Fan Power Consumption

The ideal power consumption of a fan (without losses) can be expressed as Pi = dp q where Pi = ideal power consumption (W) dp = total pressure increase in the fan (Pa) q = air volume flow delivered by the fan (m3/s) The ideal power consumptions for fans at different air volumes and pressure increases are expressed in the chart below: (1)

Note! For detailed engineering the manufacturing specifications of each fan must be used.

Fan Efficiency
The fan efficiency is the ratio between power transferred to the airflow and the power used by the fan. The fan efficiency is in general independent of the air density and can be expressed as: f = dp q / P where f = fan efficiency (values between ! " 1) dp = total pressure (Pa) q = air volume delivered by the fan (m3/s) ( )

P = power used by the fan (W# $m/s) The power used by the fan can be expressed as: P = dp q / f (3)

The power used by the fan can also be expressed as: P = dp q / (f b m) where b = belt efficiency m = motor efficiency Typical motor and belt efficiencies: (%)

Motor 1&W " !'% Motor 1! &W " !'() Motor 1!! &W " !'* Belt 1 &W " !')( Belt 1! &W " !'(( Belt 1!! &W " !'*3

Power Consumptions - Imperial Units

Fan energy use can also be expressed as Pcfm = !'11)+ qcfm dpin / (f b m) where Pcfm = power consumption (W) qcfm = volume flow (cfm) dpin = pressure increase (in' W,) (%b)

Fan and Installation Loss (System Loss)

The installation of a fan will influence on the overall system efficiency dpsy = -sy pd where dpsy = installation loss (Pa) -sy = installation loss coefficient (+)

pd = dynamic pressure in the nominal inta&e and outlet of the fan (Pa)

Fan and emperature Increase

ear all of the energy lost in a fan will heat up the air flow and the temperature increase can be expressed li!e dt = dp / 1!!! where dt = temperature increase (/) dp = increased pressure head (Pa) (.)

" fan motor must be capable not only of driving the fan at operating conditions# but also be capable of accelerating the fan wheel# drive and shaft to the operating speed. For a fan transporting a large volume of air at low static pressure the motor power re$uired during the continuous operating process may not be enough for starting the fan. %ften a correct designed and ad&usted motor protection system will stop the fan before the windings are overheated and insulation damaged. The motor tor$ue should during design be chec!ed against the fan wheel tor$ue up to *!0 of the synchroni'ed speed.

!otor Startin" or#ue

The motor starting tor$ue for a belt driven fan can be expressed as: 1m = 1'1 1f (nf / nm) where 1m = moment of inertia that the motor must be capable of turnin2 at the motor shaft (lb m ft # &2 m ) 1f = moment of inertia of the fan wheel (lbm ft # &2 m ) nf = fan speed (rpm# min"1) nm = motor speed (rpm# min"1) For direct drive fan 1m always exceeds 1f' (1)

$ac%ward Centrifu"al &'eels and !oment of Inertia

Typical inertia of Class IV steel and aluminum bac!ward inclined centrifugal wheels: Moment of *nertia (lb ft ) Fan (heel )i'e (in) )teel (heel +, +"luminum (heel .,

++ +/ +1 3, 30 /, // -/ 0, 00

/, 02./, 34, -4, 41, +,3, 32,, --,,

.0 +0 34 -0 .-+ +3+ 3/4 4.+ .-0, ++,,

Typical inertia of 56"7 or process standard centrifugal fans with with steel bac!ward wheels: Fan (heel )i'e (m) ,./, ,./,.-, ,.-0 ,.03 ,.1. ,.4, Moment of *nertia (&2 m ) ,.., ,..1 ,.+1 ,.-3 ,.41 ..4, 3.,,

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*t is common to present the pressure head of fans as a function of air volume in a capacity diagram:

The red lines gives the pressure head as a function of the air volume. %ne line for each different speed of the fan. The blac! lines mar!ed ;l; are the duct curves (throttle lines). The blue lines are the power consumption of the fan. Modulating the fan capacity can be done by

modulating the speed using inlet vanes dampers ad&usting wheel blades throttling the air volume with a damper

!odulatin" t'e Fan Speed

The capacity can be controlled by modulating the capacity as shown in the capacity diagram below:

The calculated duct curve (or system curve) crosses the capacity line in point B. The design volume# pressure and power are as shown. The actual duct curve crosses the capacity line in point 7. (ith the actual duct curve the air volume is reduced# the pressure increased and the power reduced. To achieve the designed volume the speed are increased until the actual system duct curve crosses the capacity line in <. The pressure and power are increased as shown.

The speed of the fan can be changed by a using a fre$uency controller or changing the configuration of the fan and=or the motor disc drive. The belt gearing can be expressed as: dfan nfan = dbeltdisc nbeltdisc where d = diameter n = speed (ith a fre$uency controller the fan can be modulated from the control system. (1)

Inlet *ane )ampers

*f an inlet vane damper is properly installed# it provides an inlet swirl in the direction of the fan rotation. This will reduce the power consumption of the fan.

The fan is designed for the calculated duct system curve with )+0 opening of the inlet vane at point B. The fan can be modulated upward (B to 7) on downward (B to ") by opening or closing the inlet vane. The pressures# volumes and powers are shown.

The power consumption will not be reduced as much as with speed modulation.

+d,ustin" $lades
"d&usting blades is possible on some axial and propeller fans. This will reduce the fans power consumption but not as much as modulating the speed.

'rottlin"
Throttling the fan with a discharge damper will reduce the air flow volume# but the systems pressure loss will be increased.

The fan is designed for the designed duct system curve point B. The actual curve crosses the capacity line in ". Throttling the fan moves the actual duct system curve to the designed system curve.

The power is decreased but energy is loosed in the damper. The total efficiency is reduced.

The power consumption will still be high# the fan efficiency low# and the method should in general be avoided.