NTU develops energy-efficient mechanical fan that uses half the energy of a conventional fan

Singapore, 17 November 2020 – Vortec, a spin-off company from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), has launched a new ceiling fan that uses half the energy of a conventional fan to cool a small room twice as quickly.

Based on original research by academics at NTU Singapore, the UFO-shaped fan is designed to harness the physical principle of a vortex. Air is drawn up from below the fan and spins around a centre axis before being ejected from its top and dispersed around the edge of the room. A typical ceiling fan consumes about 75 watts, compared to the 42 watts of the vortex fan, which due to its dual airflow, generates twice as much air movement, at about 100 cubic metres per minute.

The new fan is safe to touch as it does not have any exposed fan blades and thus can be mounted lower than conventional fans on ceilings. In the centre of the vortex fan is an LED (light emitting diode) with ultraviolet (UV) light source that can help to kill micro-organisms such as bacteria and viruses. This will help to reduce the spread of diseases through the air in confined spaces.

The inventor, Choo Fook Hoong, is a leading expert in the field of energy management, data analytics and air-conditioning systems.

– Construction+ Online

Source: NTU