The earliest ceiling fan used was in the 1860s. These fans used running water in combination with a turbine to propel an arrangement of belts instead of an electric motor used in modern fans. The electrically driven ceiling fan was invented in the year 1882 by Phillip Diehl. This fan, known as “The Diehl Electric Fan”, functioned like the common modern ceiling fans; these fans worked with the help of the motor units, thus eliminating the necessity of the huge belt systems.
Diehl Electrolier
Diehl continued making developments to his creation. One such development was the “Diehl Electrolier” which came with lights attached to the fan that met the lighting requirements as well. Most of the ceiling fans came with four blades by the end of the First World War instead of the original two blades.
Types of Ceiling Fans
Take a stroll into the ceiling fan division of any home appliances store and you will be startled to see the types of ceiling fans available in different styles and sizes. Ceiling fans are available with 3, 4 or 5 blades. These blades also differ in size depending on the size of the rooms. The minimum width of the available fans is 24 inches and varies up to the maximum width of 70 inches. Most fans have lights also fixed to it, some are of the basic model and others are fancy. You can easily find a ceiling fan to meet your requirements.
How Does a Fan Work?
The fan is fixed to a wire connection that runs through the ceiling and is controlled by a switch on the wall. Fans can also be controlled by a remote control by installing a remote box into the wiring. When the fan is switched on, the produced electricity turns the motor which in turn propels the blades. A switch besides the motor casing facilitates to change the blade’s direction. A pull chain hanging from the motor case allows regulating the fan speed.
What the Fan Does
The fan does not change the room temperature like AC’s or heaters. It just circulates the air, which makes you feel cooler or warmer. As the rising hot air ascends the ceiling, room starts getting warmer; when the fan is switched on, the hot air towards the ceiling is forced in the opposite direction causing more hot air to rise. This air circulation gives rise to a breeze, hence making the room cooler. When the direction of the blades is changed, the hot air is pulled up and hence room gets warmer. Irrespective of the climate conditions, ceiling fan makes one feel comfortable.
Applications and Practical Uses of Ceiling Fans
In contrast to air conditioners, fans do not change the room temperature directly; they only circulate the air. So, ceiling fans with an option to reverse the direction of rotation of the blades can facilitate heating or cooling of the room depending on the requirement.
During summer, setting the blade’s direction of rotation in a way such that air blows down would speed up the fading of perspiration on the skin; thus the cooling mechanism of the body is also more effective.
During winter, the rotation of blades should be set in opposite direction so that air is pulled upwards. This way, colder air near the floor is pulled up and warmer air near the ceiling is pushed down.
Thus, ceiling fans with the facility of changing the direction of rotation of the blades prove to be effective and useful throughout the year.