FANS AND BLOWERS

CHAPTER 5
ME LAB 2

JONNAH MAE AL-AG

MAYLYN TABUGOC
FANS
Fans and blowers provide air for ventilation and
industrial process requirements.
Fans generate a pressure to move air (or gases)
against a resistance caused by ducts, dampers, or
other components in a fan system.
Large capacity fan units typically consist of a bladed
rotating impeller enclosed in a stationary casing.
The rotor system causes the motion of the air/gas and
the casing directs the air flow.
The fan rotor receives energy from a rotating shaft and
transmits it to the air.
FAN TYPES:
Centrifugal Fan

Axial Fan
CENTRIFUGAL FAN
Used a rotating impeller to move the air stream.
Airflow changes direction twice - once when entering
and second when leaving .
Rotating impeller increases air velocity.
Air speed is converted to pressure.
This fans produces High Pressure which ranges from 550
mmwc to 1400 mmwc.
Efficiency varies from 60-83 %.
Used for Dirty air stream condition and material
handling application.
APPLICATIONS:

Because of the high pressure they create,

centrifugal fans are ideal for high pressure
applications such as drying and air
conditioning systems. As all of their moving
parts are enclosed and they also have
particulate reduction properties that makes
them ideal for use in air pollution and
filtration systems.
Categorized by blade shapes:

Radial

Forward curved

Backward inclined
1.Radial Blade Fan
Characteristics:
A fan with flat blades
Usually contain 6 to 16 impeller blades.
High static pressures up to 1400 mm WC
Low/medium airflow rates only.
Efficiency ranges from 69% - 75%.
Simple in Design.
Have large running clearance
Applications:

Suitable for handling heavily contaminated

airstreams like dust laden, saw dust etc .
These are widely used in corrosive and high-
temperature environments.
2.Forward curved Blade Fan

Characteristics:
Have forward-curved blades.
Usually contain 24 to 64 impeller blades.
Produces low pressure up to 5 in-wg
Efficiency ranges from 60% - 65%.
Lighter in construction and less expensive
Provide a low noise level and relatively small air
flow with a high increase in static pressure.
Applications:

Suitable for clean air environment as, blades

easily accumulated dirt
Well suited for low pressure HVAC such as
packaged air conditioning equipment
Not constructed for high pressures or harsh
service.
3.Backward Curved Blade Fan
Characteristics:
With blades that tilt away from the direction of
rotation: flat, curved, and airfoil
Usually contain 6 to 16 impeller blades.
Produces high pressure (40 in wg) with high
flow rates.
More efficient than forward curved blade
efficiency ranges from 79% - 83%.
High maintenance cost.
Applications:

Only recommended for clean air stream

containing no condensable fumes or vapours
A common application is forced-draft .
Axial Fans
Move the air stream along the axis of the fan.
Air is pressurized by blades which creating
aerodynamic lift.
Typically provide large air volumes at relatively
low pressure ranges from 250mmwc to
500mmwc.
Efficiency varies from 45% - 85%.
Popular with industry as compact, low cost and
light weight.
Axial fans are frequently used in exhaust
applications where airborne particulate size is
small, such as dust streams, smoke, and steam.
APPLICATIONS:

Because of the low-pressure high-volume

airflows they create, axial fans are best suited
for general purpose applications. For
example, they excel at moving air from one
place to another, cooling confined spaces
such as computers, and cooling larger spaces
such as work spaces.
Categories:
Propeller Axial Fan

Tube Axial Fan

Vane Axial Fan

1.Propeller Axial Fan
Characteristics:

Have two or more blades that generate very

high airflow volumes
Produces low static pressure (20-50)mmwc
Very low efficiencies of approximately 50 % .
Light weight and inexpensive.
Noise levels are higher than tube axial and
vane axial fan.
Applications:

Air circulation within a space or ventilation

through a wall without attached ductwork.
Ideally used for make up or replacement air
supply.
2.Tube Axial Fans
Characteristics:
A Propeller fan placed inside a cylinder.
Tube axial fans have a wheel inside a cylindrical
housing which improves the air flow efficiency.
Numbers of blades range from 4 to 8 .
Capable of developing a more useful static
pressure range(250-400 mmWC ).
Efficient up to 65 %.

Applications:

Frequently used in exhaust applications.

Also used in some industrial applications
such as drying ovens, paint spray.
3.Vane Axial Fans
Characteristics:

Vane-axial fans are similar to tube-axial fans

with guide vanes that improves efficiency by
directing the flow.
Typically have 5 to 20 aerofoil type blades
with a large hub diameter.
Such fans generally used for pressure (up
to 500 mmwc).
They can achieve efficiencies up to 85%.
Applications:

Typically used in high-pressure applications,

such as induced draft service for a boiler
exhaust.
FAN LAWS
FAN CURVES
Fan characteristics can be represented in form of fan
curve(s).
Includes fan volume, system static pressure, fan speed,
and brake horsepower .
The fan curve is a performance curve for the particular
fan under a specific set of conditions.
The fan curve is a graphical representation of a number
of inter- related parameters.
Fan curves are use to define the operating point
Understanding this relationship is essential to designing,
operating a fan system and it is the key for optimum
selection of fan.
It consist of three curves:

