Precise determination of air-flow and required outlet pressure are most important in proper selection of fan type and size. The air-flow required depends on the process requirements; normally determined from heat transfer rates, or combustion air or flue gas quantity to be handled. System pressure requirement is usually more difficult to compute or predict. Detailed analysis should be carried out to determine pressure drop across the length, bends, contractions and expansions in the ducting system, pressure drop across filters, drop in branch lines, etc. These pressure drops should be added to any fixed pressure required by the process (in the case of ventilation fans there is no fixed pressure requirement). Frequently, a very conservative approach is adopted allocating large safety margins, resulting in over-sized fans which operate at flow rates much below their design values and, consequently, at very poor efficiency.
Once the system flow and pressure requirements are determined, the fan and impeller type are then selected. For best results, values should be obtained from the manufacturer for specific fans and impellers.
The choice of fan type for a given application depends on the magnitudes of required flow and static pressure. For a given fan type, the selection of the appropriate impeller depends additionally on rotational speed. Speed of operation varies with the application.High speed small units are generally more economical because of their higher hydraulic efficiency and relatively low cost.However, at low pressure ratios, large, low-speed units are preferable.Fan Performance and Efficiency Typical static pressures and power requirements for different types of fans are given in the Figure 1.1.
In the case of centrifugal fans, the hub-to-tip ratios (ratio of inner-toouter impeller diameter) the tip angles (angle at which forward or backward curved blades are curved at the blade tip – at the base the blades are always oriented in the direction of flow), and the blade width determine the pressure developed by the fan.Forward curved fans have large hub-to-tip ratios compared to backward curved fans and produce lower pressure. Radial fans can be made with different heel-to-tip ratios to produce different pressures.
At both design and off-design points, backward-curved fans provide the most stable operation. Also, the power required by most backward –curved fans will decrease at flow higher than design values. A similar effect can be obtained by using inlet guide vanes instead of replacing the impeller with different tip angles. Radial fans are simple in construction and are preferable for high-pressure applications.
Forward curved fans, however, are less efficient than backward curved fans and power rises continuously with flow. Thus, they are generally more expensive to operate despite their lower first cost.
Among centrifugal fan designs, aerofoil designs provide the highest efficiency (up to 10% higher than backward curved blades), but their use is limited to clean, dust-free air. Axial-flow fans produce lower pressure than centrifugal fans, and exhibit a dip in pressure before reaching the peak pressure point. Axial-flow fans equipped with adjustable / variable pitch blades are also available to meet varying flow requirements.
Propeller-type fans are capable of high-flow rates at low pressures. Tube-axial fans have medium pressure, high flow capability and are not equipped with guide vanes.
Vane-axial fans are equipped with inlet or outlet guide vanes, and are characterized by high pressure, medium flow-rate capabilities.
Performance is also dependant on the fan enclosure and duct design. Spiral housing designs with inducers, diffusers are more efficient as compared to square housings. Density of inlet air is another important consideration, since it affects both volume flow-rate and capacity of the fan to develop pressure. Inlet and outlet conditions (whirl and turbulence created by grills, dampers, etc.) can significantly alter fan performance curves from that provided by the manufacturer (which are developed under controlled conditions).Bends and elbows in the inlet or outlet ducting can change the velocity of air, thereby changing fan characteristics (the pressure drop in these elements is attributed to the system resistance). All these factors, termed as System Effect Factors, should, therefore, be carefully evaluated during fan selection since they would modify the fan performance curve. Centrifugal fans are suitable for low to moderate flow at high pressures, while axial-flow fans are suitable for low to high flows at low pressures.
Centrifugal fans are generally more expensive than axial fans. Fan prices vary widely based on the impeller type and the mounting (direct-or-belt-coupled, wall-or-duct-mounted). Among centrifugal fans, aerofoil and backward-curved blade designs tend to be somewhat more expensive than forward-curved blade designs and will typically provide more favourable economics on a lifecycle basis. Reliable cost comparisons are difficult since costs vary with a number of application-specific factors.A careful technical and economic evaluation of available options is important in identifying the fan that will minimize lifecycle costs in any specific application.
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