Briefly summarized: Cross-Flow Fan
A cross-flow fan, also known as a tangential fan, draws in air tangentially to the drive axis of the impeller and discharges it over a wide surface area. The curved blades of the rotating impeller effectively set the air in motion. These fans are ideal for even distribution of large air volumes, making them perfectly suited for applications such as air curtains and cooling systems.
What is a cross-flow fan?
A cross-flow fan, also referred to as a tangential fan, is a specific type of fan that draws in air or gaseous media tangentially to the impeller’s axis and discharges it tangentially across a wide outlet area. By rotating an impeller with forward-curved blades, the fan sets the air in motion through aerodynamic forces. Cross-flow fans are particularly known for their uniform air distribution across wide outlet surfaces, which makes them especially suitable for generating air curtains.
How is a cross-flow fan constructed?
One of the most distinctive design features of cross-flow fans is the impeller, whose length is a multiple of its diameter. The length can easily be adapted to available space — such as the width of a machine — without affecting airflow characteristics.
In these fans, the motor is not located in the airstream, but on one of the narrow sides of the fan. Air is drawn in tangentially to the axis of rotation and discharged at a 90-degree angle, hence the term tangential fan. In some configurations, 180-degree air discharge is also possible.
This means that a large and very even airflow can be generated even over large areas, making tangential fans ideal for applications such as drying or conditioning sensitive products or for efficient surface cooling of electronic devices and components. In addition, both the motor and the fan itself operate at very low noise levels.
Which ambient conditions are suitable for cross-flow fans?
High-quality cross-flow fans are highly resistant to very low and very high temperatures, and also show excellent durability in aggressive environments — especially when it comes to the drive system. Since the motor is located outside the airstream, it is particularly well protected from corrosive media.
At LTG, this means we offer cross-flow fans suitable for a temperature range from –180 °C to +800 °C. Thanks to high-grade materials and robust construction, these units are designed for high reliability and a long service life.
LTG cross-flow fans – easy to integrate into your system design
LTG cross-flow fans provide effective cooling, heating, or drying across various industries, helping improve the performance and quality of machines and systems. The specialized design allows for space-saving installation and gives designers maximum flexibility in system layout.
There is no need for complex auxiliary air guidance components such as ducts or baffles to optimize air or temperature distribution. This makes it possible to create smaller, more compact, and space-efficient system configurations.
Cross-flow fans in wind simulation
One of the main reasons why cross-flow fans are used as an efficient solution in wind simulation is their ability to produce an uniform airflow without turbulence or fluctuations in air density or velocity, even across large outlet widths. Their consistent airflow enables the precise and reproducible simulation of wind effects on vehicles, sports equipment, clothing, or building façades.
In environmental simulation chambers, it is also possible to examine the impact of precipitation or specific temperatures on the product.
We are happy to offer individual consulting for these applications and help you find the optimal solution for your specific requirements.
Compact design and uniform airflow across large areas
Many production processes require a long, continuous, and highly uniform flow of air or other media across a surface.
Thanks to their specialized design, LTG cross-flow fans meet these demands perfectly.
The robust construction and high-quality materials used in our cross-flow fans ensure a long service life. Their operating principle eliminates the need for additional air-guiding components such as baffles, and their space-saving design makes them particularly suitable for integration in machines and industrial systems.
The airflow principle in cross-flow fans
In a cross-flow fan, air is drawn in along the entire length of the impeller, flows into the interior of the impeller, and is then deflected and accelerated by the air vortex created during the impeller’s rotation.
The air then exits again along the entire impeller length on the pressure side.
The air vortex, formed at the narrowest point between the impeller and vortex generator, separates the suction and pressure sides of the fan and, together with the air guide plate, directs the airflow. This results in a uniform, homogeneous airflow across the full outlet width of the fan. The deflection of the airstream can be designed at either 90° or 180°, depending on the application.
Application areas of cross-flow fans
Cross-flow fans are highly versatile and widely used in industrial processes. Below are selected examples of their applications.
Food industry
In the food and beverage industry, they enable gentle and precise treatment of sensitive products and packaging by distributing broad, uniform airflows. This ensures optimal drying or heating conditions and improves end product quality.
Medical technology
In medical and laboratory technology, cross-flow fans generate wide, uniform airflow patterns, ideal for counterflow heating or drying. This is especially important for processing delicate materials that require stable environmental conditions.
Thermoprocessing/Process Engineering
In thermal processing and process engineering, they ensure consistent airflow in heating and cooling zones, which increases the efficiency of drying processes. Their even air distribution improves product consistency and helps to stabilize the process.
Automotive
In the automotive industry and wind simulation, cross-flow fans create precise and reproducible conditions. They are crucial for emission testing of cars and motorcycles and enable high-speed testing up to 300 km/h, accurately simulating real-drive conditions.
Transport Systems
In transportation technology, cross-flow fans provide long-lasting cooling for power electronics, preventing heat buildup, extending component life, and reducing noise emissions. Their compact design makes them ideal for use in hybrid vehicles and other applications with demanding thermal management requirements.
Lastly, in thermal process and testing systems, cross-flow fans ensure uniform air distribution across multiple levels, which is essential for reproducible material testing under extreme environmental conditions. Their ability to generate even airflow makes them a valuable component in many industrial processes and applications.
Advantages of cross-flow fans
Cross-flow fans offer a wide range of benefits, making them a preferred choice for many applications. They ensure an uniform airflow across wide outlet areas and allow for space-saving installation thanks to their 90° or 180° airflow deflection.
The fan length can be precisely matched to machine width, ensuring consistent flow characteristics even in wider setups. This simplifies design and drawing production, especially in modular systems.
Another key benefit is their optimal performance in any mounting position, with the drive unit available on either the right or left side.
Thanks to the aerodynamically optimized impeller and housing contours, cross-flow fans also operate especially quite.
Their robust construction and out-of-airflow bearing arrangement ensure a long service life.
In addition, explosion-proof versions in accordance with ATEX directives are available, expanding their range of use and ensuring safe operation in critical environments.