Hot gas changes the rules for a fan. Above roughly 500 °C, steel loses much of its strength, parts expand considerably and heat travels along the shaft towards the bearings and motor. A fan built for ordinary air does not last long in such conditions. DCS Cleantech designs and builds fans for hot processes – from thermal energy storage to furnaces and flue gas systems.
Where hot-gas fans are needed
- Thermal energy storage and power-to-heat plants
- Industrial furnaces and dryers
- Flue gas recirculation and hot-gas circulation
- Crematorium flue gas systems, where the fan must withstand very hot gas, for example during bypass operation
- Process heating and heat recovery
What makes a hot-gas fan different
- Heat-resistant materials. Parts in contact with the gas are made of heat-resistant steels chosen for the temperature and the gas.
- Room to expand. Casing, impeller and connections are designed so that thermal expansion does not cause stresses, rubbing or leaks.
- Bearings and motor kept cool. The design limits heat flow from the hot gas to the bearings and motor, and bearing temperatures can be monitored.
- Designed for the peaks. Start-ups, shutdowns and abnormal situations such as bypass operation often set the real requirements – not average operation.
- The whole chain. Flexible connectors, seals and insulation must withstand the same temperatures as the fan itself.
Reference: Polar Night Energy, Pornainen
DCS supplied hot-gas fans for the sand battery that Polar Night Energy built in Pornainen, Finland. Commissioned in 2025, the 1 MW / 100 MWh thermal energy storage was the world's largest sand battery at the time and serves as the main heat source of the local district heating network, cutting the network's emissions by nearly 70 %. In addition to the fans, DCS has supported the plant with commissioning, spare parts and fan maintenance.
From design to service
We design and manufacture hot-gas fans at our own workshop in Voikkaa and support them throughout their service life, from commissioning to spare parts and maintenance. Send us your process data and we will propose a fan that withstands the real operating conditions – including the peaks. More about our fans: Premium fans.
DCS Cleantech Oy
sales@dcs.fi · +358 44 730 8110