Plants and logistic centers are using large-type fans for their internal air circulation. Toyota Tsusho (President: Jun Karube) of major trading company is selling a U.S. made large ceiling fan POWERFOIL X2.0 of which gearbox to adjust air flow is filled with nitrogen. Maintenance has been improved by taking advantage of the inactivating effect of nitrogen gas to keep injected oil from oxidization.

The ceiling fan was developed by Big Ass Fans specializing the production of large fans dating back to 1990s in the United States to solve the problem of decreased milk production due to the stress of dairy cows in hot summer, and it was later commercialized for industrial use. The cross-section structure of the fan having a diameter of 7.9m is designed with the application of original aerodynamics theory. Comparing with the general fan blades of about 1100 revolutions per minute, the ceiling fan is characteristic with only 55 revolutions per minute that can create a large flow of air even at a low-speed turning. In general, ceiling fans for industrial use are loaded with gearboxes having built-in toothed gears to adjust the flow-rate of air. Oil is usually injected for smooth movement of the gears inside and air vents are provided to let heat go out. However, as oxidization of oil worsened the efficiency of gears, it was necessary as an extra work to replace oil periodically and there was a possibility to allow invasion of foreign matters from the air vents to drive heat out which may cause troubles.

To solve the problems Big Ass Fans sought to develop a maintenance-free product by means of filling and sealing inert nitrogen gas into oil-injected gearboxes so that oxidization of the oil and invasion of contaminants could be avoided. As the knowhow as to mixing of oil and nitrogen gas into the gearboxes belongs to Big Ass Fans’ patented technologies, the filling process and quantitative detail have not been disclosed.

A total of 140 thousand POWERFOIL X2.0 ceiling fans have so far been sold in the world and in Japan the recreational facility of “SPA RESORT HAWAIIANS” in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture introduced the ceiling fan for the first time as a large commercial in 2014. At present about 300 units in total have been delivered.

A staff-member of the Import Promotion Group of Global parts told his hope, “We first have to make the fan better known. In future we would like to provide along places for study tour in Tokyo and Osaka in addition to Aichi so that we can appeal to the public.”