The further development was presented at Chillventa in Nuremberg, the world's leading trade fair for refrigeration technology. Klett emphasizes that the improvements had really earned the right to be called a “new development” as the modifications are of a fundamental nature. The experts have once again put their faith in models drawn from the natural world and incorporated a number of biomimetic aspects into the technical design.
“We are reducing noise by up to four dB(A),” emphasizes CEO Klett. For comparison: six dB(A) represents a doubling of the noise. This is achieved with the help of a further development of the familiar biomimetic fan blade with a serrated trailing edge. This element was learned from the extremely quiet flight of the owl and incorporated into the technical design. What is new is that the leading edge now also has a slightly rippled design. “We used marine creatures as a model for this”, explains Klett. This rippled leading edge alters the detachment of the airflow from the rotor blade: the air is moved for longer in a controlled manner.
The previously standard guide vane for the more targeted handling of the airflow (keyword throw distance) has been fine-tuned: the smaller guide vane now has 18 struts instead of the usual 11. And the spacer ring has been biomimetically enhanced, i.e. it was also rippled at the trailing edge. “This is directly reflected in the decrease in the noise level,” emphasizes Klett.
Technicians will be amazed at the installation dimensions: the outside dimensions remain standard (1070 millimetres) but the inner diameter is increased from 910 to 960 millimetres. One more modification: The rotor and blades, which were previously manufactured out of solid aluminium, will now be replaced by an aluminium rotor and blades made of a high-strength composite material. Readings taken from a first customer device have shown energy savings of nine percent, according to Ziehl-Abegg.
Mass production will commence next summer. The supply of ZAplus 960 Next Generation samples to customers is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2023. Other sizes of ZAplus Next Generation will follow.
About Ziehl-Abegg
Ziehl-Abegg (Künzelsau, Germany) is one of the leading global companies in the field of ventilation, control and drive technology. In the 1950s, Ziehl-Abegg established the basis for modern fan drives: external rotor motors which even today are still seen as state-of-the-art worldwide. Another area of business is electric motors which provide the power, for example, for elevators, medical applications (computer tomography equipment) or deep-sea underwater vehicles. The theme of electro-mobility for motor vehicles was established as part of the Ziehl-Abegg Automotive Team in 2012.
The high-tech company has an impressive innovative capability. Ziehl-Abegg employs 2,600 personnel in its production plants in southern Germany. The company has a global workforce of 4,700 spread between 16 production plants, 29 companies and 112 sales locations. The products, approx. 30,000 in all, are sold in more than 100 countries. Turnover totals 716 million euros, with exports accounting for three quarters of the figure, (all numbers refer to the year 2021).
Emil Ziehl founded the company in Berlin in 1910 as a manufacturer of electric motors. After World War II the company’s headquarters were relocated to southern Germany. Ziehl-Abegg SE is not a listed company but instead is family-owned.
For more information go to www.ziehl-abegg.com
