Testing
Capabilities
TwinCity
CityFan
FanCompanies,
Companies,Ltd.
Ltd.
Twin
Worldwide Designers & Manufacturers of Air Moving Equipment
TestingCapabilities
Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd.
®
In today’s business world, adapting to the needs of
customers is more important than ever. That is why
Twin City Fan Companies (TCF) has made substantial
investments to greatly enhance our comprehensive
testing capabilities. These investments include a brand
new state-of-the-art testing laboratory located at our
worldwide headquarters in Minneapolis, MN;
extended testing capabilities for proving performance
on fans up to 4,000 HP at the manufacturing plant
level; and purchasing cutting edge testing equipment
and tools for enhancing our field testing capabilities.
The scope of TCF’s testing capabilities are very broad
and covers a wide spectrum of in-house and onsite
testing services. With this level of technology, we can
continue to provide our customers with proven
solutions to their particular air movement needs while
ensuring that they receive the highest quality product
for their exact requirements and structural needs. This
includes the evaluation of existing systems to optimize
performance and reduce power consumption.
With the most sophisticated research and development
testing laboratories in the industry, only TCF has the
collective experience and knowledge needed for tackling
the most technically complex testing requirements for
the most demanding environments.
Laboratory Highlights
10' x 10' shaker table capable of seismic testing up to
10,000 lb fans to meet IBC and OSHPD requirements
Max test fan HP up to 4,000
Overspeed vacuum test chamber
73,000 cubic foot reverberant sound room with pure
tone qualification and environmental isolation
Fabrication capacities for testing new concepts
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Worldwide Designers & Manufacturers of Air Moving Equipment
TwinCityFanCompanies
In-House Testing Capabilities
TCF
R AMCA 204 Balance & Vibration Testing
R AMCA 210 Performance Testing
R AMCA 250 Jet Fan Thrust Testing
R AMCA 260 Induced Flow Testing
R AMCA 300 Sound Testing
TCF Testing Laboratory
R UL 705 Safety Testing
R Seismic Testing
R High Temperature/Survivability Testing
R Mechanical Run Testing
R Narrow Band Sound & Vibration Testing
R Impact (Bump) & Overspeed Testing
R Strain Gage Testing & Analysis
Lab Control Station
R Modal Analysis Testing
R Vibration Analysis & FFT Spectrum Analysis
R Scaled Model Testing
R Custom / OEM Product Designs
On-Site Testing Capabilities
AMCA 300 Sound Test Facility
R AMCA 203 & 803 Performance Testing
R Sound Testing
R Vibration Analysis & FFT Spectrum Analysis
R Balance & Alignment Testing
R Modal Analysis Testing & Operation Deflection
Shape (ODS) Analysis
10'x10' Shaker Table for Seismic Testing
www.twincityfan.com
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TestingCapabilities
Air Performance Testing
Test Lab – AMCA 210 Chamber & AMCA 260 Induced Flow Testing
TCF can provide accurate and repeatable airflow, pressure and
power data for fans of all types by performing an airflow
measurement test per AMCA standards 210 and 260 using one
of three chambers and our AMCA 260 induced flow box located
in our test lab. Two of the chambers can accommodate airflow
rates up to 65,000 cubic feet per minute and static pressures up
to 10 inches of water while the third high pressure chamber can
handle airflow rates up to 10,000 cubic feet per minute and static
pressures up to 80 inches of water. The AMCA 260 box is capable
of testing fans with inlet diameters of 50 inches or smaller.
Manufacturing Plant - AMCA 210 Duct Testing
When a fan exceeds the size limitations of our chambers, large
scale duct testing can be conducted at one of our manufacturing
plants. TCF can provide accurate and repeatable results by
performing airflow measurement testing per AMCA standard
210 for fans of virtually any size, airflow rate, static pressure
and horsepower. This method of testing is very space consuming
and requires a very long duct section to be attached to the fan.
Manufacturing Plant - Modified AMCA 203 Guidelines
Another option for determining the airflow performance of
fans that are too large for our chambers is to perform an airflow
measurement test using guidelines from AMCA publication
203 at one of our manufacturing plants. For this particular test,
fans are installed with ductwork on the outlet and either a bell
or duct on the inlet. This results in accurate and repeatable testing
and generally requires less space than an AMCA 210 duct test.
Note: TCF’s test lab, the Brookings, SD manufacturing plant and all testing
personnel are NQA certified for the air performance testing of fans used in
the nuclear power generation industry.
Test Locations
Test Lab
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Plant
On-Site
Field Testing - AMCA 203 & 803
When installed fans are required to be tested in the field, they
are tested in accordance with the AMCA 203 or 803 testing
guidelines. AMCA 203 covers the field testing of all fans in
general, whereas AMCA 803 covers the field testing of industrial
process fans for the power generation industry. When testing
any fan in the field, the overall system must be carefully taken
into consideration to accurately determine where the measurements will be taken and if there are any system elements
that may negatively affect the fan performance. This testing can
lead to huge returns by optimizing existing systems.
