In all of my restoration experience, I can say without a doubt that snail fans reach the air quite a bit farther than axials. The snail fans have a focused bill, while the axials disperse air in all directions. Higher CFM doesn’t always mean better at drying. In commercial application I definitely think the ability to focus air under 2 feet over a greater distance is more commonly necessary than all-over air movement. All axials lose velocity after 5-6 feet.
I think you would need to back your theory up with an anemometer I have done all the tests in Australia on all fans at the skirting at 3, 4,8 meters and also done a lot of testing at the Hydrolab in Indiana and the American Drying Institute.
