Aerovent Afe Manual

INTRODUCTION

This manual has been prepared to guide the users of

AFE Fume Exhaust Fans in the proper installation,

operation and maintenance procedures to insure

maximum equipment life with trouble-free operation.

AFE

CONTENTS

Inspection and Receiving ..................................................2

Handling and Rigging ........................................................2

Unit Storage ........................................................................2

Installation

• Pre-Installation Checklist ..........................................2

• Roof Curb Installation ..............................................3

• Mixing Box Assembly Installation............................3

• Fan and Windband Installation ................................3

• Drain Connections ....................................................4

• Damper and Actuator Installation ............................4

Operation Checklist ............................................................5

Maintenance

• Fan .............................................................................5

• Motor .........................................................................5

• Bearing .......................................................................5

• Drive ...........................................................................6

Troubleshooting ..................................................................6

Fan systems include rotating components and

electrical devices. Proper care must be taken during

installation and maintenance of all fan system

components to protect personnel. This includes, but

is not limited to the use of protective enclosures,

guards, locking devices to stop rotating parts and

electrical disconnect lock-outs. Refer to applicable

local codes to ensure compliance for all protective

devices.

Fans create a suction at the inlet. Care should be

taken around the inlet of the fan, whether it is in

operation or not. Make sure the inlet area is clear

prior to energizing the system. This includes all

personnel and loose, foreign objects.

CAUTION

Throughout this manual, there are a number of HAZARD WARNINGS that must be read and adhered to in order

to prevent possible personal injury and/or damage to equipment. Two signal words "WARNING" and "CAUTION"

are used to indicate the severity of a hazard and are preceded by the safety alert symbol.

WARNING

Used when serious injury or death MAY result from misuse or failure to follow specific instructions.

CAUTION

Used when minor or moderate injury or product / equipment damage MAY result from misuse or failure to follow

specific instructions.

NOTICE

Indicates information considered important, but not hazard-related.

It is the responsibility of all personnel involved in installation, operation and maintenance to fully understand the

Warning and Caution procedures by which hazards are to be avoided.

IM-391

April 2020

Inline Fume Exhaust Fans

General Installation, Operation and Maintenance Instructions For Aerovent Products

INSPECTION AND RECEIVING

All Aerovent products are carefully constructed and

inspected before shipment to insure the highest standards

of quality and performance. Compare all components with

the bill of lading or packing list to verify that the proper

unit was received. Check each unit for any damage that

may have occurred in transit. Any damage should be

reported immediately to the carrier and the necessary

damage report filed.

HANDLING AND RIGGING

Handling of all air moving equipment should be conducted

by trained personnel and be consistent with safe handling

practices. Verify the lift capacity and operating condition of

handling equipment.

Units shipped may be lifted with slings and spreader bars.

Use well-padded chains, cables or nylon straps (see Figure

1). On most units, lifting lugs are fashioned to protect the

fan and fan housing from damage. Never lift a fan by the

inlet or discharge flange, shafting or drives, wheel, motor

or motor base, or in any other manner that may bend or

distort parts.

Mixing plenum boxes configured for multiple fans mounted

on a common unit are modular in design and may be

broken down into smaller segments for ease of installation

and handling.

UNIT STORAGE

If fan installation is to be delayed, store the unit in an

environmentally stable and protected area. During storage,

the fan should not be subjected to vibration from external

sources or bearing damage may occur. The unit should be

reasonably protected from any accidental impacts. Cover

the fan to protect coatings and to prevent any foreign

material or moisture from entering the inlet or discharge.

Take care to protect the motor, drives and bearings.

Extended storage requires monthly inspections. Check for

corrosion or damage to the unit and for debris within the

fan.

Bearings tend to take on moisture if the atmosphere in

which they are stored is not at a constant temperature. To

avoid corrosion, it is necessary to keep the bearings full

of grease and to rotate them periodically. Even when full

of grease, bearings will take on moisture, so it is necessary

to purge the bearings with new grease to expel moisture

every thirty days. It is recommended that the bearings be

purged with grease while being rotated by hand. Do not

use high pressure greasers as they may ruin the bearing

seals.

