Damper Characteristics

Durability

• Dampers must operate under many conditions. While dampers sometimes operate in dry conditions, they must also operate in areas with a lot of cold, heat and flue gas. Also, scrubber chemicals damage the damper. Dampers must have a durability that allows them to survive a great deal of wear and tear. Some dampers can warp in a way that does not cause problems unless the warping causes leakage or jamming. The damper can protect ductwork from very harsh environmental conditions. Builders often place these dampeners in concentrated locations where they protect the ductwork from the corrosive gases sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride.

Linearity

• Some dampers are non-linear, meaning that the airflow per volt varies from time to time. These non-linear dampers jam more and lack energy efficiency. The linear dampers also provide a very consistent amount of air.

Compatibility

• Regardless of the type of damper used, the damper must effectively shut off and control the flow of gases in the ventilation system. Builders must use dampers that are both compatible with the ventilation system and capable of withstanding the environmental conditions that the damper experiences.

Airflow Control

• Ventilation systems rely on louver dampers to control the airflow. Louver dampers use parallel-mounted blades and centrally-pivoted shafts. Weak electric motors can power the louver damper. Louver dampers generally do not leak, though they can leak if the engineer did not design them for the temperature in the duct or if the louver damper has too many blades. Some louver dampers have two rows of blades, and some louver dampers form seal air barriers.

Equipment Isolation

• The guillotine damper is the damper that isolates a particular piece of equipment, thus allowing for the inspection of that equipment. A drive moves a blade, creating and closing off an opening. The blades must tightly seal away all gases more effectively than with the louver damper. When the only reason for a damper is for the complete shutoff of the airflow, instead of the management of airflow, engineers often use dampers. However, this damper requires a large support structure, which can take up space.

Diverter Dampers

• Diverter dampers move gas from one outlet to another. These dampers can survive the highest temperatures of all dampers and require the least amount of maintenance. The builder places the blades as far away from the source of heat as possible.