1. SP vs Air Flow rate.

2. BHP vs Air Flow rate.
3. Static efficiency vs Air Flow rate.
FUNCTIONS OF FANS IN A POWER PLANT
Supply air for complete combustion of the fuel in the
furnace.
For evacuation of the gaseous combustion products
continuously from the boiler furnace.
To create Draft for required flow of air or combustion gas
Supply air for cooling of equipments working in hot
zones.
Supply air for sealing of gates , feeder and mills bearing .
Circulate the gases for better heat transfer.
TYPES OF POWER PLANT FANS

There are three main types of Fans used in

Power Plant which are:

1. Forced Draft Fans

2. Primary Air Fans
3. Induced Draft Fans
FORCE DRAFT FANS
They installed at inlet to the air preheater.
Forced Draft Fans (FD) supply the air necessary for fuel
combustion by pushing the air through combustion air
supply system and into the furnace.
Forced Draft fan produces pressure up to 510 mmwc at
volume flow rates 20 to100 m3/s and operates against
temperature 25 to 50C for 200 MW plant.
These fans are typically the most efficient fans in the power
plant because they have the cleanest operating environment.
For good reliability, 2 FD fan operating in parallel are used.
Centrifugal Fans with Backward curved blades are normally
used.
PRIMARY AIR FANS
Supply high pressure primary air through APH needed
to dry & transport coal directly from the pulveriser to
the furnace.

PA fan operate at temperature up to 70 C and

produces pressure up to 1187mmwc at 75 m3/s
volume flow rate for 200MW plant

Power requirement of PA fan is higher.

Centrifugal fan with backward curved blades are used.

 INDUCED DRAFT FANS
Sucks the combustion gases out of the furnace and discharge them
into the stack .

Handles large volume hot dust/ash laden flue gases which are exhaust
from furnace.

High power requirement than FD fan ,it require 1100 KW motor for
200MW plant .

Induced-draft fans produces volume flow rate up to 225 m3/s at inlet

temperatures between 130 and 150C and pressure ranges from 356
mmwc for 200MW plant.

Centrifugal fan with Radial blades are used.

REPAIR OF FANS
Inspection

Visual inspection
Alignment check
Checks of belts and couplings
Measurement of axial clearances
Disassembly plus visual inspection of parts
Dimensional measurements
EXECUTION OF WORKS
Cleaning & steaming
Sandblasting
Preparation of technical drawings for machining by
in-house engineering team
Machining of parts (bearing housings, rotors, )
Balancing of rotating parts
Coating of rotating parts
Assembly
Coating of exterior
Alignment (in case of motor-fan combination)
BLOWERS
Blowers can achieve much higher
pressures than fans, as high as 1.20
Kg/cm2.
The impeller is typically gear-driven and
rotates as fast as 15,000 rpm.
They are also used to produce negative
pressures for industrial vacuum systems.
TYPES OF BLOWERS
Centrifugal blower

Positive displacement
CENTRIFUGAL BLOWERS
Typically operate against pressures of 0.35
to 0.70 Kg/cm2.
They are most often used in applications
that are not prone to clogging .
Gear-driven impeller that accelerates air
Single and multi-stage blowers
Airflow drops if system pressure rises
POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT BLOWERS

They are especially suitable for applications

prone to clogging, since they can produce
enough pressure up to 1.25 Kg/cm2 - to blow
clogged materials free.
Rotors trap air and push it through housing
Constant air volume regardless of system
pressure
Turn slower than centrifugal blowers
Belt-driven for speed changes
COMPARISON BETWEEN FANS AND BLOWERS
FANS BLOWERS

A blower circulates the air

A fan circulates air around an
DEFINITION only on the specific or
entire room, or space. pointed area.

It is uses less pressure to It is uses high pressure to

PRESSURE produce large amounts of produce large amounts of
gas. gas.

The ratio of pressure is The ratio of pressure is from

PRESSURE RATIO below 1.1. 1.1 to 1.2.

It provides air in the It provides air in a specific

AIR AREA complete area. location or point.
As per American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME) the specific ratio the ratio of the
discharge pressure to the suction pressure is used
for defining the fans and blowers.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
OPPORTUNITIES
1. Choose the right fan
2. Reduce the system resistance
3. Operate close to BEP
4. Maintain fans regularly
5. Control the fan air flow
1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT FAN
Considerations for fan selection
Noise
Rotational speed
Air stream characteristics
Temperature range
Variations in operating conditions
Space constraints and system layout
Purchase/operating costs and operating life

Systems approach most important!

Avoid buying oversized fans
Do not operate at Best Efficiency Point
Risk of unstable operation
Excess flow energy
High airflow noise
Stress on fan and system
2. REDUCE THE SYSTEM RESISTANCE

Increased system resistance

reduces fan efficiency
Check periodically
Check after system modifications
Reduce where possible
3. OPERATE CLOSE TO BEP

Best Efficiency Point = maximum

efficiency
Normally close to rated fan capacity
Deviation from BEP results in
inefficiency and energy loss
4. MAINTAIN FANS REGULARLY

Periodic inspection of all system

components
Bearing lubrication and replacement
Belt tightening and replacement
Motor repair or replacement
Fan cleaning
5. CONTROL THE FAN AIRFLOW
Pulley change
Dampers
Inlet guide vanes
Variable pitch fans
Variable speed drives (VSD)
Multiple speed drive
Disc throttle
Operating fans in parallel
Operating fans in series
KAMSAHAMNIDA