The drives and belts should be removed if the fan is to

be stored for a prolonged period. The drives should be

labeled for service and stored in a dry place. Belts should

be removed, coiled without kinks, placed in a heavy carton

and stored in a dry, well-ventilated place. To prevent belt

deterioration storage conditions should not exceed 85°F

and 70% humidity. If belts show signs of deterioration,

they should be replaced prior to startup.

Motors should be stored in a clean, dry, vibration-free

location. The packaging should be opened up enough to

allow air circulation around the motor. The winding

temperature should be kept slightly above that of the

surroundings to prevent condensation. This can be

accomplished by energizing the internal heaters, if the

motor is so equipped, or by using space heaters. If it is

impossible to heat the windings, the motor should be

wrapped tightly with a waterproof material which also

encloses several bags of desiccant. Replace the desiccant

regularly to prevent moisture problems. The motor rotor

should also be rotated regularly (monthly) to assure the

bearing parts are well greased.

Start-Up – When the unit is removed from storage, all fan

bearing grease should be purged and replenished with

fresh grease as per the lubrication decal. The motor should

be measured to verify that the resistance is still at a

satisfactory level compared to the value recorded prior to

storage.

INSTALLATION

Pre-Installation Checklist

Prior to fully assembling and installing, inspect the fan and

ancillary components to ensure it is in working order.

• Check all external and internal hardware on the fan,

wheel, bearings, drive motor base and accessories for

tightness.

• Rotate the fan wheel by hand and assure no parts

are rubbing. Adjust components prior to installation as

adjustments are easier while lower to grad.

Figure 1. Lifting Locations

Maintain handling equipment to avoid serious

personal injury.

CAUTION

2 Aerovent Installation and Maintenance Manual IM-391

Figure 4. Mixing Box• Check proper wheel clearances to be sure near tolerance.

The wheel will need to be realigned after installation,

therefore, clearances should be near tolerance.

Roof Curb Installation

Roof curbs shall be installed and fully attached to

structural support (by others) which is typically steel or

concrete using 1/2" diameter bolts w/ 1-3/8" washers (by

others).

For attachment to structural steel the curb can be

continuously welded or stitch welded using 3/8" x 6"

welds with a maximum of 3" spacing between welds.

Welds should be evenly spaced along curb side and

corners.

Mixing Plenum Box Assembly and Installation

The modular plenum mixing boxes are designed to allow

for easy installation and future expandability. Single mixing

plenum boxes are fully assembled (less any dampers) to

expedite installation. Depending on the size, multi-unit

mixing boxes may or may not be assembled. When

installing the mixing box(es), it is important to follow the

guidelines for lifting and rigging on page 2.

When a single-unit mixing plenum box is installed, prepare

the roof curb or mounting structure. Lay gasket material

on the top edge of the roof curb. Lift mixing box onto

curb and square (level) mixing box. Install lag bolts into

the mixing plenum box to roof curb as indicated.

Depending on the air intake (side or bottom), the mixing

box must be oriented to allow for direct duct connection

into the mixing plenum box. Match drill roof curb to mixing

plenum box. Attach mixing plenum box to roof curb using

3/8" diameter, 3" length slotted, hex washer head type F

machine screws, stainless steel (by others).

For multi-unit configurations, some assembly may be

required. There are at least two different assemblies in a

multi-unit configuration. There is the mixing plenum box

assembly and the mixing box spacer. See figure 4. There

will be one less spacer than the quantity of mixing plenum

boxes.

To assemble, space the mixing boxes a distance apart that

is slightly more than the width of the spacer section. Utilize

a gasket between the mixing box and the spacer section

to provide a tight seal.

Install 316 stainless steel bolts to attach the spacer and

the mixing box. Repeat as necessary for each section.

