Technical Bulletin TBN002.

2/2003

FAN TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS

Standard Air (SI) Dry air at 20C and 101.325 kPa. Under these conditions dry air has a mass density of 1.204 kg/m3. This is not the same as I-P standard air. Water Gauge (WG) The measure of pressure above atmospheric expressed as the height of a column of water in mm (inches) (atmospheric at sea level equals 10,340 mm (407.1 inches) of water or 10 m (33.97 feet) of water (Fig. 1) Static Pressure The difference between the absolute pressure at a point in an airstream or a plenum chamber and the absolute pressure of ambient atmosphere, being positive when the pressure at the point is above the ambient pressure and negative when below. It acts equally in all directions, is independent of velocity and is a measure of the potential energy available in an airstream.
Fig. 2 Fan Velocity Pressure

Fig. 1

Atmospheric Pressure

Velocity Pressure /Dynamic Pressure Is the pressure require to accelerate air from zero velociy to some velocity and is proportional to the kinetic energy of the air stream. The velocity pressure will only be exerted in the direction of air flow and is always positive. (Fig. 2)

V VP = 1 .3

for standard air

where VP = velocity pressure in Pa V = velocity in m/s

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Technical Bulletin - TBN002.2/2003 Total Pressure The algebraic sum of static and velocity pressure. It is a measure of the total energy available in an air stream. (Fig.3) TP = SP + VP Fan Total Pressure The algebraic difference between the mean total pressure at the fan outlet and the mean total pressure at the fan inlet. It is the measure of the total mechanical energy added to the air or gas by fan. How this is measured is show in Fig 4.
Fig. 3 SP, VP and TP at a point

Fan Static Pressure The fan static pressure is a defined quantity used in rating fans and cannot be measured directly. It is the fan total pressure minus the velocity pressure corresponding to the mean air velocity at the fan outlet. Note that it is not the difference between the static pressure at the outlet and the static pressure at the inlet i.e : it is not the external system static pressure. Air Flow (Q) The cubic meter per second (CMS) of air produced by a fan in a given system is independent of the air density. Air Horsepower (AkW) Assuming 100% efficiency, it is the horsepower required to move a given volume of air against a given pressure.
STATIC AkW = QSP 1000

Fig. 4

Fan Total Pressure

where Q = air volume in CMS TP= total pressure in Pa

TOTAL AkW =

QTP 1000

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Technical Bulletin - TBN002.2/2003 Brake Horsepower (BkW) It is the actual horsepower a fan requires. It is greater than air horsepower, because no fan is actually 100% efficient. It may include power absorbed by V-belt drives, accessories, and any other power requirements, in addition to power input to the fan.
BkW = Q TP 1000 t

where t= total fan efficiency

Static Efficiency (S.E.) The static air horsepower (AkW) divided by the power input to the fan.
S.E.= Power Output QSP = Power Input 1000BkW

Fig. 5 Blocked Tight Static Pressure

Mechanical Efficiency (M.E.) Also called total efficiency (T.E). Ratio of power output over power input.
M.E.= QTP 1000BkW
Fig. 6 Fully Open CMS

Blocked Tight Static Pressure (BTSP) Operating condition when the fan outlet is completely closed, resulting in no air flow. (Fig. 5) Fully Open Air Flow (WOCMS) Also called wide open CMS (WOCMS). At this operating condition, static pressure across the fan is zero. (Fig. 6)

Wide Open Brake Horsepower (WOBkW) The horsepower (kW) consumed when the fan is operating at fully open CMS. Frequently, fan characteristics are referred to in terms of the percent of wide open CMS (percent WOCMS) which is for a given fan then fixes the corresponding percent blocked tight static pressure (percent BTSP) and percent WOBkW.

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Technical Bulletin - TBN002.2/2003 Application Range The range of operating volumes and pressures, determined by the manufacturer, at which a fan will operate satisfactorily. (Fig. 7)

Typical application range for forward curved centrifugal fan is from 30% to 80% WOCMS, backward inclined fans is from 40% to 85% WOCMS and radial blade fans from 35% to 80% WOCMS.
Fig. 7 Application Range

Tip speed (TS) Also called peripheral velocity, equals the circumference of the fan wheel time the RPM of the fan and is expressed in m/s (ft/min). Fig. 8
T.S.= DN 60

where D= diameter of impeller, m N= speed in RPM

Fig. 8 Tip Speed

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