Ceiling Fan Motor Analysis
December, 2010
Energy Star Program -- Residential
Ceiling Fans (Version 2.3)
Residential ceiling fan is defined as a non-portable device
designed for home use that is suspended from the ceiling for
circulating air via the rotation of fan blades.
• Some ceiling fans also have an integral or attachable light kit.
Key Requirements
• Minimum CFM and CFM/watt requirements
• Pin based option in light kits
• Minimum 30-year motor, 1-year component, and 2-year light kit
warranty requirements
Fan Speed
Minimum Airflow
Efficiency Requirement
Low
1,250 CFM
155 CFM/watt
Medium
3,000 CFM
100 CFM/watt
High
5,000 CFM
75 CFM/watt
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Other Ceiling Fan-Related Trends
Energy efficient
Quiet
Designer
Incorporating light fixture
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Type of Motor used in Ceiling Fans and Salient
Feature of the Conventional Motor
Ceiling Fans are direct driven mostly using single-phase Induction motor.
• Split-phase permanent capacitor
• Capacitor start, capacitor run
• Shaded pole motor
Motors have windings wound for 18, 20 or 22 poles, resulting in to lower
operating speeds (Most common: 18 pole).
The rotor resistance is very high for wide speed control range using the
stator voltage control.
The operating speed range for the ceiling fans are
• 180 rpm to 380 rpm for countries like India
• 110 rpm to 220 rpm for Developed World
• Low Speed is approx. half of high speed
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Type of Motor used in Ceiling Fans and
Salient Feature of the Conventional Motor
High speed motor efficiency of about 20%.
In India the minimum air delivery to achieve 5-star energy rating is
210 m3/min, i.e. If the Fan draws 52.5 W or less then it is qualified
for 5-star energy rating.
The hub diameter is about 15% of the tip diameter.
The blade angle is about 10° to 15° and constant from hub to tip.
Between low and high speeds three to five operating speed at
equal interval is achieved using the variable speed control.
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Improvement in Ceiling Fan
Performance by Motor Design
Replacing the conventional 1-phase induction motor with energy
efficient 1-phase induction motor
•
•
•
•
•
•
Higher efficiency compared to the conventional motor
Rotor bars are made up of copper instead of aluminium
Increase in copper
Increase in Iron
Higher Cost compared to conventional 1-ph. Induction Motor
Example: 70 W input power can be reduce to 50-55 W.
Replacing the conventional 1-phase induction motor with 1-phase /
3-phase PMBL DC motor
• Higher efficiency compared to the energy efficient 1-phase induction
motor at all the speeds
• Higher Motor Cost due to the presence of Magnet, Electronics and
Sensors
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Improvement in Ceiling Fan
Performance by Motor Design
Small pay back period for the additional cost
Difficulty in achieving the sensorless operation due to low
operating speed
Single phase PMBL DC motor should have a non-uniform airgap to
achieve starting torque at all rotor positions.
In case of fan with 1-ph. PMBL DC motor, when the fan is switched
off, Jerky motion of rotor due to preferred parking position of the
rotor.
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Benchmarked Ceiling Fans
No.
Fan
Manufacturer
Supply
Motor
Magnet
Controller
1
Emerson
120 VAC,
60 Hz
PSC type single
phase Induction
None
Using Different value of
Capacitances
Emerson
120 VAC,
60 Hz
3-Phase PMBL
DC
Rubber
Ferrite
Rhine Electronics Co. Ltd.
Model No. RH-165M
120 V AC, 60 Hz, 0.65 A,
40 W, 210 rpm
2
3
Regency
120 VAC,
60 Hz
3-Phase PMBL
DC
Rubber
Ferrite
Model No. RH 787 RX
FR-7871-SS-02
120 V, 60 Hz, Motor:35
W max
4
Monte Carlo
120 VAC,
60 Hz
3-Phase PMBL
DC
Sintered
Ferrite Arc
Youngo Ltd., Model
BJX1514AST, 120 V AC,
60 Hz, 3 A
Amasco
240 VAC,
50 Hz
3-Phase PMBL
DC
Rubber
Ferrite
5
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FR-7872LL-01
Fan Model
CF955 Midway
Eco 54” Dia.