When the multi-unit mixing plenum box is assembled, rig

the mixing box system into place in accordance with

Figure 1 to avoid any damage.

Install mixing plenum box assembly onto a prepared

(gasket material on mating surface) roof curb or mounting

structure. Lay Square (level) mixing box. Install lag bolts

into the mixing plenum box to roof curb as indicated.

Fan Installation with Curb Cap ONLY

(No Mixing Plenum Box)

Securing the curb cap to the roof curb will be similar to

attaching with a mixing box except the pre-drilled holes on

the curb cap will be 13/16" diameter. Drill pilot holes on

the roof curb using the curb cap as reference, then secure

curb cap to the roof curb with 3/8" diameter, 3" length

slotted, hex washer head type F machine screws, stainless

steel (by others).

Fan and Windband Installation

• Follow proper handling instructions as provided earlier.

• Identify each fan and component and match the

equipment up with the supplied customer drawing(s).

• Move the fan to the ﬁnal mounting location.

• Remove skid, crates and packing materials carefully.

• For fans mounted directly to roof curb (supplied with a

curb cap), place the fan on properly installed roof curb.

Fans mounted on a mixing plenum box (supplied with

mixing plenum box transition) require the installation of

the mixing plenum box prior to installing fan.

• Fans shipped as a single unit shall be broken down

into several parts. Install each item individually in the

following order:

1. Fan and curb cap onto the installed roof curb

-or-

Fan and mixing plenum box transition onto

installed mixing box.

2. Stack extension, if in the scope of supply

3. Windband

Figure 2. Bolted Installation

Figure 3. Welded Installation

Roof curbs should be square and level to ensure safe

fan installation and proper sealing of gas stream to the

fan.

CAUTION

When installing the components, lifting lugs shall be

utilized for safe installation. Lifting lugs are designed

for the weight of the component they are welded to and

should not be used to lift assemblies.

NOTICE

Aerovent Installation and Maintenance Manual IM-391 3

Fan Housing Installation

1. Place supplied gasket around the perimeter of the mixing

plenum box or roof curb.

2. Lower fan housing onto roof curb or mixing plenum box

aligning the bolt holes on the two components. Allow

for gasket to compress naturally prior to securing fan

housing to the adjacent component.

3. Install 316 stainless steel hardware (provided) in all

mounting holes. Use a commercially available anti-

seizing compound formulated for 316 stainless steel to

hardware. Carefully level the unit on the roof curb or

mixing plenum box. Be careful not to force the fan to

the mounting structure. This may cause misalignment

which may unsafe operating conditions, cause vibration

and premature failure.

4. Check the alignment of the bearings. Shim or reposition

the bearings if necessary.

5. Check face alignment of sheaves on belt driven fans.

Check tension of belts to see if it is sufﬁcient. Sheaves

on belt driven fans are often provided with taperlock

bushings. When tightening bushing bolts, proceed in

a progressive manner to avoid cocking the tapered

surfaces between the bushing and the sheave.

6. Check the tightness of the wheel on the shaft. Check

the tightness of foundation bolts, motor bolts, sheaves

and bearings. Make sure there is no rubbing or binding

and that the wheel-inlet cone clearances and overlap

are correct.

Stack Extension Installation

1. Place supplied gasket around the perimeter of the

fan outlet.

2. Lower the stack extension onto the fan housing

aligning the bolt holes on the two components. Allow

for gasket to compress naturally prior to securing fan

housing to the adjacent component.

3. Install 316 stainless steel hardware (provided) in all

mounting holes. Use a commercially available anti-

seizing compound formulated for 316 stainless steel

to hardware.

Windband Installation

1. Using the windband lifting lugs, raise the windband

above the outlet of the fan assembly. Align the support

brackets with the fan assembly discharge

2. Using caution not to swing the windband, insert the

316 stainless steel mounting hardware (provided)

coated with anti-seize compound to join the two

components.

