FAN:

The basic purpose of a fan is to

move a mass of gas or vapour at
the desired velocity.

Develop pressure in a few MM of

W.G.

Ceiling, Table and Ventilation fans

are axial fan.

Blower:It is also referred to as a fan.

Delivers the gas or air with an appreciable rise
in pressure.
Develop pressures of the ordered of 1000 mm
of W.G.
Forced and induced draft fans terms as blowers.
Blowers can achieve much higher pressures than
fans, as high as 1.20 kg/cm2.
They are also used to produce negative pressures
for industrial vacuum systems.
Major types are:
(1)Centrifugal blower
(2) Positive-displacement
blower.

Compressor: It is a mechanical equipment which takes

air from atmosphere and increases its
pressure by reducing its volume, the high
pressure air is then stored in receiver for
various uses.
The energy stored in compressed air in
form of pressure is utilized to do work in
equipment and instruments in a industry.
It develops to high pressures.
Pressure expressed in pressure ratio.

Specific ratio:The ratio of the discharge pressure over the

suction pressure

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FANS, BLOWER

AND COMPRESSOR

Equipment

Fans
Blowers
Compressors

Specific
Ratio
Up to 1.11
1.11 to 1.20
more than
1.20

Pressure
rise
(mmWg)
1136
1136 2066
-

Fan Application:

Thermal power Plant.

Cooling Tower.
Cooling of motors & Generators.
Air Circulation & Ventilation.
Steel Plants.

Types of Fan1.Axial Flow Fan:Axial flow, in which the air flows axially
through the impeller.
(a) Propeller Fan.
(b) Tube axial Fan.
(c) Vane axial Fan.
2. Centrifugal Fan:-Centrifugal, in which the air flows radially
through the impeller.
-Centrifugal fans
are classified according to wheel blading,
(a) Forward curved (b) Backward curved
(c) Radial (straight).

Propeller Fan
Propeller fans usually run at low speeds and
moderate temperatures.
They experience a large change in airflow
with small changes in static pressure.
They handle large volumes of air at low
pressure or free delivery.
Propeller fans are often used indoors as
exhaust fans.
Outdoor applications include air-cooled
condensers and cooling towers.
Efficiency is low approximately 50% or
less.

Propeller Fan

Tube axial Fan

Tube axial fans have a wheel inside a
cylindrical housing, with close clearance
between blade and housing to improve
airflow efficiency.
The wheel turn faster than propeller fans,
enabling operation under high-pressures
250 400 mm WC.
The efficiency is up to 65%.

Tube Axial fan (Fans without guide

vanes)

Tube Axial fan

Vane axial Fan.

Vane axial fans are similar to tube axial, but with
addition of guide vanes that improve efficiency by
directing and straightening the flow.
As a result, they have a higher static pressure
with less dependence on the duct static pressure.
Such fans are used generally for pressures up to
500 mm WC.
Vane axial are typically the most energy-efficient
fans available and should be used whenever
possible.

Vane Axial (Fans with guide vanes)

(a) Fans with upstream guide vanes

(b) Fans with down stream guide vanes

Vane axial fan

Vane Axial (Fans with guide

vanes)
c) Fans with upstream and down stream
guide vanes.

Performance of Axial fans:-

Centrifugal Fans
A centrifugal fan (also squirrel-cage fan) is
a mechanical device for moving air or
gases.ga
ses
It has a fan wheel composed of a number of
blades or ribs mounted around a hub.
The gas enters from the side of the fan
wheel turns 90 degrees and accelerates due
to centrifugal force as it flows over the fan
blades and exits the fan housing.[1]

Centrifugal Fan

Centrifugal Fans:-

Main components of a
centrifugal blower

Centrifugal impeller with

double entry

Types of Centrifugal Fans:(a) Forward Curved Blades.

(b) Backward Curved Blades.
(c) Radial Blades.

Forward Curved Blades

Use blades that curve in the direction of
the fan wheel's rotation.
These are
particulates.

especially

sensitive

to

Forward-curved blades are for high flow,

low pressure applications.

