FANS AND BLOWERS 

  
LEARNING OUTCOMES: 
1. Describe the function of Fans and Blowers 
2. Sketch the types including arrangement of blades. 
3. Analyze the following fan fundamentals; 
a. Air power 
b. Total fan head 
c. Efficiencies 
 
4. Apply fan affinity laws to find out the relationships of the different parameters  
 
5.Select the fan and its standard installations. 
 
6. Solve the capacity and total head if they are connected in series or parallel. 
 

 
FANS AND BLOWERS 
Are machines that moves air or gases under moderate pressures. They are 
significant and important component in all industrial plants specifically if there is a 
need of supplying, circulating and removing air in a space in order to provide comfort 
and safety. They are utilized for heating, ventilating, air conditioning and pollution 
control of industrial plants. 
Note: 
● Fans works at low pressures from 1 psig 
● Blowers ( also known as turbo-blowers) works up to 35 psig 
● Compressors starts at 35 psig 

 
 
 
 
 
TYPES OF FANS 
 
1. CENTRIFUGAL FANS 
It moves air radially thru the impellers. Air is drawn at the center of a 
revolving wheel, connected to a rotating shaft, and then it enters the spaces of the 
wheel blades. The air is then thrown out perpendicularly to the impeller’s axis of 
rotation at high velocity and static pressure.​ ​They are widely used in comfort 
applications because it’s quite, efficient and operates at relatively high pressure 
heads. 
Centrifugal are classified in terms of wheel blades: 
1. Forward-curved 
2. Backward curve 
3. Radial 

2. AXIAL FANS  
It moves air in a helical-type flow pattern that is parallel thru the impeller. 
This type of fan moves large amount of fluid and develops small pressure heads. They 
are widely used in applications where noise levels are of secondary considerations. 
Axial fans are classified as: 
1. Propeller 
2. Tube axial 
3. vane axial 
TYPES OF CENTRIFUGAL FANS 
 
Forward-Curved Fan 
​It is known as “Squirrel cage fan” is generally used for high-volume air flow 
applications and low to medium static pressure applications. Widely used in heating 
and ventilating works because of its quite operation, lighter and smaller in size for a 
given application. This type of fan should be operated at relatively clean air because 
contaminants might clog in its blades. 
 

 
The performance curve is shown in the figure 2.3 

BACKWARD-CURVED FAN
​ lso known as “limit loading fan” because the backward profile of its blades and is 
A
widely used for high static pressure applications. This type of fan is more efficient 
than forward curved with efficiency between 50% - 70% of free delivery capacity, and 
its quieter than any other types of fan.
A typical performance curve is shown in fig 2.4. it has a minimum horsepower at 
no delivery. The horsepower curve gradually increases at the range of maximum 
efficiency and then gradually decreases. 
Backward-inclined and airfoil blade fan are modifications of backward-curved fan. 
It has a high efficiency because of its aerodynamic blade profile which allows smooth 
flow of air thru its blades 
 
 
RADIAL FAN 
​ adial (straight) fan are widely used in waste collection systems that require high 
R
velocities and high pressure heads. This type of fan is preferred for high dust loading 
in gasses because of its self-cleaning wheel design and well suited for high 
temperature applications. 
A typical performance curve of backward-curved is shown in figure 2.5. The 
horsepower input curve increases as the air delivered increases, while the static 
pressure decreases. This fan is overloading fan and the least efficient of all 
centrifugal fans. 
 
TYPES OF AXIAL FANS: 
1. Propeller 
​ ropeller fans consist of two or more blades and are widely used for general 
P
ventilation systems which require large volume of air at low pressure heads. It is used 
as exhaust systems for indoor applications and for air-cooled condensers and cooling 
towers for outdoor applications. 
Propeller fans are relatively noisy because of the turbulence created when air is 
discharged in a circular or helical pattern. This type of fan has a simple ring enclosure 
for its housing and no ducting system is required. A propeller fan operates generally 
at 0 to 1 inch of water gage or less. 
 A typical performance curve of Propeller Fan:

 
TUBEAXIAL 
 
​Tubeaxial fans are axial flow fans that are fabricated in a tubular casing. 
They are widely used in ducted ventilating applications that require medium pressure 
heads and where air flow pattern in downstream of the fan are not primary 
consideration, such as fume exhaust systems, drying ovens, and paint spray booths. 
The blades of tubeaxial fans are similar to propeller fans, except that it 
usually ha 4 to 8 blades and is designed for heavy duty applications. 
 Typical performance curve of axial fans are presented in fig. 2.9. the efficiency and 
static pressure curve patterns of tubeaxial fans has a significant improvement 
compared with propeller fans. 

3. Vaneaxial 
​ aneaxial fans are tubeaxial fans with guide vanes, They operate in medium to 
V
high pressure heads and are widely used when good stream air distribution is needed. 
Note​: The general advantages of axial fans are in terms of its simplicity in its 
installation, small space requirements and economy. They are widely used in 
applications where high volume of air is needed against a low pressure heads and 
noise is not a primary consideration. 