Drain Connection/Installation

Each section of the plenum mixing box as well as the fan

housing contains a 3/4" NPT drain pipe for connecting

to drainage system to ensure safe routing of any liquid

that may form in the system. Due to the potential of

hazardous chemical contamination, proper disposal of

liquids is required (by customer). See Figure 5.

Note:

• A minimum of 1" of water must be placed in trap prior to

start-up to create proper “lock” of system pressure.

• Drain should periodically be cleaned out for proper

operation.

Figure 6. Damper and Actuator Assembly

PARALELL BLADE

ISOLATION DAMPER

MODULAR MIXING

PLENUM BOX

ACCESS DOOR

2-POSITION SPRING

RETURN ACTUATOR

MODULATING ACTUATOR

WEATHER

HOOD OPPOSED BLADE

BYPASS DAMPER

3/4 NP DRAIN IN PLENUM

MIXING BOX AND FAN

HOUSING

Figure 5. Drain

4 Aerovent Installation and Maintenance Manual IM-391

FAN MAINTENANCE

Periodically inspect the shaft and wheel for dirt buildup,

corrosion and signs of excess stress or fatigue. Clean

the components. If the wheel is removed for any reason,

make sure that it is securely attached to the shaft before

restarting the fan.

All structural components or devices used to support

or attach the fan to a structure should be checked at

regular intervals. Vibration isolators, bolts, foundations,

etc., are all subject to failure from corrosion, erosion

and other causes. Improper mounting can lead to poor

operation characteristics or fan fatigue and failure. Check

metallic components for corrosion, cracks, or other signs

of stress. Concrete should be checked to insure the

structural integrity of the foundation. See curb installation

section for detail on proper mounting procedures.

MOTOR MAINTENANCE

The three basic rules of motor maintenance are:

1. Keep the motor clean.

2. Keep the motor dry.

3. Keep the motor properly lubricated.

Blow dust off periodically (with low pressure air) to

prevent motor from overheating. Some smaller motors are

lubricated for life. Lubrication requirements are normally

attached to the motor. Use the motor manufacturer’s

recommendations for relubrication. If this information

is not available, the following schedule may be used.

Motors less than 10 HP running about eight hours a

day in a clean environment should be lubricated once

every ﬁve years; motors 15 to 40 HP, every three years.

For motors in dusty or dirty environments or running 24

hours a day: divide the service interval by 4. Do not

over lubricate.

BEARING MAINTENANCE

Proper lubrication of the fan drive bearings helps assure

maximum bearing life. All fans are equipped with decals

indicating relubrication intervals for normal operating

conditions. However, every installation is different and the

frequency of relubrication should be adjusted accordingly.

On high moisture applications, the lubrication frequency

may need to be doubled or tripled to adequately protect

the bearings. Double the relubrication frequency on fans

with vertical shafts. Observation of the conditions of

the grease expelled from the bearings at the time of

relubrication is the best guide as to whether regreasing

intervals and amount of grease added should be altered.

Greases are made with different bases. There are

synthetic base greases, lithium base, sodium base, etc.

Avoid mixing greases with different bases. They could

be incompatible and result in rapid deterioration or

OPERATION CHECKLIST

Check fan mechanism components:

□System connections are properly made and tightened.

□Bearings are properly lubricated.

□Wheel, drives and fan surfaces are clean and free of

debris.

□Rotate the impeller by hand to verify it has not

shifted in transit.

□Check fan/wheel overlap. (See Figure 7.)

□Drives on correct shafts (not reversed).

□Check position of guards to prevent rubbing.

Check fan electrical components:

□Motor is wired for proper supply voltage.

□Motor was properly sized for power and rotational

inertia of rotating assembly.

□Motor is properly grounded.

□All leads are properly insulated.

Trial “bump”:

□Turn on power just long enough to start assembly

rotating.

□Check rotation for agreement with rotation arrow.

□Does the assembly make any unusual noise?

