Common Faults and Solutions of Industrial Cooling Fans
Categories:
Solution
Technology
Author:
rain
Origin:
capital
Time of issue:
2025-08-15 10:27:21.000
Views:
Industrial cooling fans are prone to faults due to environmental factors, wear and tear, installation issues, etc., during long-term, high-load operation, which affects the heat dissipation efficiency of equipment and may even lead to equipment shutdown.
The following are common faults and corresponding solutions to help quickly troubleshoot and handle problems:
1. Fan Not Rotating (No Response at All)
This is one of the most common faults, mostly related to the power supply, motor, or connections.
Possible Cause 1: Power Supply Issues
Open circuit in the power supply line, loose plug, or poor contact in the socket.
Unstable power supply voltage (too high/too low), exceeding the rated voltage range of the fan.
Solutions:
Check if the power cord, plug, and socket are in good condition. Re-plug or replace the line.
Use a multimeter to measure the supply voltage to ensure it meets the rated voltage of the fan (such as AC 220V, DC 12V, etc.). If necessary, install a voltage stabilizer.
Possible Cause 2: Motor Damage
Motor coil burned out (due to overload, short circuit, or poor heat dissipation).
Motor bearing seized (due to dry grease or foreign matter entering).
Solutions:
Disassemble the fan, check if the motor coil is blackened or has a burning smell. If damaged, replace it with a motor of the same model.
If the bearing is seized, try adding high-temperature resistant grease (such as lithium-based grease). If ineffective, replace the bearing or the motor.
Possible Cause 3: Control Circuit Fault
The fan's control switch, relay, or temperature control module is damaged.
Solutions:
Check the control circuit components. Use a multimeter to test the on-off of the switch and whether the relay is energized. Replace damaged components.
2. Abnormal Noise During Fan Operation
Abnormal noise is mostly caused by mechanical friction, looseness, or foreign matter, and needs to be handled in time to avoid component damage.
Possible Cause 1: Bearing Wear or Lack of Oil
Worn ball bearings produce a "rustling" sound, and dry oil-impregnated bearings produce a "squeaking" sound.
Solutions:
For oil-impregnated bearings: Add special lubricating oil (such as sewing machine oil; avoid using edible oil).
For ball bearings: If severely worn, directly replace them with bearings of the same model.
Possible Cause 2: Loose or Deformed Fan Blades
The connection between the fan blade and the motor shaft is loose, or deformation occurs due to long-term stress, causing friction with the housing during rotation.
Solutions:
Tighten the fan blade screws and adjust the fan blade angle; if the deformation is severe, replace with new fan blades.
ossible Cause 3: Foreign Matter Entanglement
Dust, thread ends, metal debris, etc., enter the fan and get stuck between the fan blades and the housing.
Solutions:
After powering off, disassemble the fan, clean up internal foreign matter, and blow off dust with compressed air.
3.Fan Rotating Speed Slows Down
A decrease in rotating speed will reduce heat dissipation capacity, which may cause the equipment to overheat.
Possible Cause 1: Insufficient Voltage
Excessive voltage drop in the power supply line, or insufficient output power of the power supply.
Solutions:
Check if the cross-sectional area of the line matches (to avoid voltage drop caused by long and thin lines), and replace with a power supply with sufficient power.
Possible Cause 2: Motor Aging
Aging of the motor coil leads to increased internal resistance and decreased output power.
Solutions:
Measure the motor resistance. If it deviates significantly from the rated value, replace the motor.
Possible Cause 3: Excessive Dust Accumulation on Fan Blades
Dust accumulates on the surface of the fan blades, increasing wind resistance and causing a decrease in rotating speed.
Solutions:
Clean the fan blades regularly (with a soft brush or damp cloth) to keep ventilation smooth.
4.Excessive Vibration of the Fan
Excessive vibration will cause equipment resonance, increased noise, and even damage to the installation structure.
Possible Cause 1: Uneven Installation or Loose Fixing
The fan installation surface is uneven, or the fixing screws are loose, causing shaking during operation.
Solutions:
Adjust the installation position to ensure the fan fits the installation surface, and tighten the screws evenly (rubber gaskets can be added for shock absorption).
Possible Cause 2: Imbalance of Fan Blade Dynamic Balance
Wear, deformation, or uneven dust accumulation on the fan blades leads to center of gravity deviation/shift.
Solutions:
Clean the dust on the fan blades. If the balance is severely imbalanced, replace with new fan blades (industrial fans need to ensure dynamic balance accuracy).
5.Fan Housing Charged
A charged housing poses a safety hazard, mostly caused by insulation faults.
Possible Cause 1: Motor Insulation Damage
Short circuit between the motor coil and the housing (such as coil dampness, wear leading to insulation layer rupture).
Solutions:
Use a megohmmeter to test the motor insulation resistance (should be ≥0.5MΩ). If the insulation fails, replace the motor and check the environmental humidity (to avoid dampness).
Possible Cause 2: Poor Grounding
The fan is not grounded or the grounding wire has poor contact, leading to accumulation of static electricity or leakage.
Solutions:
Ensure the fan housing is reliably grounded (grounding resistance ≤4Ω), and check if the grounding wire connection is firm.
6. Daily Maintenance Suggestions
Regular cleaning: Clean dust on fan blades and filters every 1-3 months to avoid dust accumulation affecting performance.
Lubrication maintenance: For oil-impregnated bearing fans, add lubricating grease once every 6 months.
Environmental control: Avoid long-term operation of the fan in environments with excessive dust, humidity, or high temperature (exceeding 60℃). If necessary, install protective nets or shields.
Regular inspection: Observe the fan's operation status, listen for abnormal noise, measure the rotating speed, and replace aging components (such as bearings, fan blades) in time.
Through the above troubleshooting and maintenance, the service life of industrial cooling fans can be effectively extended, and the stable operation of equipment can be guaranteed.
Capital Technology Co., Limited is the chief agent of SANYO DENKI, one of the leading enterprises of the cooling fan industry. We are a factory who also have our own independent brand CAPITAL product series. The main products are cooling fan, DC/AC fan, radiator, filter, reactor etc. We can provide customer with the most professional and perfect technical support, welcome to contact me at anytime at rainlee@szcpt.com.
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