Inlet and Outlet

January 1999

DAMPERS for Centrifugal Fans

BACKDRAFT DAMPERS VOLUME CONTROL DAMPERS NESTED INLET VANES EXTERNAL INLET VANES INLET BOX DAMPERS

Part of the Greenheck

Total Centrifugal Fan Package

Designed, Constructed and Tested to Match Fan Capabilities

GREENHECK

CENTRIFUGAL FAN DAMPERS

GREENHECK CENTRIFUGAL FANS WITH DAMPERS FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS ARE AN UNBEATABLE COMBINATION
Dampers used in conjunction with centrifugal fans provide a simple, reliable and cost affective means for controlling air systems. Complimenting its centrifugal fan line, Greenheck has an extensive offering of dampers for commercial and industrial applications. Who better than a fan manufacturer to design, test and manufacture dampers knowing the conditions that a fan performs under. Each centrifugal fan model has a damper that is sized to handle the maximum air velocity. No guesswork in trying to match a fans performance level with a dampers capability. Damper designs with centrifugal fans have been optimized to reduce system effect losses. Wide variety of types and construction options available means versatility and flexibility in being able to select the best combination for system requirements. Dampers are factory tested and inspected before shipping: Fine tuning counter balances; adjustments for linkage and blade operation; setting actuator limits. Centrifugal fans and dampers are shipped together as one unit so there is no field mounting required.

The Greenheck Total Centrifugal Fan Package

Dampers are just one component of the Greenheck centrifugal fan package. Completely assembled fan and option packages are available including your choice of the following:

Structural Bases & Isolators Motors & Drives Dampers Protective Coatings Variable Frequency Drives Disconnect Switches Safety Guards & Weatherhoods

The package includes as standard long life bearings and a complete vibration analysis. Contact your Greenheck rep for more information 2

Outlet Volume Control Dampers

are commonly used in variable air volume systems. Blades are mounted perpendicular to fan shaft for even force loading on the blades and to reduce pressure losses.

GREENHECK

Backdraft Dampers
prevent reverse airflow through the system. Recommended to be used on fan Classes I, II, III only.

Inlet Box Dampers

are used when applications require inlet boxes. Inlet box dampers have performance characteristics similar to inlet vane dampers.

Nested Inlet Vane Dampers

have linkages incorporated into the housing of the fan. Used in variable air volume applications with space constraints.

External Inlet Vane Dampers

are mounted in the air stream or directly to the fan housing leaving linkages accessible for maintenance. Often used for variable air volume retro-fit applications.

OUTLET DAMPERS

GREENHECK

OUTLET DAMPERS
Either backdraft or outlet volume control dampers are available. The type or amount of control required, along with the need for actuators differentiates these models.

BACKDRAFT DAMPERS
allow air to pass in one direction and restrict flow in the opposite direction. The dampers have gravity actuation with a counter weight and linkage assembly. This is an inexpensive means of keeping air from flowing back through a system. Initial and required maintenance costs are low.

OUTLET VOLUME CONTROL DAMPERS

regulate the airflow by the modulating of damper blades. Actuators may be manual, electric or pneumatic and are mounted out of the air stream. Control dampers are specially designed so blades are all perpendicular to the fan shaft. This feature minimizes pressure losses and distributes the stresses associated with velocity pressures evenly. Both parallel and opposed blade styles are available.

HOW OUTLET DAMPERS AFFECT FAN PERFORMANCE

Where outlet volume control dampers are used, the fan static pressure changes with the resistance produced by modulating or closing the damper blades. The figure to the right illustrates the performance characteristics of a centrifugal fan with different damper blade positions. Point A shows the performance when the damper is in an open position. Point B illustrates the shift in the operating point as the damper starts to close. For each blade position there will be a new system curve and operating point. The original static pressure (Ps) and brake horsepower (Bhp) curves remain unchanged.
Ps Curve B

A Ps /BHP

Bhp Curve

PARALLEL OR OPPOSED?
Control dampers are offered with either parallel or opposed blades. Each style has distinguishing characteristics in regards to control of the fans performance plus a change in air velocity profile. Parallel blade dampers have excellent control over the range of 75% to 100% wide open volume due to the amount of control arm swing required to modulate the blades. Parallel blades are used when greater control is required near the top end of the volume operating range or for systems requiring two position (fully open or fully closed) operation. Parallel blades should not be used upstream of critical components due to uneven airflow. Opposed blade dampers offer the best control over the entire operating range. Opposed blades are used for applications where it is necessary to maintain even distribution of air downstream from the damper. This style of blade is the best selection for ducted outlets.