□Check drive alignment and tension. Does this meet

with drive manufacturer’s recommendations?

□Correct any problems which may have been found.

(Follow safety guidelines - shut power off.) Perform

checklist again until unit is operating properly.

□Run unit up to speed.

Figure 7.

FAN

SIZE A B

90 – –

122 12.25 0.31

135 – –

150 15.00 0.38

182 18.25 0.56

200 20.00 0.63

222 22.25 0.69

245 24.50 0.75

270 27.00 0.88

300 30.00 0.97

330 33.00 1.06

365 36.50 0.94

402 40.25 1.03

445 44.50 1.13

490 49.00 1.25

542 54.25 1.38

Verify that proper safety precautions have been

followed. Electrical power must be locked off.

WARNING

Verify fastener tightness. These may have loosened

during shipment or installation.

□Setscrews attaching wheel hub to shaft.

□Setscrews in drive sheaves or coupling.

□Nuts on inlet funnel.

□Nuts and bolts holding motor.

□Nuts holding housing frame to base and base to

ground.

□Nuts on accessories including shaft seal, access

doors and pie-splits.

□Bolts in taper-lock bushings.

□Grease line connections.

After one week of operation, check all nuts, bolts and

setscrews and tighten if necessary.

Damper and Actuator Installation

Access to the Isolation Damper is obtained through

opening the slide out door on the side of the plenum.

Remove bolts from face of slide out door and remove

damper/door assembly for inspection and maintenance.

The 2-Position spring return actuator is attached to the

damper shaft through the slide out door in a NEMA 4

enclosure and can be removed with the damper/door

assembly. Wiring is completed through knockouts in

Nema 4 enclosure around the actuator.

Access to Bypass Damper and Modulating Actuator

for removal is obtained by removing the weatherhood

covering the damper. Damper is attached to plenum

face with standard zip screws. An inspection door is

available on the side of the weather cover for standard

inspection and maintenance of the damper. Wiring for

the modulating actuator is fed through the knockouts in

the weatherhood.

Aerovent Installation and Maintenance Manual IM-391 5

breakdown of the grease. The lubrication sticker identiﬁes

a list of acceptable lubricants. All bearings are ﬁlled with

a lithium-based grease before leaving the factory. When

the fans are started, the bearings may discharge excess

grease through the seals for a short period of time.

Do not replace the initial discharge because leakage

will cease when the excess grease has worked out.

Sometimes the bearings have a tendency to run hotter

during this period. There is no reason for alarm unless it

lasts over 48 hours or gets very hot (over 200°F). When

relubricating, use a sufﬁcient amount of grease to purge

the seals. Rotate bearings by hand during relubrication.

DRIVE MAINTENANCE AND INSTALLATION

V-belt drives need periodic inspection, retensioning and

occasional belt replacement. When inspecting drives,

look for dirt buildup, burrs or obstructions that can

cause premature belt or drive replacement. If burrs

are found, use ﬁne emery cloth or a stone to remove

them. Be careful that dust does not enter the bearings.

Check sheaves for wear. Excessive slippage of belts on

sheaves can cause wear and vibration. Replace worn

sheaves with new ones. Carefully align sheaves to avoid

premature sheave failure. Inspect the belts for wear. If

fraying or other wear is observed to be mostly on one

side of the belts, the drives may be misaligned. Reinstall

the drives according to the following instructions:

1. Slip (do not pound) proper sheave onto corresponding

shaft.

2. Align sheaves with straightedge extended along

sheaves, just making contact in two places on outside

perimeters of both sheaves.

3. Tighten sheave bolts (or setscrews if appropriate).

Table 1 can be used to determine the amount of

torque required.

4. Install a matched set of belts. Adjust the motor position

to obtain slack, install and tighten belts. Using a pry

bar will damage belts.

5. Tighten belts to proper belt tension. Ideal tension is

just enough so that the belts do not slip under peak

load. When using drive tensioning data supplied by

V-belt drive manufacturers, new belts can be tensioned

to a value 50% greater than for normal operation. This

will reduce retensioning requirements after break-in.

