RSA puts airmovers to the test
To test the effectiveness of airmover technologies, Restoration Sciences Academy has been conducting a series of controlled experiments at its test facilities in Burlington, Washington.
TECHNOLOGIES TESTED:
Sahara ProX3 centrifugal
Jet CXV axial
Ace axial
Other (Thrust fan)
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RSA's air movement test setup. Note mist gantry (top), used to apply moisture at precise rates.
The Test
The first round of tests utilized an infrared imaging system to record air movement patterns and evaporation. Each test was performed for an exact amount of time, across the same carpet sample, and with the same amount of moisture applied. Tests were repeated a total of 10 times to ensure consistency.
The series of photos shown here shows the airflow patterns produced by a Sahara Pro X3 centrifugal airmover, the Jet CXV and Ace axial airmovers, and a new "Thrust Fan" unit. The images were taken exactly 4 minutes into each test.
Test Results
From left to right: Evaporative airflow patterns produced by the Sahara, Thrust Fan, Jet CXV, and the Ace airmovers. Brighter areas show where carpet is driest.
Note the long "reach" produced by the Sahara compared to the Thrust Fan. Evaporation occurred much more rapidly with the Sahara, and over a much longer path. Note also the right-angle biased airflow of the Thrust Fan. As expected, the Jet and the Ace axial fans produced the broadest airflow coverage and the most rapid evaporation rates while drawing fewer amps that most other airmover types.
Although the infrared imaging system provides a clear view of the evaporation of surface water, it does not offer insight into the real-world rate of drying. To address this question, a second round of tests are being conducted utilizing a load cell. This device will precisely measure the amount of water being removed from the carpet test platform.
Full test results will be posted to the RSA website as soon as they are available.
The RSA Team