Worldwide Designers & Manufacturers of Air Moving Equipment
TwinCityFanCompanies
Sound Performance Testing
TCF has added a 73,000 ft3, reverberant sound room to its
test lab for the purpose of conducting sound performance
tests per AMCA standard 300. This room is qualified for both
broadband and pure tone sound measurement and used for
developing fan sound level ratings, troubleshooting noise
issues and performing contract testing.
For fans that are not able to be tested in our lab, TCF offers a
modified AMCA 300 test guideline that can be performed at
any of our manufacturing plants. This testing method utilizes
principles from the standard that can be used outside of a
reverberant sound room.
If the fan must be tested in the field, TCF can perform an
on-site sound survey. Principles from AMCA 300 can be
applied, but special considerations must be made to account
for background noise, motor and drive noise and room
geometry and construction.
Note: TCF’s test lab, the Brookings, SD manufacturing plant and all testing
personnel are NQA certified for the sound performance testing of fans
used in the nuclear power generation industry.
Standard balance tests are performed on all complete fan
assemblies – size permitting. This ensures that there are no
noticeable mechanical defects such as rubbing, bearing noise
or excessive bearing heat and the vibration levels filtered into
the running speed are reported. TCF can also provide
vibration reports that include the filtered and overall levels if
requested. Customers often require longer run tests to allow
the bearing temperatures to stabilize. In order to achieve the
stabilized temperatures, TCF will run the fan for two hours
and record both the bearing temperatures and bearing
vibration levels every 15 minutes – or as specified.
When specifications call for the detrimental resonant
frequencies in a fan assembly to be identified, TCF can perform
a coast down test. Coast down testing involves running the
fan up to the desired speed and then decelerating slowly. By
recording the vibration levels until the fan comes to a stop,
the detrimental resonant frequencies can be identified. In
addition to these standard tests, TCF is able to test to any
vibration specification that a customer requires.
Test Locations
Test Lab
Plant
On-Site
Vibration Testing
Test Locations
Test Lab
Plant
On-Site
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TestingCapabilities
Seismic Testing
For geographical locations susceptible to earthquakes,
it is critical to have equipment that is capable of
operating after a seismic event. The California
Office of Statewide Health Planning & Development
(OSHPD) has established a program that requires
all equipment used in any health care facility to be
pre-approved prior to installation within the state of
California. The International Building Code (IBC)
has also developed stringent building codes for
machinery that will be used in seismically active
areas. As a result, TCF has invested in a shake table
to simulate earthquakes that meet both IBC and
OSHPD requirements. The table is 10' x 10' and is
able to shake both floor mounted and ceiling hung
units. The maximum payload weight is 10,000 lbs.
Test Locations
Test Lab
Bump Testing
If it is required to determine the natural frequencies
of a fan rotor assembly and/or fan structure, TCF
offers bump testing to identify these frequencies.
Bump testing can be performed on a rotor assembly
suspended in air or on a structure mounted to the
floor and involves placing accelerometers in strategic
locations on the rotor assembly and/or fan structure.
Once the accelerometers are affixed to the unit, it is
impacted with a mallet and the response is measured
using diagnostic equipment to determine the natural
frequencies present in the unit.
Test Locations
Test Lab
6
Plant
Note: All custom Clarage impellers are bump tested.
On-Site
Worldwide Designers & Manufacturers of Air Moving Equipment
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Operational Modal Testing
When troubleshooting fan vibration issues, it is
helpful to know the dominant mode shapes that are
being excited. A useful tool for doing this is Operation
Deflection Shape (ODS) testing. In this method,
vibration readings are taken off the fan using
accelerometers while it is running. These levels
can then be imported into a 3-D model of the fan.
By plugging in the actual vibration levels from the
fan, it is possible to animate the vibration and see
the mode shape that is being excited. This information
is effective in determining if the vibration will cause
early failures and reduce the life of the fan assembly.
Test Locations
Test Lab
Plant
On-Site
Jet Fan Thrust Testing
When using jet fans in tunnel ventilation applications,
it is critical to ensure that they are capable of quickly
ventilating a tunnel in an emergency situation. These
fans are specified by the amount of thrust they produce
rather than a typical flow vs. pressure specification.
TCF is able to test to AMCA standard 250 and ISO
standard 13350, which outline the method for testing
jet tunnel fans.
In these tests, the fan is mounted on a table that is
free to move axially on linear bearings. A stationary
mounted thrust gauge is then attached to the table
to measure the thrust generated by the fan while it
is running. TCF has the capability to perform jet fan
thrust testing both at our test lab and our manufacturing
plant in Pulaski, TN.
Test Locations
Test Lab
Plant
www.twincityfan.com
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TestingCapabilities
Overspeed Testing
To ensure our customers that a fan will safely operate
at the speed that they have specified, TCF has invested
in overspeed chambers for our test lab and manufacturing plants. Overspeed testing allows us to run a fan
at an increased speed for a given amount of time and
prove that it will withstand the customer’s specific
application.
Test Locations
Test Lab
The overspeed chamber in our test lab is capable of
handling fan wheels up to 58 inches diameter. For
large wheel sizes, the overspeed chamber at our
manufacturing plants can accommodate wheel
diameters up to 118 inches.
