What is an air curtain
Air curtain is used to install on the doorways, windows, or other openings. It generates strong airflow by a cross-flow or centrifugal fan to isolate the indoor air from the external environment. So it can effectively prevent air exchange and pests go inside while maintaining stable indoor temperatures, enhancing customer experience. Air curtains are widely used in stores, restaurants, warehouses, and industrial facilities.
When choosing the air curtain, EC (Electronically Commutated motor air curtains) and AC (alternating current motor air curtains) are two common types. This article will introduce the key differences between these two types of air curtains, helping you find the best solution for your business.
The advantage of air curtain
- Energy Savings: Air curtains can minimize the loss of cooled or heated air, helping to maintain a constant indoor temperature. This contributes to energy conservation and reduces the operating costs associated with air conditioning and heating.
- Insect Prevention: The high-velocity airflow generated by air curtains effectively blocks insects from entering the room, which is particularly important in environments such as food processing facilities, supermarkets, and restaurants.
- Temperature Isolation: Air curtains effectively prevent the exchange of hot and cold air, ensuring that the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor spaces remains within a certain range, thereby enhancing environmental comfort.
- Dust Protection: The high-speed airflow created by air curtains can obstruct outdoor dust, smoke, and other pollutants from infiltrating the indoor environment, helping to maintain clean indoor air quality.
What is an EC motor air curtain
Working Principle:
EC air curtains utilize Electronically Commutated Motors (ECMs). This type of motor combines the advantages of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) motors, featuring a built-in electronic rectifier that converts alternating current to direct current for improved control. This design enables EC motors to achieve higher efficiency and flexible speed regulation.
Energy Efficiency Advantages:
The energy efficiency of EC air curtains significantly surpasses that of traditional AC air curtains, as outlined below:
- Flexible Speed Regulation: The EC motor allows for infinite speed adjustments, enabling the air speed to be tailored to actual demand. For instance, wind speed can be reduced to save power during low foot traffic, while it can be increased during peak hours to maintain a stable air barrier.
- High Efficiency and Energy Savings: EC motors are more energy-efficient than traditional AC motors, typically saving over 30% in energy consumption. As a result, the cost benefits of EC air curtains become increasingly apparent in environments that require continuous operation.
- Low Noise Levels: Thanks to electronic rectification control, EC air curtains operate at lower noise levels, making them ideal for noise-sensitive locations
Application:
- Commercial Buildings: such as office buildings and other facilities that require long-term temperature control and a low-noise environment.
- Hotels: Hotel lobbies often experience high foot traffic and have strict noise control requirements. EC air curtains can maintain a stable temperature while creating a quiet and comfortable atmosphere.
- Hospitals: In hospitals and similar environments where temperature control, air cleanliness, and low noise levels are paramount, EC air curtains are particularly effective due to their high energy efficiency and quiet operation.
- Food Processing Plants: In food processing facilities, where effective insect control and energy efficiency are essential, EC air curtains provide a consistent and stable airflow barrier, helping to maintain a hygienic environment.
What is AC motor air curtain
Working Principle:
AC air curtains operate using traditional alternating current (AC) motors. These motors feature a simple structure and low manufacturing costs, making them suitable for general commercial applications. Although AC air curtains are not as energy-efficient as their electronically commutated (EC) counterparts, they are relatively affordable and widely used in locations with low maintenance requirements, such as mall entrances and supermarkets.
Energy Efficiency Advantages:
- Affordability: AC air curtains are less expensive to manufacture, making them suitable for locations with limited budgets. While they may not match the energy efficiency of EC air curtains, their lower cost makes them a popular choice in general commercial settings.
- Fixed Speed: AC motors typically do not offer speed control, meaning the wind speed remains stable. This makes them appropriate for environments that require a relatively constant airflow.
- Moderate Energy Efficiency: Although the energy efficiency of AC air curtains is lower than that of EC air curtains, it is adequate for applications where the curtains are used intermittently, such as entrances to buildings with low foot traffic.
Application:
- Shopping Malls and Supermarkets: These establishments often require stable temperature control and sound insulation while operating within limited budgets, making AC air curtains an affordable option.
- Restaurants and Coffee Shops: AC air curtains are effective in small food and beverage establishments where there is typically low demand for noise control and consistent air velocity.
- Industrial Workshops: In industrial workshops with minimal requirements for temperature and airflow stability, AC industry air curtains can help maintain cleanliness and provide basic isolation.
