Fan Selection Basics

Fan Selection Basics

Centrifugal Fan Selection
Fan Laws
Specific Speed
Multiple Fan Arrangements
Fan Features and Considerations

Fan Selection Basics

Centrifugal Fan Selection

Centrifugal Fan

Air Enters the Impeller Axially,

iiiThen Passes Through the
iiiImpeller Radially

The Blades Drag the Air in a

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iiiCircular Motion and

Centrifugal iiiForces Accelerate
the Airflow iiiRadially Outward

The Airflow is Then Collected

in iiiThe Volute Casing and
iiiDischarged at Right Angles to
iiithe Inlet Flow

Fan Selection Basics

Centrifugal Fan Selection

Motion of Air

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The Increase of Centrifugal

iiiForce With Radius Produces
a iiiPressure Gradient, Whereby
the iiiStatic Pressure in the
Blade iiiIncreases With Radius

The Blades Drag the Air in a

iiiCircular Motion and

Centrifugal iiiForces Accelerate
the Airflow iiiRadially Outward

Fan Selection Basics

Centrifugal Fan Selection

Motion of Impeller

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The Motion of the Rotating

iiiBlades Adds Rotational
iiiMomentum to the Flow,
iiiIncreasing the Velocity of Flow
iiiin the Tangential Direction

As the Air Moves Radially

iiiThrough the Impeller, the
iiiAbsolute Velocity of the Flow
iiiWill Increase, With the
Absolute iiiMaximum Velocity at
the iiiImpeller Outlet
The Increase in the Absolute

iiiVelocity of the Air Leads to an

iiiIncrease in the Kinetic Energy
iiiand Dynamic Pressure Across
iiithe Impeller
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Fan Selection Basics

Centrifugal Fan Selection

Air Flow Through The

Casing

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A Proportion of the Dynamic

iiiPressure From the Air Leaving
iiithe Impeller is Transferred
Into iiiMore Useful Static
Pressure

The Fan Casing is Usually

iiiVolute Shaped, Allowing
iiiDiffusion of the Air Leaving
the iiiImpeller to Take Place

Fan Selection Basics

Fan Laws

The Fan Laws

It is not practical to test every fan at every variable which may be
encountered. Fortunately, by use of a series of equations,
commonly referred to as the Fan Laws it is possible to predict
with good accuracy the performance of a fan at other variables.
The variables include :
Fan Size D
Fan Speed N
Fan Air Density - Fan Flow Rate Fan Total Pressure Fan Velocity Pressure
Fan Static Pressure
Fan Input Power
Fan Total Efficiency
Fan Static Efficiency
Compressibility Coefficient
Sound Power Level 7

Fan Selection Basics

Fan Laws - Volume

Fan Selection Basics

Fan Laws - Pressure

Fan Selection Basics

Fan Laws - Power

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Fan Selection Basics

Fan Laws - Summary

Fan Law Summary

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Fan Selection Basics

Fan Laws - Example

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Fan Selection Basics

Fan Laws - Example

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Fan Selection Basics

Specific Speed

Fan Specific Speed

The Ability of a Fan To Generate
iiiPressure and Flow With
Impeller iiiSpeed. It is the Speed
at Which a iiiFan of Indeterminate
Diameter iiiWill Run at to Produce
Unit Flow iiiat Unit Pressure

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Low Specific Speed

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High Specific Speed

Low Specific Speed Fans

iiiProduce High Pressures at Low
iiiFlow Volume
High Specific Speed Fans
iiiProduce Lower Pressures at
High iiiFlow Volumes
Specific Speed is Proportional to
iiiImpeller Inlet Diameter and
iiiImpeller Width for a Given
(Fixed) iiiWheel Diameter
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Fan Selection Basics

Impeller Styles and Specific Speed

Impeller Ranges
Abridged Fan Range
(with lines of constant specific speed plotted)
9
I Metre dia. fans
1910 rpm
1 kg/m3

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Ns=750

Ns=1500

Ns = N * V 1/2
P 3/4

Ns=2000

Ns=3000

P re ssu re k P a

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Ns=5000

Ns=7500

0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Volume m3/s

Radial Impeller
Curved plate blades

Radial Impeller
Curved plate blades

Radial Impeller
Airfoil blades

Axial Impellers, various hub sizes

Airfoil blades
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Fan Selection Basics

Multiple Fan Arrangements

Multiple Fan Arrangements

Fans in Series
Fans in Parallel
Start Up in Series or Parrallel

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Fan Selection Basics

Multiple Fan Arrangements

Fans in Series

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Fan Selection Basics

Multiple Fan Arrangements

Fans in Parallel

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Fan Selection Basis

Multiple Fan Arrangements

Start Up for Fans in Series

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Fan Selection Basics

Multiple Fan Arrangements

Start Up for Fans in

Parallel

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Fan Selection Basics

Fan Features and Considerations

Fan Features and

Considerations

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Fan Selection Basics

Fan Features and Considerations

Fan Features and

Considerations

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