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What is an Inline Duct Fan?
Simply put, an inline duct fan is a fan that is installed right inside of ductwork instead of at one of the ends. These are used in many situations where a visible ventilation fan is either unwanted or isn't powerful enough to send air all the way through the ducts. Here are some of the situations in which you should consider this type of ventilation fan:
When You Don't Want to See the Fan
Using an in line fan for cosmetic reasons is most common in residential settings, but it is also done in high-end establishments that are open to the public. In these situations, people are used to seeing vent gratings, but not actual fans. Putting needed exhaust fans inside the ducts maintains the expected low-key appearance while ensuring that essential exhaust and fresh air transfer is maintained.
One of the most common places to hide an inline fan is in ducts leading from the bathroom. This allows moist, smelly air to be drawn off without interfering with the appearance of the ceiling or other ducted location.
Some motel rooms also have inline fans to keep them ventilated, especially if their windows don't open.
When You Don't Want to Lose Any Space
Duct inline fans serve commercial enterprises and factories in locations where space is at a premium. This is a serious consideration in small rooms that are in much larger buildings, where a duct inline fan must be quite powerful to get the job done. Fortunately, the ductwork in such facilities is typically large as well, making it a perfect place to stash one or more of these big, powerful fans.
When Your Space Has No Direct Outside Access
If you have no exterior wall in the room to be ventilated, you must use ducts to create a path from the outside to your area. This is a common situation in larger buildings, and it is always the case for underground facilities. Since you'll be using the ductwork for ventilation anyway, adding multi-purpose duct fans is a smart move.
When the Exterior is Far From Your Location
In this situation, a single fan often isn't enough to bring the air all the way through the long duct shafts. Then, add one or more Solar & Palau duct booster fans to keep the air moving.
What Kinds of Duct Fans Are There?
There are several varieties of inline duct fans, including tube axial belt drive duct fans and tube axial direct drive duct fans. Both of these are round, so they work in round ductwork. As the names imply, the belt drive version uses a belt to transfer power from the motor to the fan, while the direct drive version has the motor directly connected. Direct drive fans eliminate the need to adjust or change belts over time.
If your ducts are square, you'll want to use square duct inline fans instead. These have the same type of options as tube fans, but are mounted in square frames for easy fitting.
At Industrial Fans Direct, we carry a wide selection of in-line duct fans to meet any need. Look here first when you need to add ventilation.