When people point at a huge spinning unit on a factory ceiling or at the portal of a mine and ask, “What are those giant fans called?”, they are usually looking at a specialised type of industrial ventilation fan. The exact name depends on the setting. In warehouses and logistics centres, these units are often called HVLS fans (high-volume, low-speed fans) or large industrial ceiling fans. In tunnels and underground mines, very large fans at the surface or on shafts are generally called main fans or main mine ventilation fans. All of them are designed to move a huge volume of air, not just to create a small breeze.
In big buildings such as distribution centres, aircraft hangars and manufacturing halls, giant ceiling-mounted units are typically HVLS axial fans. These fans have diameters that can exceed several metres, with long blades attached to a central hub. They rotate slowly but move enormous quantities of air, gently circulating it throughout the space. The goal is to even out temperature, reduce hot and cold spots, support heating and cooling systems and improve comfort with relatively low energy consumption.
In underground mining and tunnel applications, the “giant fans” you see at portals or shaft collars are usually large axial or centrifugal main fans. These machines are responsible for pulling fresh air into the mine and driving exhaust air out through dedicated airways. Depending on the design, they may be called main axial fans, main centrifugal fans, mine exhaust fans or simply main ventilation fans. Their duties include supplying oxygen, diluting gases and dust, removing heat and providing a safe environment for workers and equipment.
There are also giant fans associated with cooling towers and power plants. These are large axial fans mounted at the top of cooling towers, often simply called cooling tower fans. From a distance, the openings at the top of the tower are visible, and when the unit is not running you can see the fan blades inside. Their job is to draw air through the tower fill to cool circulating water.
In general industry you may hear more generic phrases such as large industrial axial fan, giant warehouse fan or large exhaust fan. Brand names are sometimes used in casual speech, but in technical documents engineers usually describe them by type and duty: HVLS fan, tunnel jet fan, main axial ventilation fan and so on. This naming helps distinguish fans used for bulk building ventilation from those used for mine main ventilation or process cooling.
In summary, those giant fans are typically referred to as HVLS fans or large industrial axial fans in warehouses and factories, and as main mine fans or tunnel ventilation fans in underground and tunnel projects. The exact term reflects both the fan design and its role in the ventilation system.