Recheck sheave alignment after tensioning.

6. After initial installation of belts, recheck belt tension

again after a few days. (New belts require a break-in

period of operation.)

7. When replacing belts, replace the entire set. After

initial replacement and tensioning, recheck belt tension

after a few days. (New belts require a break-in period

of operation.) Never use belt dressing on any belts.

8. Fans that have motors and drives mounted at the

factory are trim balanced prior to shipment. This is not

possible on units that are shipped without motors and

drives. The addition of drive components in the ﬁeld

can create unbalance forces. Aerovent recommends

ﬁnal balancing of the unit after the drive components

are installed. Failure to do so may void the warranty.

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDELINES

Use current safety practices when investigating fan or

system performance problems. General safe practices

and performance troubleshooting guidelines can be found

in AMCA Publications 410 and 202, respectively. Fan

application and ﬁeld measurement procedures can be

found in AMCA Publications 201 and 203.

TROUBLESHOOTING PERFORMANCE

PROBLEMS

The lists below indicate possible areas to check when

air or sound values do not match expectations. Most fan

problems can be pinpointed to one of these common

causes.

Air Capacity Problems:

1. Resistance of system not at design rating. If resistance

is lower than expected, both airﬂow and horsepower

may be up. If resistance is higher than anticipated, air

volume will be down.

2. Fan speed is not at design speed.

3. Air density not at design values. Also check air

performance measurement techniques/procedures.

4. Devices for air modulation are closed or plugged. Also

check ﬁlters.

5. Wheel mounted improperly or is rotating in reverse.

6. Parts of system or fan have been damaged or need

cleaning.

Noise Problems:

1. Air performance is incorrect and fan is not at design

point of operation. Fan forced to operate in an unstable

ﬂow region.

2. Bearing failure. Check bearings (lubrication).

3. Supply voltage high or inconsistent supply frequency.

Adjustable frequency controllers can generate motor

noise.

4. Objects which are installed in a high velocity airstream

can generate noise. This includes ﬂow sensors, turning

vanes, etc.

5. Poor fan inlet conditions.

6. Acoustics or sound measurement procedure incorrect.

Condition

Fan

Application

Category

Rigidly Mounted

mm/s (in./s)

Flexibly Mounted

mm/s (in./s)

Start-up

BV-3 6.4 (0.25) 8.8 (0.35)

BV-4 4.1 (0.16) 6.4 (0.25)

Alarm

BV-3 10.2 (0.40) 16.5 (0.65)

BV-4 6.4 (0.25) 10.2 (0.40)

Shutdown

BV-3 12.7 (0.50) 17.8 (0.70)

BV-4 10.2 (0.40) 15.2 (0.60)

Figure 8. Vibration Guidelines, unfiltered

Value shown are peak velocity, mm/s (inches/s), Filter out.

Table taken from ANSI/AMCA Standard 204-05, Table 6.3.

AMCA defines BV-3 for applications up to 400 HP; BV-4 for applications

over 400 HP.

Placing fan sheave on motor can overspeed wheel

and cause structural failure.

CAUTION

All fans manufactured by Aerovent are factory

balanced prior to shipment. Installation variables,

handling and movement of the fan during shipment

may cause the rotating assembly to shift. Balance

should be checked once the fan is installed. If a

final trim balance is required, it is the end user's

responsibility to bring the fan back to factory

specifications. Final trim balancing is not the

responsibility of Aerovent. Refer to Figure 8 for

vibration guidelines.

NOTICE

6 Aerovent Installation and Maintenance Manual IM-391

Vibration Problems:

1. Misalignment of drive components.

2. Poor foundations or mounting structure (resonances).

3. Foreign material attached to rotating components.

4. Damaged rotating components (bearings, shaft, fan,

wheel, sheaves).

