Direct Drive Vs Belt Drive Fan

The two bearings on direct drive fan motors which are 7 horsepower and larger are typically regreaseable.

Direct drive vs belt drive fan.

Greater efficiency is the biggest pro of direct drive fan configurations. Direct drive advantages direct drive fans are typically lower maintenance since there are no bearings belts or sheaves to maintain. The second pulley is connected to a shaft that drives the fan propeller. Direct drive fans have no power transmission loss since the propeller is directly connected to the motor shaft.

On a direct drive fan as implied by the name the fan propeller is connected directly to the shaft of the motor. In the later there is a belt sometimes more than one connecting the motor to move the fan. Belt drive fans have two additional bearings. Unlike belt driven fans there s less energy loss because there s a reduced amount of friction as the fan operates.

Where on a belt drive fan the fan motor shaft has a pulley connected by a belt to a second pulley. There s also no belt residue and these fans cost less to maintain generally speaking because belts don t wear down and break. On both direct drive and belt drive fans the motor has two bearings. It s a motor connected to your fan in one of only two ways.

Extreme hot cold dirty or humid conditions may favor a direct drive fan as it reduces the environmental impact on the drive belts and fan bearings. In the former the motor connects to the fan wheel with nothing in between. Direct drive fans should be designed for acceptable bearing life. Because of the fewer parts involved they can often be more compact in design.

Unlike the belt driven fans in case of a direct drive fan there is lesser energy loss. Deciding between a direct drive fan and a belt drive fan is fairly straightforward once you know all of your other variables like fan size application space fan speed needs and likely wear and tear in your application. Coming to the advantage of this kind of an industrial fan the biggest advantage is greater efficiency.