Recirculation fans play an important role in creating a comfortable cabin environment aboard many commercial airliners. A typical commercial jet has two recirculation fans, such as a left and right fan or upper and lower fan. Regardless, these specialized fans work behind the scenes to make passengers’ flight experience a little more comfortable. But that’s not the only reason why airplanes use them.
What Are Recirculation Fans?
Recirculation fans are devices that move around air in a given space. They don’t remove stale air. Rather, recirculation fans simply recirculate existing air.
Recirculation fans feature spinning blades that, like most mechanical fans, move air. When running, the blades will move air from inside the airplane’s cabin through the environmental control system. The recirculation fan will then pass the air through a filtration system before mixing it with fresh, conditioned. The mixture of filtered and fresh air will then be supplied back to the cabin.
It’s important to note that airplanes don’t recycle all their cabin air. Recirculation fans are simply designed to filter and recirculate existing air while simultaneously mixing it with fresh air.
Cleaner Air
Recirculation fans create cleaner cabin air. As previously mentioned, they work in conjunction with a filtration system. They move air from the cabin through an advanced filtration system to remove airborne contaminants.
Most recirculation fans use a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. By definition, these filters remove 99.97% of tiny airborne particles sized 0.3 microns or smaller. Whether it’s dust, mold or pathogens, these filters are highly effective at capturing otherwise small airborne particles.
Improved Circulation
Recirculation fans, of course, help with air circulation. They are designed specifically to move around air. With little or no circulation, problems can arise. The temperature or humidity may become more difficult to control, thereby creating discomfort for passengers.
Fortunately, recirculation fans offer a solution. They force air to move from the cabin through a filtration system. Only after exiting the filtration system, as well as mixing with fresh air, is the air pumped back into the cabin.
Improved Fuel Efficiency
You might be surprised to learn that recirculation fans can help commercial airlines save money on fuel. They reduce the need for bleed air. Bleed air is compressed air drawn from jet engines. It requires combustion to produce, resulting in fuel being consumed.
Fuel is one of the biggest expenses for commercial airlines. By using recirculation fans, they can save money on fuel — all while creating a more comfortable cabin environment for passengers.