System Curves

Airflow-CFM

Centrifugal Fan with Outlet Damper

Parallel Blade

Opposed Blade

Top View of Blade Action Styles

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INLET DAMPERS

INLET DAMPERS
Inlet dampers include nested inlet vane, external inlet vane and inlet box dampers. These models save power by reducing Bhp requirements and should be considered when the fan operates for long periods at reduced capacities.

NESTED INLET VANE DAMPERS

are primarily used in non-ducted applications with space constraints. The vanes and linkages are located inside the fan housing with the actuator outside. Recommended for clean air applications only.

EXTERNAL INLET VANE DAMPERS

are intended for ducted applications and those with higher pressures and velocities. These dampers are mounted in the air stream or directly to the fan housing. Advantages are accessibility to the linkages for maintenance and flexibility in mounting location.

INLET BOX DAMPERS

are used in standard or heavy-duty clean air applications with inlet boxes. These dampers are supplied with parallel blades for performance characteristics similar to inlet vane dampers.

HOW INLET DAMPERS AFFECT FAN PERFORMANCE

Inlet dampers start a pre-spin on air entering into the fan. The pre-spin placed on the entering airflow will be in the same direction as the wheel rotation. This does not allow the wheel to develop its full performance profile, limiting the amount of air flowing through the fan. This pre-spin also reduces the energy requirements of the fan and the overall effect is very similar to reducing the speed on an undampered fan. Centrifugal fans with inlet vane dampers have different operating points depending on the blade position of the damper. As an inlet damper actuates, open or closed, new operating points are found on the system curve. See the figure to the right. Different operating points are represented by C, D, and E with C the most wide-open and E the least. Each point has a unique static pressure and brake horsepower curve. These points show that by closing an inlet damper, airflow is reduced and less energy is required by the fan.
Ps Curves

Ps /BHP

C Bhp Curves D

E System Curve

Airflow-CFM

Centrifugal Fan with Inlet Damper

DAMPER SELECTION
INLET VANE DAMPER

GREENHECK

When selecting an inlet vane damper, nested or external, the direction of the airs pre-rotation is critical for proper functioning of the damper and fan combination. Damper rotations are viewed from the air inlet side of the fan, and can be either clockwise (cw) or counter-clockwise (ccw). A fans rotation is specified from the drive side, not the air inlet side, and will be the opposite of the damper. If the wrong rotation is selected there will be a moderate pressure increase, Bhp will increase significantly, and pulsations may occur. The graphs below show the effects that blade actuation has on static pressure, Bhp, and cfm with inlet vane dampers and parallel bladed inlet box dampers. Field results may differ from laboratory tested values.
Static Pressure vs Wide Open Volume
100 90 80 70 % Peak Static Pressure 60 50
50%

Brake Horsepower vs Wide Open Volume

100 90 80 % Peak Brake Horsepower 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
50% Op

W ith ou tV 10 an 0% es Op 75 % en Op en
en

es an tV n ou pe ith O W 0% 10 en Op % 75

25% Open

40
O 25%

Op en

30 20 10 0 0 10

0% Open
20

pen

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

% Wide Open Volume

% Wide Open Volume

MINIMUM RECOMMENDED ACTUATOR TORQUE FOR INLET VANES (In.-lbs.) for SINGLE WIDTH FANS*
CLASS I II III 12 26 38 54 13 30 43 63 15 33 49 72 16 38 58 86 18 47 73 110 20 57 88 130 22 68 110 160 24 110 160 220 27 130 180 260 30 140 200 280 FAN SIZE 33 36 160 230 330 180 260 380 40 270 420 620 44 320 490 740 49 370 580 880 54 60 66 73

430 500 680 800 1000 1200

600 700 960 1100 1500 1700

*double the value shown for double width fans *consult factory for class IV applications

DAMPER SELECTION GUIDE

Use the information below to determine which type of damper is appropriate for your application. If system backflow is a concern then only outlet dampers should be considered. When Variable Air Volumes (VAV) are required either outlet volume control or inlet dampers are the correct choice. To further narrow the selection for VAV system dampers, the fans efficiency will be better with inlet vane dampers. After making some of these initial decisions the following chart will help in deciding between damper types.

