Cabinet fans are mainly used in the cabinets to remove foul air, and also to keep cabinets cool if electronic equipments are placed in it. Cabinet fans are used in the server rooms to bring in cool and fresh breeze to cool the LAN equipments. They are installed in schools, office buildings as they provide low cost method of cooling and they can be fixed on the ceilings.

How the cabinet fans work

When the cabinets become packed with electrical equipments, it increases the resistance to airflow within the limited space surrounding the equipment. The airflow resistance will increase the temperature in the cabinets. Therefore to cool the cabinet a fan is advisable. The belt-drive units of the fan recirculate reconditions and supply air to these cabinets. The fans provide high level of air volume to keep the cabinet cool. The fans are pretty quiet and consume very little power. There are different models of cabinet fans available to choose from. Models varying from muffin fans, round fans and combination of blower and fans. The difference between fan and blower is their air flow and pressure characteristics. Fans tend to work against the pressure but deliver air in direction that is parallel to the fan blade. Blowers deliver air in a direction that is perpendicular to the blower axis at relatively low flow rate but against high pressure.

Types of cabinet fans

1. Mixed flow fans are available in the market and they combine the characteristics of fan and blowers. The technology used automatically adjusts the airflow based on the current temperature, minimizes power consumption and eliminates noise. If the fan becomes over heated or if there is power failure there is a restart feature to ensure operation is resumed.

2. AXC inline centrifugal duct fans are used in residential, commercial applications and are considered to be ideal air movers. They are easy to install and function effectively and efficiently.

3. TNC cooling fans are exceptionally quiet, dissipate heat rapidly and have pressure capability, and are ideal for electronic cabinet cooling.

Several types of fans are available and the most common being propeller, tube axial and vane axial styles. Propeller fans consist of only a motor and propeller and are considered to be the simplest form. Next in line are tube axial fans and then come the vane axial fans. Cabinet fans are designed for clean airflow applications where low sound levels are desired.