- Low-Traffic Areas: Locations such as entrances to office spaces and ordinary commercial buildings typically do not require complex speed control functions. In these cases, AC air curtains can adequately meet basic needs.
Three main differences of ec motor air curtain and ac motor air curtain
Energy efficiency comparison
EC motors deliver more efficient airflow at lower power consumption. Its speed control function allows the air speed to be adjusted according to actual demand, further optimizing energy consumption, which typically saves about 30% of energy compared to AC air curtains.
AC air curtains have relatively high power consumption, especially in continuous operation, and the lack of a speed control function makes it impossible to adjust the air speed according to the demand, and the energy efficiency is relatively fixed.
Performance Comparison
The air velocity of EC air curtains can be adjusted according to the actual needs and the coverage is flexible, which perfectly meets the needs of all kinds of places.
AC Air Curtains typically have a fixed air velocity and a relatively fixed coverage area. Although suitable for some basic applications, they lack flexibility in different environments.
Cost Comparison
EC air curtains have a higher initial cost. However, due to its significant energy saving effect, the operating cost in long-term use is much lower than that of AC air curtains. Therefore, EC air curtains are more suitable for places that need to run for a long time and seek low energy consumption and long-term cost-effectiveness.
AC air curtains have a lower initial cost and are suitable for projects with limited budgets. However, its higher energy consumption means that long-term operating costs are relatively high and energy costs will gradually increase. Therefore, AC air curtains are suitable for short-term projects or for locations with small energy budgets.
Perguntas frequentes about ec motor air curtain and ac motor air curtain
Q: Can air curtains reduce energy consumption?
A: Air curtains can reduce energy consumption by reducing heat loss from air conditioning or heating and stabilizing the room temperature. ec air curtains are particularly energy efficient.
Q: Do air curtains make noise?
A: EC air curtains are quieter and ideal for noise-sensitive locations (e.g., hotels, office buildings, etc.); AC air curtains may be noisier, but will not cause much of an impact in general commercial and industrial locations.
Q: Do air curtains require special installation?
A: Air curtains are relatively simple to install, usually installed directly above the door frame.
Q: What is the average service life of an air curtain?
A: Both EC Air Curtains and AC Air Curtains have a life expectancy of between 5 and 10 years under normal use and maintenance. Regular cleaning and maintenance can extend their life.
Q: What climatic conditions are air curtains suitable for?
A: Air curtains are suitable for a wide range of climates and are particularly effective in extremely cold or hot environments because of their better temperature isolation. 8.
Q: How are air curtains maintained? Does it require specialized maintenance?
A: Maintenance is usually simple and consists of regular cleaning of the filters and air ducts. 9.
Q: How long does overseas shipping take and are installation instructions included?
A: Overseas shipping time depends on the specific country and logistics method and is usually between 2 and 4 weeks. All Air Curtains come with installation instructions and some models support a remote guided installation service.
Parameters of ec motor revolving door air curtain vs ac motor revolving door air curtain from CDAIRTECH
The main differents are air curtain air speed and air flow, you can check the followed tablet.
| Mole | EC Air Curtain revolving door parameters | |||
| Air Flow | Speed | Power Input | Current Draw | |
| m³/h | m/s | kW | A | |
| CD-1-100E | 0~2700 | 0~7 | 0.51 | 3.9 |
| CD-1-150E | 0~3600 | 0~7 | 0.68 | 5.2 |
| CD-1-200E | 0~5400 | 0~7 | 1.02 | 7.8 |
| CD-1-250E | 0~6300 | 0~7 | 1.19 | 9.1 |
| CD-1-300E | 0~7200 | 0~7 | 1.36 | 10.4 |
| Mole | AC Air Curtain revolving door parameters | |||||||
| Air Flow | Speed | Power Input | Current Draw | |||||
| m³/h | m/s | kW | A | |||||
| CD-1-100E | 2100 | 2400 | 2700 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0.3 | 2.4 |
| CD-1-150E | 2800 | 3200 | 3600 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0.4 | 3.2 |
| CD-1-200E | 4200 | 4800 | 5400 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0.6 | 4.8 |
| CD-1-250E | 4900 | 5600 | 6300 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0.7 | 5.6 |
| CD-1-300E | 5600 | 6400 | 7200 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 0.8 | 6.4 |
If you have any query about choosing ec motor air curtain or ac motor air curtain, you can contact us, our engineer is ready to provide solution for your within 2days.