Backward Curved Blades

Backward-inclined fans
are more efficient
than forward-curved fans.
Backward-inclined fans reach their peak power
consumption and then power demand drops off
well within their useable airflow range.
Backward-inclined fans are known as "nonoverloading" because changes in static pressure do
not overload the motor.
Backward curved fans can have a high range of
specific speeds but are most often used for
medium specific speed applications-- high
pressure, medium flow applications

Radial Blades.
Radial fan blades, as in Figure 3(c), extend
straight out from the hub.
A radial blade fan wheel is often used on
particulate-laden gas streams because it is
the least sensitive to solids build-up on the
blades, but it is often characterized by
greater noise output.
High speeds, low volumes, and high
pressures are common with radial fans, and
are often used in vacuum cleaners,
pneumatic material conveying systems, and
similar processes.

Forward curved
blades

Backward Curved
blades

Radial blade

Forward Curved blade fan

Backward Curved Blade fan

Radial Blade fan

Laws of Fan Performance

Fan laws are used to predict fan

performance
under
changing
operating conditions or fan size.
They are applicable to all types of
fans.
The symbols used in the formulas
represent the following quantities.

Laws of Fan Performance

Q
fan.
N
P

Volume rate of flow through the

Rotational speed of the impeller.

Pressure developed by the fan,

either static or total.

HP -

horsepower input to the fan.

fan wheel diameter. The fan size

number may be used if is proportional
to the wheel diameter

Air density, varying directly as the

barometric pressure and inversely
as
the absolute temperature.

Fan Accessories: Access door.

Drains.
Variable inlet vanes.
Outlet Dampers.
Vibration Isolator.

Fan dampers and Vanes

Fan dampers are used to control gas flow into
and out of the centrifugal fan.
They may be installed on the inlet side or on
the outlet side of the fan, or both. Dampers
on the outlet side impose a flow resistance
that is used to control gas flow
Dampers on the inlet side (inlet vanes) are
designed to control gas flow by changing the
amount of gas or air admitted to the fan inlet.

Fan Control

Variable Speed motor Control.

Outlet Damper Control.
Variable inlet vane control.
Fan drive change.

Scroll volume control.

Fan drive change

Outlet Damper Control

Variable inlet vane control

Diffusers and Volutes

Static pressure is recovered from the kinetic
energy of the flow at the impeller exit by
diffusing the flow in a vane-less or vaned
diffuser. The spiral casing as a collector of
flow from the impeller or the diffuser is an
essential part of the centrifugal blower.
The provision of a vaned diffuser in a blower
can give a slightly higher efficiency than a
blower with only a volute casing.

Drum Type Fans:-

Centrifugal Fan losses:(a) Impeller entry losses

(b) Leakage Losses
(c) Impeller Losses
(d) Diffuser and volute losses.
(e) Disc Friction

Fan Bearing:-

Journal Bearings
Roller Bearings
Self aligning bearings

Fan Drives:a) Direct Coupled:-The fan wheel can be linked

directly to the shaft of an electric motor.
This means that the fan wheel speed is
identical to the motor's rotational speed.
With this type of fan drive mechanism, the
fan speed cannot be varied unless the
motor speed is adjustable.
(b) V- belt drive :-A set of sheaves(V-groove
pulley) are mounted on the motor shaft and
the fan wheel shaft.

The belts transmit the mechanical energy

from the motor to the fan.

Fan Noise:The main cause of aerodynamically generated

noise.
Flow at entry & exit of the fan.
Turbulences of air.
Passage of blades through wakes.
Separation, stalling and Surging.
Shedding of vortices from blades.
Rotation of blades through air or gas.
The frequencies and noise levels that occurs in
fan
and blower.
Frequencies = 65-800 hz.
Noise level = 40 and 50 db

Method of reducing noise:Operation

of
fan
at
their
max.
efficiencies .
Use of low speed and low pressure fan.
Employment of uniform flow in ducts.
Use of flexible fan mounting.
Use of silencer at the suction and exhaust.
Use of sound absorbing walls; ducts
should also be lined by sound absorbing
material.
Enclosing the fan in a sound absorbing
casing.

Dust erosion of fans

When dust particles directly hit the
moving blades, cause of cracking of
blades and surface erosion.

Aspect of dust erosion

Eroded part may be fail any time.
Rotor may be unbalance due
erosion of fan blade.
High vibration reduce fan life.

uneven

Minimizing of Dust erosion

Employing a more efficient dust
removing apparatus.
Regulating fan speed at part loads
Providing erosion shields on the blades.
Employing large and low speed fans .
Reducing stratification.
Reducing stratification.