FAN FUNDAMENTALS
AIR POWER, AP
Air power is the energy added by the impeller of the fan to air or gasses to 
move it   
Air power is referred to as ​“total air power”​, when total pressure head, H​T​ is 
used. 
Air power is referred to as ​“static air power”,​ when static pressure head, H​s​ is 
used. 
TOTAL AIR POWER
AP = Q γ​a H​
​ T

Where​
​ : γ​a ​ = ρ​a​ [g​o​/g​c​]
= m​a​/V​a​ [g​o​/g​c​]
​AP = m​a​ [g​o​/g​c​] H​T 
Where: ​AP​ = Total air power, kw or hp 
Q​ = ​V​ = Volume flow rate, m​3​/sec or ft​3​/sec 
γ ​a​ = Specific weight of air 
Note : For air at standard condition at 21​o​C and 101.325 Kpa: 
SI units = 0.0118 KN/m​3 
English units = 0.075 lb​f​ / ft​3 
​m​a​ =
​ mass flow rate of air, kg/sec or lb​m​/sec 

​H​T​ = Total pressure head of the fan, meters or feet 

of air  
STATIC AIR POWER 
AP​Static =
​ Q γ​a h​
​ s 

  
h​Static​ = Static pressure head of the fan,  
Meters or feet of air 
  
The Total Fan Pressure Head, H​T 
Total fan head, the total amount of work needed by the fan (usually 
measured in meters or feet ) per specific weight of air flowing the fan. 
It is the sum of the velocity head and static pressure head. 
H​T​ = ( Velocity head + Static pressure head ) 
= h​v​ + h​s 
= ( V​2​2​ – V​1​2​ )/ 2g​o​ + ( P​2​ – P​1​ )/ γ​a 
 
 
Velocity Head, h​v 

​Velocity head is the energy possessed by air because of its velocity. This has 
a significant effect in fan performance and must be considered in calculation. 
​= ( V​2​2​ – V​1​2​ )/ 2g​o   

Static ​Pressure Head, h​s 

Static
​ pressure head is the energy required to overcome resistance.  
= ​( P​2​ – P​1​ )/ γ​a 
 
FAN EFFICIENCY 
1. Find the total air horsepower of an industrial fan that delivers 25 m³/sec of air 
through a 900mm b 1200mm outlet. Static air pressure is 127 mm of water and 
air density is 1.18 kg/m³. 
Solution:  
Q= Area x velocity 
25 m³/sec = ( 0.9m x 1.2m ) velocity 
velocity = 23.15 m/sec 
hv = v²/2g = (23.15 m/sec)²/ 2(9.8 m/sec²) 
hv = 27.315 meters 
hs = hw (ρ of water/ρ of air) 
= 0.127 ( 1000/1.18) 
= 107.63 meters 
ht ( total fan head ) = hv + hs 
ht = 107.63 + 27.315 = 134.94 meters 
Air Power (​AP) = Q γ​a H​
​ T ​ = (1.18x.00981)(25)(134.94) = 39.052Kw 

= 52.35 HP 
 
 
 
2. The volume flow of air delivered by the fan is 20 m³/sec and static head is 180 mm 
water gage. The density of air is 1.185 kg/m³ and the motor power needed to drive 
the fan is 44 Kw. What is the fan efficiency?   
hs = 0.18 ( 1000/1.185)  
= 151.89 meters 
  
(Static air power)   
AP​Static =
​ Q γ​a ​h​s   

​ = (1.185 kg/m³x 0.00981KN/kg)(20m³/sec)(151.89 meters) 

= 35.316 KW 
  
​ Fan static efficiency ( n static ) = 35.316/44 = 80.26 % 
3. Air is flowing in the duct with velocity of 7.62 m/s and static pressure of 2.16 cm 
water gage. The duct diameter is 1.22 meters, the barometric pressure is 99.4 Kpa 
and the gage fluid temperature and air temperature are 30 deg. C. What is the the 
total pressure against which the fan will operate in cm of water? ( ME Board 1996 ) 
Solution: 
hv = v²/ 2g 
= (7.62)²/ 2x9.81 
= 2.959 meters 
ρ(air) = P/RT 
= 99.4KN/m²/(0.287KN-m/kg- °K)(30 + 273) 
= 1.143 kg/m³ 
Solving for the velocity head in terms of cm of water 
hv = 2.959(1.143/1000) 
= 0.0034 m of water  
= 0.34 cm of water 
htotal = hs + hv 
= 2.16 + 0.34 
= 2.5 cm of water 
 
4. Find the air horsepower of an industrial fan that delivers 26 m³/s of air through a 
1m by 1.2m; pressure is 127 mm of water; air temperature is 21 deg. C and 
barometric pressure is 760 mm Hg. 
Solution: 
V = Q/A = 26/(1)(1.2) = 21.667 m/s 
ρ(air) = P/RT 
= 101.325/(0.287)(21 + 273) 
= 1.2 kg/m³ 
hv = (v²/2g) 
= (21.667²/2(9.81)) 
= 23.92m 
hs = (ρ(water)/ρ(air))(hwater) 
= (1000/1.2)(0.127m) 
= 105.83 m 
htotal = 23.92 + 105.83 = 129.75 m 
   
