Efficiently cool cows and livestock with HVLS fans

A cool cow eats the same amount of feed during hot weather, so her milk production doesn't drop off from the heat. It's a basic principle shared by dairy farmers, yet keeping cows comfortable may be challenging. Increasing airflow has been shown to improve herd comfort, increase milk production, and reduce the prevalence of reproductive problems and infections. Dairymen have relied on traditional panel fans for this task for many years.

More dairymen are turning to an energy-saving technique known as high-volume low-speed (HVLS) fans to overcome common herd comfort issues. The effectiveness of an HVLS fan is because of its massive size rather than its speed.

HVLS fans, up to 30 feet in diameter, employ modest one to four horse power motors and specially built airfoils inspired by airplane wings. Some brands have winglets on the ends of the airfoils. These look impressive but only have a marginal effect compared to regular blade tips.

With its low-horsepower motor that costs only pennies per hour, a single HVLS fan can replace dozens of smaller fans, considerably decreasing energy consumption.

Kevin Hoover, the founder of AmeriWind, has invented a controller that shows the electric cost the fans are using in real-time. The cost changes as the fans speed up and slow down. It allows the fan owners to see how inexpensive  HVLS fans are at slower speeds.

HVLS fans also generate the ideal breeze for human comfort. Occupants can feel up to 10°F cooler, enhancing productivity and comfort for cows and humans.

Choosing HVLS fans

An HVLS fan is a long-term investment. Like any other capital acquisition, an HVLS fan provides a return on investment that encompasses more than just energy savings and greater productivity. Sturdy, well-engineered HVLS fans have a direct magnetic drive for no extra moving parts and are designed to be maintenance-free.

HVLS fans are controlled by simple, intuitive systems that allow for autonomous speeds year around, allowing you to focus on your cattle.

Important design considerations for big HVLS fans:

What is your post spacing, or is it clear span?

What is your area's length, width and height to be cooled?

If there is not much height, are the rafters open so the fan can be up near the rafters with a bumper guard in place?

No matter how much air your fan moves, it cannot pass through a wall or another solid object. Although the upturned winglets found on some industrial fans look cool, they can't move air thru obstacles. Ensuring that the airflow reaches all occupants equally and appropriately is critical.

Large, slow-moving fans operate differently than usual small, high-speed fans and should be positioned and sized accordingly. It is critical to understand the airflow of the fans and the coverage regions associated with each type.

Be sure that the company from which you are acquiring understands your environment when assessing an HVLS fan. Each place is unique, and there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all energy-efficient solution.

It's critical to inquire whether the company has a dedicated department with personnel and engineers that understand the specific demands of dairymen and have installed fans on multiple farms. Instead, you risk receiving a generic product when you require a customized solution.

Modern technological advances have resulted in an extensive line of fans to ensure an air movement solution for any dairy environment, including milking parlors, freestall barns, calf barns, holding sections, return lanes, and more.

Many HVLS fans include variable speed controls with a wide range of speed settings, allowing dairy producers to tailor their air-movement comfort and energy expenditures according to the time of day and year. Traditional 48-inch to 52-inch fans often have only an on/off switch, while HVLS fans provide dairy producers with versatility and the ability to alter fan operation.

Some fans provide ultra-fine misting packages that generate the same cooling effect as 11 or 22 tons of air conditioning, exactly where you need it, and for pennies per day. When air movement is combined with atomized mist, the actual temperature can be reduced by up to 30 degrees without getting the facilities, beds, or staff wet.

Big  fan advantages

HVLS fans promote indoor air quality and ventilation, reducing calves' respiratory problems. The effect even works in the winter with livestock and calf barns. When it's cold outside, slowing down HVLS fans circulates all the air,  keeping the air moving and not stagnant down at the cattle's level.

HVLS fans provide amazing air flow that keeps animals cool and well, thanks to their large coverage area. They are easy to use, providing year-round comfort.