www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2023 3
News
HIGH VOLUME LOW SPEED ( HVLS ) FANS MANUFACTURED IN SA
Written by Eamonn Ryan .
Arie Hoogenboezem , owner of Everbreeze , says that his company has commenced local manufacture of High-Volume Low Speed ( HVLS ) fans which were previously unaffordable due to the high cost of imports .
Have you ever sat in front of a fan on a hot day and experienced instant relief ? That ' s the power of evaporative cooling , and HVLS systems take this to a whole new level .
Developed in the mid-90s for use in large livestock sheds , HVLS systems soon proved their efficiency in cooling people as well as cows . This versatile product has become a game-changer in multiple scenarios , from large commercial and industrial spaces to function venues and sports and education facilities .
HVLS fans are large mechanical fans that move large volumes of air at low speeds . They are usually ceiling-mounted and can improve comfort , safety and productivity in commercial , industrial and retail settings , by creating vertical and horizontal airflow and reducing energy costs to a level that Hoogenboezem says is almost negligible .
Hoogenboezem describes the HVLS fan as “ an excellent alternative when air conditioning is not an option due to cost or poor building insulation .” It may not cool down the entire room in the way that a conventional AC does , but an HVLS fan creates a pleasant breeze that can make a huge difference in how comfortable people feel .
The HVLS fan operates by pushing a column of air downwards , with the diameter of this column equivalent to the diameter of the aerofoils . When this air reaches the floor , it flows horizontally in all directions , creating a more comfortable-feeling atmosphere for people enveloped by the horizontal floor jet . In terms of their size , these fans are no joke – they range from 3.9m to 7.4m in diameter . They are designed for larger spaces such as gymnasiums , school halls and hardware stores . For example , the smallest HVLS fan can effectively cool spaces of up to 1 000m 2 , while the largest can cover an impressive 4 200m 2 . Hoogenboezem found them to be highly beneficial in several projects he had worked on throughout Africa and thought they would find a niche group in South Africa , too .
“ I first encountered the challenge of providing temperature relief in a large bottling plant in Ghana , West Africa . With the high costs and impracticality of air conditioning , I sought an alternative solution and discovered HVLS technology . The results were remarkable – working conditions improved significantly for the employees .”
Buoyed by this success , Hoogenboezem and his team recognised the fan ’ s untapped potential in the South African market . Awareness of the benefits of HVLS systems was limited among potential customers due to a lack of promotion . Hoogenboezem developed
All photos by © Eamonn Ryan | RACA Journal
Fan under construction .
The control box .
An Everbreeze HVLS fan – the smallest of the range – installed .
a new model , established Everbreeze and by manufacturing the fans locally , has made them more accessible and cost-effective for customers . The company has already worked on installations including 20 HVLS fans at Buco Timber City , making shopping a more comfortable experience for customers . Closing the circle and returning to the original use of HVLS technology , it remains highly relevant in the farming sector , with Hoogenboezem noting that some multinationals in South Africa have recognised its usefulness in scenarios where conventional air-conditioning is not viable .
“ The HVLS fan amplifies the distribution of cooled air , providing relief even in humid environments such as those found in West Africa , and also in parts of South Africa . Unlike traditional evaporative cooling , which struggles to cool down already-saturated air ( and can be noisy ), the breeze from a HVLS fan creates a direct cooling sensation on the skin . This provides a great relief to both customers and employees in larger establishments ,” says Hoogenboezem .
“ Installation is straightforward , although we recommend using a trained installer . Everbreeze HVLS fans can also be installed in opensided spaces , as long as they have a roof ,” he added . RACA
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2023 3