Plant
High Temperature Testing
Certain applications require the fans to either be
submerged in high temperature air or handle high
temperature air in the airstream. That is why TCF
has developed a method of testing the survivability
of fans up to 900°F (482°C) at our Pulaski, TN
manufacturing plant.
Test Locations
The test fan is installed in a closed loop system that
recirculates the heated air through the fan. This ensures
that the mechanical design of the fan is able to stand
up to the hot environment. TCF’s customers can be
certain that when the fan is installed in a high
temperature application, it is ready to do the job.
Plant
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Worldwide Designers & Manufacturers of Air Moving Equipment
TwinCityFanCompanies
Strain Gauge Testing
In many high speed applications, customers require
strain gauge testing to ensure their fan can tolerate
the application in which it is being used. This test
involves utilizing a series of strain gauges that are
applied in the largest stress concentration areas. By
running the fan and measuring the strain, we can
determine if there is any deformation in a fan wheel
during operation.
Strain gauge testing is a specialized procedure that
requires careful attention to detail by a skilled and
experienced technician. TCF is able to perform strain
gauge testing at both our test lab and our manufacturing
plant in Pulaski, TN.
Test Locations
Test Lab
Plant
UL 705 Safety Testing
For many commercial applications, UL 705 certification
is required to ensure that the motor in a power roof
ventilator will withstand voltage fluctuations, overheating and a variety of other abnormal circumstances.
Our test lab has been accredited by UL to perform
these tests on power roof ventilators up to 15 HP
using a 60 Hz power source at any voltage between
85V and 635V.
The safety testing includes motor winding temperature
rise tests at multiple voltages, start/stop testing, halfwave endurance testing (for motors supplied with
solid state speed controllers), dielectric testing and
rain testing.
Test Locations
Test Lab
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TestingCapabilities
Custom / OEM Designs
TCF has been custom designing products for our
entire customer base for decades. By leveraging our
expansive engineering and application expertise, we
have become experts at tackling the most technically
complex and unique applications. This often involves
evaluating our customers’ existing fan technology
and, in many cases, requires us to redesign and prototype a fully-customized fan solution.
We have worked side-by-side with the most prevalent
companies in the world and have earned a reputation
for turning ideas into innovative solutions. Our
individualized efforts to satisfy the specific needs of
our customers is yet another way that we continue
to distinguish ourselves in the market.
Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd.
TCF
In-House
Custom / OEM Designs
R Prototyping
R Product Redesign
R Evaluation of Existing Products
Engineering Services
TCF products are engineered and optimized through
a series of analyses and validation including Finite
Element Analysis (FEA) and Non-Destructive Testing
(NDT). These tools are used to verify the structural
integrity of our products under various loading
conditions, analyze the natural frequencies, as well
as analyze torsional natural frequencies. To better
serve our customers, we can offer these services upon
request.
TCF
In-House
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Engineering Services
R Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
R Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
R Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
R System Model Evaluation
Worldwide Designers & Manufacturers of Air Moving Equipment
TwinCityFanCompanies
Having the peace of mind that your fan is installed and
operating properly prior to startup is crucial. TCF can
offer a wide range of startup services and precision
checks including inlet and wheel operational
clearances, torque verification, shaft alignment,
balance and vibration testing. As part of our standard
startup services, TCF field personnel will conduct a
variety of inspection checks to ensure the fan is ready
for startup – all the way from the foundation bolts to
the lubrication of the fan.
Startup Services
We also offer Air Make-Up startup services. Our
trained technicians can commission your natural gas
fired heating equipment and control system.
On-Site
Startup Services
R Fan Assembly Inspection
R Vibration Checks
R Coupling & Sheave Laser Alignment
R Installation Assistance
Keeping existing fans in service as systems change to
suit environmental regulations, process enhancements,
and energy consumption is an extremely important
aspect of our business. We are proficient at applying
our engineering experience to make the necessary
modifications to existing equipment and can provide
complete turnkey solutions for rebuilding and
repairing fans in the field.
Turnkey Services
TCF also has a retrofit program designed to increase
the efficiency of large industrial fans that can have
paybacks in as little as six months.
On-Site
Turnkey Services
R Installation & Commissioning
R Field Repairs/Rebuilds
R Duct Work Modification
R Motor/Turbine Alignment
R Coupling Alignment
R Preventive Maintenance
R Engineered Retrofits – All Brands
R Fan Balancing
www.twincityfan.com
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Our Mission:
To be a quality and highly respected global company in
all that we do.
To design, manufacture and distribute quality air moving
and related equipment for worldwide use that fulfills
the wants and needs of the customer at the best value.
To provide our customers with a consistently high level
of service:
- before the order is secured
- during its fulfillment
- after the product has been delivered
To create a partnership with our suppliers, customers,
representatives and employees to enable us to continually
improve our performance.
To enhance and sustain our “company culture” to ensure
it continues to thrive and allows us to develop longstanding relationships that contribute to our success.
Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd.
Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd. | 5959 Trenton Lane N | Minneapolis, MN 55442
Phone 763.551.7600 | Fax 763.551.7601 | www.twincityfan.com