Fan selection
We spec low noise and ultra low noise fans matched to your duty, so you get the air without the noise.
Fan noise
Low noise. Ultra low noise.
When a plant has neighbours or a noise limit, the fans are usually the loudest thing on site. Quieting them is specialized work, and it's what we do.
What we do
Quieter fans, start to finish.
Retrofit design
Bigger, slower fans, inlet bells, tight tip clearance and the right drive. We design the upgrade around your existing cooler.
Noise studies
We take readings in house before and after the work.
Partner studies
When a project needs a third party study or a regulatory report, we bring in OpenCycle Technologies.
Where fan noise comes from
- Tip speed drives most of it. A larger fan turning slower can move the same air with less noise.
- Blade design matters. Low noise and ultra low noise blades are wider and shaped to cut tip noise.
- Air entering the fan. A clean inlet means less turbulence at the tip. That's what the E-Bell™ and elliptical inlet bells do.
- Tip clearance and drives. Gaps and worn drives add noise you can remove.
Built for noise limits
Alberta gas plants and compressor stations work to AER Directive 038 noise limits. If you're adding compression, expanding, or dealing with a complaint, quieter fans are often the fastest lever. We'll help you plan the upgrade with the limit in mind.
In the customer's words
The neighbours noticed.
Quieter, and more air from the same motors
Howden ultra low noise fan upgrade on a 1960s cooler. On one bay the old 12" fan ring was cut out and a 24" ring welded in so a 10 ft fan could replace the 9 ft. Also inlet bells, timing belts and DG-II Anti Rotation Devices®.
“On a positive note, the resident nearest the plant noticed a huge difference in noise once we fired back up last September after the turnaround… Nice to know it's having a positive effect on the people in the surrounding area.”
Low noise questions
Before you start.
How do you make a fan low noise?
Mostly by slowing the blade tips down. Tip speed drives most fan noise, so low noise fans use wide chord blades, with more blade area, that move the same air at a lower speed. Then you add an inlet bell for clean air at the tip, tight tip clearance, and a drive set up for the lower speed. Wider blades are heavier, so we check the hub, drive and structure before swapping them in.
What's the difference between low noise and ultra low noise fans?
Blade shape and tip speed. Ultra low noise fans are designed for the tightest limits, usually running larger and slower, with blades shaped for low tip noise. Which one fits depends on your duty and your limit.
Can you make my existing cooler quieter without replacing it?
Usually, yes. Most of our noise work is retrofit: new fans, inlet bells, tip clearance and drives on the cooler you already have.
Do you do noise studies?
Yes. We take readings in house, and we work with OpenCycle Technologies when a project needs a third party study or report.
Next step
Tell us about the cooler and the limit.
We'll look at the fans, the drive and the inlet, and tell you what it would take to bring the noise down.