(CF9550RB)
Regency Gladiator
III
MonteCarlo Avanti
52”
Amasco Coaster
54” (Model AMC333)
Testing Methodology
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Testing of PSC Single Phase Induction
Motor from Emerson Ceiling Fan
Speed and direction controller
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Aluminum die cast in rotor
Testing of PSC Single Phase Induction
Motor from Emerson Ceiling Fan
V (Volts)
I (A)
Pin (W)
PF
Pout (W)
η (%)
N (rpm) T (mN-m)
119.46
0.84
100.05
1.00
16.14
16
175.70
877.21
110.12
0.78
85.07
1.00
12.75
15
165.00
737.96
100.15
0.71
70.65
1.00
9.46
13
149.20
605.30
90.10
0.64
57.29
0.99
6.74
12
132.10
486.85
80.13
0.57
45.42
0.99
4.67
10
116.10
383.77
V (Volts)
I (A)
Pin (W)
N (rpm)
f (Hz)
140.59
0.95
133.28
212
59.96
130
0.8956
117.01
197
59.96
120.13
110.22
0.8257
0.7616
98.93
83.71
176
165
59.96
59.96
100.16
0.7013
70.74
149
59.96
90.62
0.6306
56.97
132
59.96
80.74
0.5631
45.32
116
59.96
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Testing of PMBL DC Motor
from Emerson Ceiling Fan
Summer Use (CCW from bottom)
Speed
setting
Supply
Volt (V)
I (A)
Pin (W)
N (rpm)
1
120
0.044~0.048
2.2~2.9
52
2
120
0.055~0.06
3.2~3.8
83
3
120
0.075~0.09
5~5.8
116
4
120
0.12~0.15
8.5~9.5
148
5
120
0.19~0.22
11~13.5
170
6
120
0.33~0.38
22~24
213
Winter Use (CW from bottom)
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Speed
setting
Supply
Volt (V)
I (A)
Pin (W)
N (rpm)
1
120
0.043~0.05
2.2~2.7
50
2
120
0.053~0.057
3.1~3.6
72.5
3
120
0.065~0.075
4.3~5.0
95
4
120
0.095~0.105
6.2~7.1
118
5
120
0.145~0.165
9.4~10.3
141
6
120
0.22~0.245
13.5~14.8
165
Benchmarking of PMBL DC Motor
from Emersion Ceiling Fan
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Testing of PMBL DC Motor
from Monte Carlo Ceiling Fan
Summer Use (CCW from bottom)
Speed
setting
Supply
Volt (V)
I (A)
Pin (W)
N (rpm)
1
120
0.03~0.037
1.7~2.1
40
2
120
0.12~0.14
6.9~7.8
86
3
120
0.17~0.195
10.5~11.8
101
4
120
0.35~0.39
21.5~23.5
132
Winter Use (CW from bottom)
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Speed
setting
Voltage
Current (A)
Pin (W)
N (rpm)
1
120
0.031~0.037
1.7~2.2
40
2
120
0.11~0.13
6.9~7.9
87
3
120
0.17~0.19
10.1~11.3
102
4
120
0.35~0.38
21.5~23.3
134
Benchmarking of PMBL DC Motor
from Monte Carlo Ceiling Fan
42
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Benchmarking of PMBL DC Motor from
Ceiling Fans – Motor Details
Parameter
No. of stator slots / Magnet poles
No. of laminations on stator
Thickness of stator lamination (mm)
No. of turns/ coil
Overall diameter of motor (mm)
Winding conductor diameter (mm/ AWG)
Outer diameter of the magnet (mm)
Inner diameter of the magnet (mm)
Thickness of the magnet (mm)
Axial length of the magnet (mm)
Outer diameter of the stator (mm)
Axial length of the stator (mm)
Length of airgap (mm)
Thickness of the rotor back iron (mm)
Axial length of the back iron (mm)
Shaft diameter (mm)
Weight of copper (gm)
Weight of magnet (gm)
Weight of iron in stator laminations (gm)
Weight of rotor back iron (gm)
* Based on back iron OD and axial length of magnet
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Fan Manufacturer
Emersion
9 / 12
49
0.51
450
140.9
0.47/ 26
137.3
121.76
7.77
34.5
120.00
25.00
0.88
1.80
56.74
17~18
442.8
392
997.30
338.20
Monte Carlo
12 / 8
36
0.50
550
162.0
0.34/ 29
156.00
143.90
6.05
19.90
142.20
18.00
0.85
3.00
29.20
17.00
358.40
202.40
1441.20
334.43
Regency
9 / 12
60
0.51
499
100.6
0.34/29
96.83
86.43
5.20
44.60
84.80
30.34
0.82
1.88
57.00
17.23
258.20
243.90
581.30
250.40
Amasco
9 / 12
49
0.50
800
140.9
0.42/ 27
137.30
122.00
7.65
34.62
120.00
25.00
0.95
1.80
56.71
17.20
655
389
995.10
341.71