5. Broken, loose or missing setscrews.

6. Loose bolts.

7. Vibration transmitted by another source.

8. Water accumulating in airfoil blades.

9. Fan is operating in stall or unstable ﬂow region.

Motor Problems:

1. Incorrect wiring.

2. Speed of fan too high.

3. Parts improperly installed - binding.

4. Bearings improperly lubricated.

5. WR2 capability of motor too low for application.

6. Protection devices may be improperly sized.

Drive Problems:

1. Belts improperly tensioned.

2. Drive alignment is poor.

Bearing Problems:

Generally speaking, Aerovent uses three types of bearings:

1. Ball bearing with set screw lock.

2. Spherical roller bearings with set screw lock.

3. Spherical roller bearings with adapter lock/taper lock

feature to attach them to the shaft.

Ball bearings – These are self-aligning bearings and should

present no alignment problems with one exception: i.e.,

on Sealmaster bearings there is a pin beneath the grease

ﬁtting which prevents the bearings outer race from rotating.

Should this pin jam, the bearing loses its alignment feature.

Common failure causes are (1) set screws loosening and

shaft turning within the bearing, and (2) crowned bearing

supports. Loosen one bolt and measure the clearance

between the pillow block and the support. Add shim to

compensate.

Spherical Roller Bearings with Set Screw Lock – The self-

aligning characteristic of these bearings are inherent in the

spherical roller design. The closer that these bearings are

to perfect alignment, the cooler they will operate.

Common failure causes are the same as with ball bearings,

mainly set screws loosening and crowned bearing supports.

Spherical Roller Bearings with Adapter Lock – Again, the

self-aligning feature is inherent in the spherical design.

Good alignment results in a cooler operating bearing. The

faster the bearing operates the more critical this becomes.

A common cause of failure is improper installation practice.

Removing too much clearance from the bearing can result

in preloading the bearing, resulting in premature failure; and

removing not enough can result in the shaft rotating within

the bearing. Properly tightened, this method of attaching a

bearing to a shaft is second only to a press ﬁt. Crowned

bearing supports can also preload these bearings and

should be checked by loosening one side of the bearing

and checking for clearance.

Lubrication – The major cause of bearing failure is

contamination of grease, insufﬁcient grease, or incompatibility

of grease. If a fan is to be stored for any length of time

at the job site, the bearings immediately should be ﬁlled

with grease while rotating the shaft and then the bearings

should be regreased and rotated monthly. This will prevent

moisture, which condenses within the bearing, from

corroding the raceways. Most greases used on fan pillow

blocks are lithium base. Use the greases shown on the

bearing decal. Do not mix the bases without completely

purging out the initial grease.

Initially, follow the lubrication instruction on the side of

the fan. The frequency of lubrication should be adjusted

depending on the condition of the old grease being

purged. This is the responsibility of the user. If the

grease is dirty, the lubrication frequency should be more

often.

a. Noise – If a bearing is increasing in noise intensity

and/or vibration, it will probably result in failure.

b. Temperature – If a bearing temperature begins to

gradually rise, it will generally result in failure. A

bearing can operate up to 200 degrees and operate

satisfactorily if the temperature remains constant and

the bearing receives adequate lubrication. Remember

that a roller bearing under the same load and speed

will be somewhat more noisy and run warmer than a

ball bearing. This is normal.

Rough handling and/or dropping a fan can result in

brinelling the bearing. This appears as a clicking noise at

ﬁrst, then gradually worsens until failure.

When replacing a bearing, always align the bearings ﬁrst,

then bolt the pillow blocks to their support, rotate the

shaft, fasten the bearings to it. If the bearing is fastened

to the shaft ﬁrst, tightening the pillow block bolts may

bind the shaft and preload the bearings.

