Q-PAC, a major in the manufacture of advanced commercial HVAC fan systems, is setting a new standard for the HVAC industry with the construction of a state-of-the-art airflow tunnel. This innovation is designed to facilitate full-scale performance tests on complete multimotor plenum fans and similar fan systems, aiming to deliver highly accurate and reliable data. Q-PAC's new capability allows for in-depth system-level validation, enhancing customer confidence in performance metrics without solely depending on extrapolating from single-fan tests.
Key Advantage of Advanced Testing
The airflow tunnel is a significant advancement that offers a testing capacity of up to 70,000 CFM, ensuring precise evaluation for a variety of applications, including both standard installations and high-capacity projects. A notable feature is its capability to simulate operational failure scenarios, such as a single fan motor shutting down. This ability provides Q-PAC with the necessary data on system resiliency and performance degradation, assisting in developing comprehensive maintenance plans and enhancing product reliability communication.
Certification and Compliance
In a notable industry development, this is poised to be the first airflow tunnel certified to the AMCA 270 standard, establishing a benchmark for state-of-the-art testing and providing industry-recognized validation of multimotor system airflow performance. Additionally, the tunnel is constructed with an eye towards future compliance with AHRI 430, positioning Q-PAC to meet evolving regulatory requirements and the data needs of major OEMs, engineers, and facility designers.
Engineering for High Performance
The newly engineered airflow tunnel is equipped to deliver superior airflow performance compared to traditional test tunnels. Integrated with sixteen supply fans, it achieves high flow rates necessary to simulate complex, real-world operations. Its setup allows for accurate evaluation of unique multimotor system configurations, going beyond the capabilities of single- or dual-fan tunnels.
Advanced Testing Features
With a 30-foot tunnel length and a 144-square-foot cross-sectional area, the tunnel facilitates testing of production-sized systems across varied CFM conditions. Sixteen differential pressure nozzles, each individually controlled, enable precise airflow measurements tailored to different scenarios, enhancing the accuracy and flexibility of the tests conducted.
Adapting to Diverse Requirements
Q-PAC's innovative tunnel design supports static pressure testing up to 12 in. wc., exceeding current industry expectations for challenging environments. The inclusion of a removable supply fan section and interior access doors allows for straightforward maintenance and equipment repositioning, facilitating rapid adaptation to various testing needs. Automation is integrated to reduce manual labor, accelerate test processes, and ensure consistent, reliable results, even when analyzing complex system performance curves. With sixteen fans, the tunnel introduces advanced complexity and control, enabling Q-PAC to conduct comprehensive analyses of full-system interactions and foster proactive product development to address real-world challenges effectively.
Q-PAC, a pioneer in the design and manufacturing of advanced commercial HVAC fan systems, is constructing a highly advanced airflow tunnel designed to set a new standard in the testing of multimotor plenum fans and similar fan systems in the HVAC industry.
This tunnel will allow Q-PAC to conduct in-house, full-scale performance tests on entire multimotor fan configurations, providing trustworthy and highly accurate data that go beyond the limitations of extrapolating from single-fan tests. With this new capability, Q-PAC customers can rely on certified system-level validation for enhanced confidence in performance stats.
Key advantage of the tunnel
Capable of testing up to 70,000 CFM, it ensures exact evaluation for applications ranging formal installations
A key advantage of the tunnel is its ability to replicate operational failure scenarios, such as when a single fan motor ceases operation.
This feature will enable Q-PAC to deliver clear, quantified data on system resiliency and performance degradation, supporting informed maintenance planning and transparent communication regarding product reliability.
Capable of testing up to 70,000 CFM, it ensures accurate evaluation for applications ranging from standard installations to high-capacity projects.
Certified to the AMCA 270 standard
One point of significance is that this will be the first airflow tunnel certified to the AMCA 270 standard, providing industry-recognized validation of multimotor system airflow performance and establishing a benchmark for best-in-class testing.
The tunnel is also constructed with future AHRI 430 compliance in mind, keeping Q-PAC well-positioned to meet evolving regulatory requirements and data needs of major OEMs, engineers, and facility designers.
Range of CFM conditions
The airflow tunnel is engineered to deliver high airflow performance compared to traditional test tunnels. Sixteen supply fans have been integrated to achieve high flow rates and enable the simulation of complex, real-world operations. Unlike single- or dual-fan tunnels, this setup allows Q-PAC to accurately evaluate unique multimotor system configurations.
The airflow tunnel is engineered to deliver a high airflow version compared to traditional test tunnels
The airflow tunnel features a 30-foot tunnel length and a 144-square-foot cross-sectional area, which accommodates full-scale, production-sized systems and a broad range of CFM conditions.
Sixteen differential pressure nozzles, each individually controlled, provide precise airflow measurements tailored to varied test scenarios, enhancing fidelity and test flexibility. The tunnel is equipped for both push and pull-through configurations under positive and negative pressure conditions.
Adaptation to diverse testing requirements
Static pressure testing up to 12 in. wc. exceeds industry norms for demanding environments. The design includes a removable supply fan section and interior access doors, enabling straightforward maintenance and equipment repositioning, and supporting rapid adaptation to diverse testing requirements.
Automation is built into the system to reduce manual intervention, accelerate test processes, and ensure highly repeatable and reliable results, even when mapping complex system performance curves. The integration of sixteen fans introduces advanced test complexity and unprecedented control, empowering Q-PAC to analyze full-system interactions, support forward-thinking product development, and anticipate real-world challenges.