Air Power =( 1.2 kg/m³)(0.00981KN/kg)( 129.75m)( 26 m³/s) 
= 39.71 KW 
= 39.71 KW/0.746KW/HP 
= 53.23 HP 
 

FAN SPECIFIC SPEED 

• It is a dimensionless parameter used to describe the applications of different 
types of fans. It is defined as the revolution per minute at which a given 
geometrically similar impeller of a fan would operate if reduced proportionally 
in size so as to deliver a rated capacity of 1 cubic feet per minute against a 
differential head of 1 –foot of air under standard conditions. 
N​S​ = N (Q)​1/2 ​/h​S​3/​4   
Where: Ns = Specific speed of fan, rpm 
 Q = Capacity of fan, cfm 
hs = Fan static pressure head, ft of air 
N = Impeller Speed, in rpm 

 
FAN AFFINITY LAWS 
Are rules that express the relationship of fan capacity, head 
(either static or total), BHP input and air density when one of each 
parameter is changed. In Appling the following equations, we consider 
that the efficiency is same for both conditions. 
 
Variation in Variation in Variation in density 
Speed density N​1​ ≠ N​2 ; ρ​
​ 1​=ρ​2 

 
Capacity - ----- Q​1​/Q​2​= N​1​/N​1​ ; Q​1​ = Q​2​ ; Q​1​/Q​2​ = N​1​/N​1   
 
Head --- h​1​/h​2​ = (N​1​/N​1​)​2​ ; h​1​/h​2​ = ρ​1​/ρ​2​ ; h​1​/h​2​= (ρ​1​/ρ​2​)( (N​1​/N​1​)​2   
 
BHP --- BHP​1​/BHP​2​=(N​1​/N​1​)​3; ​ BHP​1​/BHP​2​ = ρ​1​/ρ​2;​ BHP​1​/BHP​2​=(ρ​1​/ρ​2​)( (N​1​/N​1​)​3   

 
EXAMPLES: 
1. At 1.2 kg/m³ air density a fan develops a brake power of 100 KW. It operates at 
98 Kpa and 32 deg. C with the same speed, what is the new brake power of the 
pump? 
Solution: 
ρ₁ = 1.2 kg/m³ 
ρ₂ = P/RT 
= 98/(0.287)(32+274) 
ρ₂ = 1.1195 kg/m³ 
 BP₂/BP₁ = ρ₂ / ρ₁  
BP₂/100 = 1.1195/1.2 
BP₂ = 93.29 KW 
2. A fan using standard air condition can developed a static pressure head of 310 mm 
of water gage. If the fan will operate at 93 deg. C and 735 mm of Hg, find the new 
static pressure required. 
Solution: 
ρ₁ = 1.2 (standard air density) 
ρ₂ = P/RT 
= (735 mm hg x (101.325 Kpa/760 mm Hg) )/(0.287)(93+273) 
ρ₂ = 0.933 kg/m³ 
hs₂/hs₁ = ρ₂ / ρ₁  
hs₂/310 = 0.933/12 
hs₂ = 241 mm water gage 
3. A fan delivers 4.7 m³/s at a static pressure of 5.08 cm of water when operating at 
a speed of 400 RPM. The power input required is 2.963 KW. If 7.05 m³/s are desired in 
the same fan and installation, find the pressure in cm of water. 
Solution: 
h₁/h₂ = (N₁/N₂)² 
5.08/h₂ = (400/N₂)² 
Solving for N₂: 
Q₁/Q₂ = N₁/N₂ 
4.7/7.05 = 400/N₂ 
N₂ = 600 rpm 
Then; 
5.08/h₂ = (400/600)² 
   
h₂ = 11.43 cm of water 
 
FAN SELECTION: 
• The following are important items to consider in selecting a fan: 
a. The desired flow, Q 
b. The static pressure head, hs 
c. The characteristic of air to be handled (ex. Dust concentration) 
d. Operating temperature 
e. The prevailing noise level of the space to be served 

FAN INSTALLATION: 
• To reduce friction and turbulence, all ducting lines should be short and straight 
as possible, with minimum elbows, valves and fittings 
• Elbows in ducting should have a large radius 
• Both the suction and discharge lines should be supported independently to 
protect the casing from strains that may cause distortion to the fan. Flexible 
ducting system can also be used to isolate the vibration of the fan. 
• Install the fan away from any heat source if the fan takes air from the 
atmosphere so that the air will be cooler 
• The suction of the fan should be protected from dust, foreign object, moisture 
and corrosive elements present that may damage the fan. 
• Silencers may be used if noise level is primary considerations 
• The inlet damper positioning should be checked regularly to satisfy the closed 
and fully open condition of the fan. Install the fan in a secure location and at 
the same time, available for inspection and maintenance. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FANS SERIES AND PARALLEL 
 
• FANS IN SERIES 
The total pressure is increased at a given capacity 
FANS IN PARALLEL 
• Installing multiple fan side by side. The capacity is doubled while maintaining 
the total pressure.