Aerovent Installation and Maintenance Manual IM-391 7

Figure 10. Safety & Lubrication Instructions for Fans

with Unit Roller Bearings

Figure 9. Safety & Lubrication Instructions for Fans

with Ball Bearings

Figure 11. Safety & Lubrication Instructions for Fans

with Spherical Roller Bearings with Split Pillow

Block Housings

1. This equipment must not be operated without proper guarding

of all moving parts. While performing maintenance be sure

remote power switches are locked off. See installation manual for

recommended safety practices.

2. Before starting: Check all setscrews for tightness and rotate wheel

by hand to make sure it has not moved in transit.

*Suggested lubrication interval under ideal continuous operating

conditions. Remove bearing cap and observe condition of used

grease after lubricating. Adjust lubrication frequency as needed. Use

one-half of listed interval for vertical shaft applications or for 24

hour operation. Hours of operation, temperature and surrounding

conditions will affect the relubrication frequency required. Clean and

repack bearings annually. Remove old grease, pack bearing full and

fill housing reservoir on both sides of bearings to bottom of shaft.

1. Lubricate with a high quality NLGI No. 2 lithium-base grease

having rust inhibitors and antioxidant additives, and a minimum oil

viscosity of 500 SUS at 100°F (38°C). Some greases having these

properties are:

Shell - Gadus S2 V100 2 Exxon - Ronex MP

Mobil - Mobilith SHC100 Mobil - Mobilith SHC220

2. Lubricate bearings prior to extended shutdown or storage and

rotate shaft monthly to aid corrosion protection.

3. Purge or remove old grease when changing lubrication brands or

types.

Static Oil Lubrication

1. Use only high quality mineral oil with a VG grade indicated on the

customer submittal drawing.

2. Static oil level should be at the center of the lower-most roller

(Do not overfill.)

3. Complete lubrication change should be made annually.

WARNING

Relubrication Schedule (Months)*

Spherical Roller Bearing - Split Pillow Blocks

Grease to

be added

at each

interval

Shaft DIA Speed (RPM)

500 750 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000

17⁄16" thru 115⁄16"

(35 – 50) 6 41/24 4 31/221/221/21 1 0.50 oz.

23⁄16" thru 213⁄16"

(55 – 70) 5 41/24 21/221/211/2

1/2

1/4

1/40.75 oz.

215⁄16" thru 315⁄16"

(75 – 100) 41/24 31/221/211/211/22.00 oz.

47⁄16" thru 415⁄16"

(110 – 135) 4 4 21/211/24.00 oz.

57⁄16" thru 615⁄16"

(140 – 180) 4 21/211/27.00 oz.

1. This equipment must not be operated without proper guarding

of all moving parts. While performing maintenance be sure

remote power switches are locked off. See installation manual for

recommended safety practices.

2. Before starting: Check all setscrews for tightness and rotate wheel

by hand to make sure it has not moved in transit.

*Suggested lubrication interval under ideal continuous operating conditions.

Relubricate while running, if safety permits, until some purging occurs

at seals. Adjust lubrication frequency depending on conditions of purged

grease. Use one-half of listed interval for vertical shaft applications or

for 24 hour operation. Hours of operation, temperature and surrounding

conditions will affect the relubrication frequency required.

1. Lubricate with a high quality NLGI No. 2 lithium-base grease having

rust inhibitors and antioxidant additives, and a minimum oil viscosity

of 500 SUS at 100°F (38°C). Some greases having these properties

are:

Shell - Gadus S2 V100 2 Exxon - Ronex MP

Mobil - Mobilith SHC100 Mobil - Mobilith SHC220

2. Lubricate bearings prior to extended shutdown or storage and rotate

shaft monthly to aid corrosion protection.

WARNING

Relubrication Schedule (Months)*

Ball Bearing Pillow Blocks

Shaft DIA Speed (RPM)

500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500

1⁄2" thru 111⁄16"

(13 – 45) 665332221

115⁄16" thru 27⁄16"

(50 – 60) 654221111

211⁄16" thru 215⁄16"

(65 – 75) 5432111

37⁄16" thru 315⁄16"

(80 – 100) 43211