Fantech SHR as an air scrubber?

[acer66]

Hey there,

Customer does not need this anymore and looking at the manual I am lost if it can be used as a air scrubber in a small wood working shop with added external hvac air filters and maybe blocking off ports.

Thoughts?

Thank you.

https://shop.fantech.net/upload/assets/46094_405190_RESIDENTIAL_VHR-SHR_INSTALLATION_MANUAL.PDF

 

[Jackfre]

I doubt that Fantech unit has the static capacity to do what you want it to do. Added filters will only further compromise air flow. Also, is the HX on this unit clean?

 

[PoorUB]

Nope, not enough blower fan. Find an old furnace blower with a direct drive blower motor. If you know of an HVAC shop they might give you one from their scrap. Build a box, mount the fan inside and add a couple filter racks on the out side of the box.

Also, you could probably sell that Fantech for $200 on Facebook Market place. They were over $800 new. if you were local to me I would buy it from you.

 

[acer66]

Thanks guys and guess that is a no go for me.

 

[Denwood]

If you want fresh air in your shop with some heat recovery, sure this would work. You’d just want to build a filter for the stale air return using standard 16x25x5 filters for best results. Uses PSC motors, so likely around 180 watts on the highest speed. That unit is around 60% efficient, so not outstanding…but if it’s free…

159 CFM is the max flow, so you can figure out air exchanges given the volume of your shop. Remember this is an HRV so in hot humid conditions would introduce a lot of moisture..you’d want an ERV likely if using AC in a hot/humid climate.

How big is your shop? You’d need two external vents, 6”, at least 10’ apart. If you just want a scrubber with no outside air, it makes zero sensor to use an HRV for this.

 

[acer66]

No fresh air just air scrubbing for some woodworking in a double garage 22’x22’.

Sounds much more involved if it would even work.

I also just remembered that I have an old furnace fan somewhere so I think I will keep it simple and do what PourUB suggested.

Thank you.

 

[pcmeiners]

"Sounds much more involved if it would even work."

Definitely, I would not bother a conversion or a DIY filter.

I see electronic filters, in good shape, on FB and Ebay far cheaper than you could possibly build.

 

[racecougar]

I built this one and it's twin for $20 each.

Hanging air filter discussion and recommendations

I already have some box fans with filters and they do a good job but especially when wire wheeling rust it seems to rise immediately so I've been looking into the hanging systems to supplement. My space is 28x28x13 so about 10k cubic feet. I can't decide if I should get a singler larger unit or...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Denwood]

The box fan deal with four filters duct taped together is the lowest cost filter you could sort, and it filters a lot of air. You’re at about 250 CFM with a Lasco fan and four filters.




If you suspend the fan and use 5 filters and a shroud (very important) , you’d have max performance in the 600-850 CFM range.

 

[jlv03]

a shroud (very important)

Why is this? Force more air through in a specific direction?

 

[Denwood]

Why is this? Force more air through in a specific direction?

If you look at a box fan, the case is square, but the area covered by the fan blades is round. If you add any resistance to the box fan (like adding filters to it!), a significant amount of turbulent air will exit the fan backwards, outside of the fan blades circular path. It's kind of like a jet engine where the engine shroud very closely matches the shape of the turbine blades....you want nice clean flow through the engine.

From all the box fan tests, that shroud makes a large difference in CFM throughput, preventing "leakage" of air exiting/entering the fan. For a shop fan setup you 100% want to make sure the fan is sucking air from your filter box, not pushing air in. Otherwise the fan blades and motor will get fouled with dust etc.