Fan & Blower Maintenance

Introduction:Dirty filters, dirty coils, or restriction
of any kind will reduce the air quantity.
Any major reduction in operating
pressure may overload the motor by
permitting the fan to handle more than
rated capacity.

Fan & Blower Maintenance

Cleaning
Fan Bearing
Direction of Rotation
Adjustment.
Alignment
Fan Coupling.
Direct Coupling
V-Belt Drum
Lubricating of bearing.

TROUBLE SHOOTING
Faults

Causes

Capacity or
pressure below
rating

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Total resistance of the system higher than

anticipated.
Speed too low,
Dampers or variable vanes not properly adjusted
Poor fan inlet or outlet conditions.
Air leaks in system.
Damaged Wheel.
Wrong direction of rotation.

Vibration and
Noise

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Misalignment of bearings, couplings, wheel and V

Belts.
Unstable foundation.
Foreign material in fan causing unbalance.
Wrong material bearings.
Damaged wheel or driver.
Broken or loose bolts or set screws.
Bent shaft.
Wrong coupling.
Fan wheel or driver unbalanced.
Check for high or unbalanced voltage.
Loose damper or variable inlet vanes
Fan delivering more than rated capacity.
Speed to high or fan rotating in wrong direction.

Overheated
Bearings

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Too much grease in ball bearing.

Poor alignment.
Damaged wheel or driver.
Bent shaft
Abnormal and shaft.
Dirt in turning.
Excessive belt tension.

Overload on
driver

1
2

Speed to high.
Discharge over capacity because existing systems
resistance is lower than original rating.
Specific gravity or density of gas above design
value.
Picking too tight or defective on fans with stuffing
box.
Wrong direction of rotation.
Shaft bent,
Poor alignment
Wheel wedging or binding on fan housing.
Bearings improperly lubricated
Motor improperly wired.

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Unbalancing of rotor
or wheel

1
2
3
4
5

Misalignment of couplings.
Work foundation.
Bent shaft.
Work bearing
Dirt or deposit of foreign matters on the
wheel or blade.

VIBRATION DISPLACEMENT MILS

Fan
Speed
RPM

Smooth

Fair

Rough

Very
Rough

600

2.00

4.00

8.00

15-20

900

1.5

2.75

6.00

8-10

1200

1.0

2.00

4.5

6-8

1800

0.75

1.5

3.5

5-7

COMPRESSORS
Uses of Compressed Air:

Acid and Chemical Industries

Agriculture
Construction Industry
Aircraft Industry
Ammunition Depots
Mining Operations
In General
Starting of IC engines
Spraying of fuel into diesel engines
Spraying paints
Glass blowing
In Nuclear Power Stations
Mask Air
Instrument Air
Service Air

Important Terms:Before taking up the actual study of air compressors

one must know the following terms which are very
frequently used in connection with them.
Air Compressor:- This may be regarded as a
machine, which is used to increase the pressure of air
reducing its volume.
Reciprocating Compressor:- This is a machine,
which compresses air b means of piston reciprocating
inside a cylinder.
Single acting Compressor:- this compressor is a
machine, which compresses air in only one end of a
cylinder.

Double acting compressor:- The double acting

compressor is a machine, which compresses air in both
ends of a cylinder.
Single Stage Compressor:- This is a machine in which
the air from atmospheric pressure is compressed to the
desired discharge pressure in a single operation.
Two stage Compressor:- In this machine the air from
atmospheric pressure is compressed to the desired
pressure in two stages. In the first stage the air is
compressed to an intermediate pressure while in the
second stage it is further compressed to the desired final
pressure.
Multistage Compressor:- This is compressor, which
produces the desired final pressure through two or more
stage.

Rotary Compressor:- This is a machine in which the

compression is effected by a rotating vane or impeller that
imparts velocity to the flowing air to give it the desired
pressure.
Inlet pressure:- This is the absolute pressure of air at the
outlet of a compressor.
Discharge pressure:- This is the absolute pressure of the
air at the outlet of a compressor.
Compression ratio:- This is the ration of the absolute
discharge pressure to the absolute inlet pressure.
Free Air delivered (FAD):- Free air delivered is the
volume of air delivered under the conditions of temperature
and pressure existing at the compressor intake, i.e. volume
of air delivered at surroundings air temperature and
pressure. In the absence of any given free air conditions,
these are generally taken as 1.0332 kgf/cm2 abs and 15 C