iSwirl Pty Ltd is a private company that was established by four individuals who have been working on developing this combined solar and wind roof ventilator for over five years. Many residential homes have installed rooftop ventilators throughout Australia and other parts of the world. The most common of these is the onion-shaped whirlybird. The benefits of rooftop ventilators are well known. Most importantly, they help ensure there is a reduction in heat and moisture build-up in the roof cavity.

Reducing heat in the roof cavity provides a more comfortable and cooler environment in the living or working space below. This results in the use of less air conditioning or fans and thereby reduces energy costs.

A reduction in moisture in the roof cavity leads to less opportunity for mould and mildew to flourish. Mould build-up in roof space is linked to various health problems and is also bad for the roof structure itself, so ventilators extend the roof’s lifespan.

Unfortunately, most conventional rooftop ventilators/whirlybirds are powered and operated only by wind. They require the wind force to rotate wind vanes to ensure air extraction from the roof cavity. Their disadvantage is that they fail to extract air if there is no wind. More recently, several products have been introduced to the market that use a solar-powered motor connected directly to a fan blade that assists in air extraction from the roof. These ventilators have the disadvantage of not working in low-light conditions.

iSwirl has launched a unique and patented product that uses both wind and solar energy to increase the efficiency of the air-extraction process. The iSwirl uses wind force to drive the rotation of wind vanes, like a whirlybird. In addition, it uses solar energy captured via a photovoltaic panel to power a 24v motor connected to a fan blade to extract air at a much greater volume than traditional single-powered ventilators. The solar panel and wind vanes are directly integrated within a moulded head and attached to the roof via a collar.

This combination of solar and wind has the following benefits:

• Optimises utilisation. The ventilator operates on days when there is little or no wind (compared to wind-driven ventilators) and on cloudy, dark days and nights when there is wind but no sun.
• Maximises effectiveness. The unit’s design incorporates a solar-powered motor, fan, and wind vanes, which maximise upward and outward air pressure. This creates a more effective and efficient air extraction system, with each component working harmoniously. Testing has shown the iSwirl to be more than 30 times better than conventional whirlybirds in sunny, light wind conditions.

The iSwirl has the following characteristics:

• It is a standalone unit with no connection to household power.
• The Product is easy to install. Only one tile needs to be removed on a tile roof, while on a metal roof, the swirl sits beneath the rooftop ridge capping.
• The 300mm diameter collar size makes the iSwirl easy to retrofit on many existing residential ventilators.
• The design ensures that it is water resistant.
• The product has a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design and is significantly less obtrusive than other solar or wind products.
• The materials chosen are UV stable. This is critical for the longevity of outdoor rooftop products.
• The brushless motor operates quietly.
• The solar panel has been designed so that it can generate power by maximising the capture of rays of sunlight throughout the day, not just at peak noon sun conditions.
• The variable pitch collar design allows the iSwirl to be installed and energy maximised on different roof angles.

Significant effort has gone into the design and testing of the product so that the following could be achieved:

• The product is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.
• The motor runs quietly, especially on start-up, during on/off conditions in low sunlight.
• The structure housing the motor, fan, and solar panel is robust, so there is no metal fatigue, and it remains stable after prolonged use and in all conditions.
• The product is easy to install.
• The assembly process is clear, consistent, and repeatable.
• The packaging is eco-friendly and will protect the product during shipment.

Throughout the product development, significant effort was expended to ensure that the factories selected for the various components were appropriate and reliable. The design of the unit, along with the individual components, were extensively tested and re-engineered where appropriate. Necessary certifications were obtained, e.g. ISO9000 / RoHS. Testing was completed where an iSwirl was directly compared to a standard ventilator under precise laboratory conditions covering a matrix of weather conditions to ensure it met its objectives.

For information about iSwirl, visit iswirl.com.au