OUTLET DAMPERS
SELECTION FACTORS Backdraft Damper Parallel Blade Outlet Volume Control Damper Good control from 75% to 100% wide open volume *Prevents backflow Directs air to one side Opposed Blade Outlet Volume Control Damper Best when used to control the entire operation range Distributes air evenly External Inlet Vane Damper

INLET DAMPERS
Nested Inlet Vane Damper Used in variable air volume systems, provides control the entire operating range Pre-spins air before entering fan, no affect on airflow downstream of the fan Increased costs over nested inlet damper Least expensive inlet dampers Highest Initial cost Inlet Box Damper

Control Function Airflow downstream from fan Cost Effect on Horsepower

Prevents backflow Minor downward direction Low start-up and maintenance costs

Higher initial cost than Backdraft dampers

Unchanged from the original undampered Bhp curve

Decreased Bhp requirements with cfm reduction, provides energy savings

*Common application for large fans or high static pressures - using a two position actuator

GREENHECK

CONSTRUCTION FEATURES

MATCHING DAMPERS WITH FANS

FAN MODELS DAMPER TYPES Nested Inlet Vane Damper External Inlet Vane Damper Inlet Box Damper Backdraft ` Damper Outlet Volume Control Damper Single Width YES YES YES YES YES Double Width YES NO NO YES YES PLG NO NO NO NO NO PLN YES NO NO NO NO SWB NO YES NO YES YES Industrial Process (IPA Only) NO NO YES YES YES TCB TCF YES NO NO NO NO

Where yes is shown, there may be limits on damper availability based on fan class and size. Refer to the Centrifugal and Vane Axial Fans binder, Engineering tab for Centrifugal Fan/Damper submittals.

CONSTRUCTION
MATERIAL Std Opt None TEMPERATURE Ps (MAX) Std 200 F Opt Max 8.5 Std Manual Quadrant Manual Quadrant None Manual Quadrant ACTUATORS Opt Electric Pneumatic Manual Worm Gear BEARINGS Std SS Sleeve

DAMPER TYPES

Nested Inlet Steel Vane Damper External Inlet Steel Vane Damper Backdraft Damper Outlet Volume Control

SS

200 F

8.5

Electric Pneumatic SS Sleeve Manual Worm Gear None Ball

Galv. Aluminum 180 F Steel 304 SS Galv. Steel 304 SS 200 F

400 F

20

400 F

35

Electric Pneumatic SS Sleeve Manual Worm Gear

Due to continuing product development maximum temperatures and static pressures may change. Inlet box dampers have the same standard and optional construction features as outlet volume control dampers. A complete line of special coatings are available on all dampers. Consult factory for specific application details or refer to the Coating Engineering Bulletin under the Engineering Data tab in the Centrifugal and Vane Axial Fans binder. Please consult factory for individual requirements.

STANDARD BEARINGS
STAINLESS STEEL SLEEVE

ACTUATOR OPTIONS
MANUAL QUADRANT ELECTRIC TWO POSITION OR MODULATING POWER OPEN SPRING RETURN CLOSED

BALL BEARING

MANUAL WORM GEAR

PNEUMATIC WITH MANUAL OVERRIDE

CHECK LIST FOR DAMPERS AND ACTUATORS

DAMPERS
1) Outlet Damper Types: Backdraft Control Volume - Parallel Blades Control Volume - Opposed Blades Inlet Damper Types: Nested (Specify Fan Rotation: CW, CCW) External (Specify Fan Rotation: CW, CCW) Inlet Box Damper 2) Construction Options: Actuators (see list for more detail) Material (blade & frame) 3) Protective Coatings

GREENHECK

ACTUATORS
1) Type: Electric Pneumatic Manual 2) Operation: Spring-return power open/power closed (electric) Double acting (pneumatic) 3) Operating Mode: Two-position Modulating 4) Fail Direction 5) Power Supply 6) Control Signal 7) NEMA Enclosure 8) Accessories

Important Note
This brochure is merely an introduction to the dampers available for centrifugal fans. For more specific detail on a particular product or technical information, please refer to the Greenheck damper binder or our website, which contains Acrobat files of all current Greenheck product literature. If you require further assistance or information please contact your local Greenheck rep or refer to our website (www.greenheck.com) to find your nearest Greenheck rep.

WARRANTY
Greenheck warrants this equipment to be free from defects in material and construction for a period of one year from the purchase date. Any units or parts which prove defective during the warranty period will be replaced at our option when returned to our factory, transportation prepaid. Motors are warranted by the motor manufacturer for a period of one year. Should motors furnished by Greenheck prove defective during this period, they should be returned to the nearest authorized motor service station. Greenheck will not be responsible for any installation or removal costs.
Due to continuing research, Greenheck reserves the right to change specifications without notice.

N u m b e r o n e i n a i r m ove m e n t a n d c o n t r o l .

Centrifugal and Vane Axial Fans

Fans and Ventilators

Energy Recovery Ventilators & Make-up Air Units

Kitchen Ventilation Systems

Dampers and Louvers

Visit the Greenheck website for the most current information available www.greenheck.com
Greenheck P.O. Box 410 Schofield, WI 54476-0410 Phone (715) 359-6171 Fax (715)355-2399 www.greenheck.com

Catalog Damp-Cent Rev. 1 January 1999