There are many different producers of IQF freezers on the international market, but few of them can state that they are renowned for offering innovative solutions to the frozen food processors and the food industry, in general. Coming up with a balanced ratio between all the complex parts and elements of an IQF freezer in order to obtain the best freezing result is truly a complex science.
The fans of an IQF freezer are an important part due to their crucial role in obtaining the optimal fluidization of the product along each freezing zone.
The fans are responsible for circulating the cold air inside an IQF tunnel freezer. There are different types of fans on the market, each of them being suitable for a certain type of freezer. The difference between them lies in the design of the fan and the method used to circulate the air. The most important criteria used to make a selection between the different types of fans are volume flow rate, pressure, material, space limitation, and efficiency.
Depending on the airflow’s trajectory inside the IQF freezer, there are two main categories of fans: centrifugal flow fans and axial flow fans. In centrifugal flow, the airflow changes its direction both when entering and exiting, while in axial flow the air doesn’t change its direction at all.
Centrifugal flow fans
There are three major types of centrifugal flow fans: radial, forward curved and backward curved. Among these three types, the radial and the backward curved fans are the most commonly used for IQF freezers. The reason is that they are more efficient than forward curved fans, as the changes in static pressure do not overload the motor.
Axial flow fans
The axial flow fans can also be categorized in three main types: axial vane, tube axial and propeller fans. However, the innovative IQF technology such as the OctoFrost™ works with axial vane fans because their design ensures better energy efficiency and better flow control. Axial vane fans have a wheel contained in a cylindrical housing, with close clearance between the blade and the housing, which makes the airflow more efficient.
The interdependent relation between efficiency and design
Each type of fan design has a different level of efficiency. The OctoFrost IQF tunnel freezer, which is the most efficient freezing solution on the market, is a proof that the fans’ design makes a huge difference in the efficiency result.
The OctoFrost IQF tunnel freezer uses custom made axial vane fans, adjusted to the overall design of the freezer, which enables the possibility to change the frequency and run the fans at different speeds, depending on which type of product is frozen.
The OctoFrost™ fans are so efficient that they never need to run at more than between 75% – 80% of their speed capacity.
For a high performant equipment, the fans alone cannot guarantee superior IQF products, but only in combination with other elements of the freezer. For an optimal circulating airflow though, energy efficient fans in IQF equipment can be a major asset.
For more information don’t hesitate to get in touch www.octofrost.com
