for the fans in their applications,” reports Schulz.

Convenient controls

The Güntner Motor Management (GMM) system was developed at Fürstenfeldbruck in parallel to the fan development at ebm-papst. This control system performs the technical regulation functions, the programming and the data evaluation of the EC fans in the refrigeration cycle. Within this closed loop, the fans act as actuators, ensuring that heat is dissipated via the heat exchanger. Communication via a bus system gives the GMM detailed information that helps to make the control system more precise and more user-friendly. Because the controller knows the characteristic curves in the fans, it knows which response it can expect in the closed loop even as it actuates. The controller is still able to make use of speed, electric power, current draw, operating status, error messages and many more items of data from the fans. These are all additional benefits that goes to enhance the information content and thus increase the operating reliability of the system. Moreover, the controller also checks the fan type, regardless of whether it is a new unit or, in a service case, one that has been installed for a number of years. In either case, the GMM will automatically assume the task of programming. “The problem with the old solution was that absolutely no visualisation was possible. It was like taking the display off of a microwave. We were unable to change any values, we couldn’t see which operating state the control system was working in, we simply couldn’t see what was happening inside,” explains Jörg Köcher. Apart from more straightforward controls, the precisely configured functions mean all in all considerable savings are possible for commissioning and for running costs.

Optimal management

One of the main advantages of the intelligent control system is its optimal energy management. At all times, the fan will only deliver exactly the air volume that is actually required. “In combination with the already extremely energy-efficient EC technology, a package can be offered that cannot be beaten in terms of energy efficiency,” stresses Schulz. And Köcher adds: “Our advantages are our customers’ advantages. We now offer energy-efficient, intelligent equipment with extended functions. Here, we have developed an innovative system that gives us the edge on the market. Moreover, the multiple use of the EC fans in different equipment means that our stock levels are much lower.” The success of the development partnership can also be seen in sales. Quantities have risen greatly since the launch in April.

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