• Zephyr Integrated Drive System
  • Zephyr Install Blog
  • Features and Benefits

With energy typically being the single largest expense for most operators, the patented Zephyr Integrated Drive System™ provides a significant energy savings that can qualify for ESCO financing and utility rebates. This may mean that your entire cooling tower repair or upgrade could be financed entirely from the energy savings! Prime Datum works with Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) that can help to secure energy rebates from utilities and arrange for financing with performance contracts. Never before has energy savings been so significant for cooling towers, repair and upgrades.

For large cooling towers the typical electric cost for the fans can be over $1M per year. The Zephyr was purpose built to improve reliability, lower life cycle cost and has demonstrated 45% energy savings compared to the gearbox fan drive. In contrast, the typical gearbox fan drive life cycle cost is 2% First Cost, 18% Service and Maintenance, and 80% Energy Cost.

The gearbox fan drive, which was not designed for cooling tower duty, provides an attractive first cost but a high cost of ownership. Profitable operations will focus on life cycle cost that eliminates recurring expenses such as service and maintenance and high energy costs rather than low first cost.

With increasing energy costs and new EPA regulations, variable speed fans will soon be mandatory for all cooling towers. EPA regulations are resulting in dramatic changes to the energy industry. Many power generation companies are already advertising higher electrical rates as coal generation is being retired. In addition, energy demand is expected to double over the next twenty years per the EIA. More sophisticated systems like the Zephyr Integrated Drive System will be required to meet these new EPA regulations and to manage energy costs in order to maintain profitability.

The Zephyr provides a typical ROI of 30 months and frees up millions of dollars in cash flow compared to the gearbox fan drive. The Zephyr’s lucrative utility rebates and energy savings combined with improved reliability and the elimination of gearbox service and maintenance provide new profits from new technology.

For additional information or to schedule a “Cooling Tower Modernization” Lunch and Learn please call 585.554.6607.

The Zephyr is proudly made in the USA.

The Zephyr Integrated Drive System is protected under one or more US and international patents and pending patents.

Go back to the Features and Benefits launch page.