Performance Test on Axial Fan

Akhil Jaiswal, Akhil Praveen, ASP Gautam, Amal Jyothis, Amit kamboj, Anand Kumar,Anurag Singh
B Tech Aerospace, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

Abstract A performance test was carried on Axial Fan to
determine the performance characteristics. This has been done by
varying the rotational speed of fan and measuring the the
characteristic parameters like Input power, Flow velocity, Flow
rate and efficiency. It was observed that efficiency peaks at 1806
rpm.
Keywords- Single Stage Axial Flow Fan, Efficiency, Flow rate, Flow
velocity.
I. INTRODUCTION
An axial fan is a type of a compressor that increases the
pressure of the air flowing through it
[1]
. The blades of
the axial-flow fans force air to move parallel to the shaft
about which the blades rotate. In other words, the flow
is axially in and axially out, linearly, hence the name.
By comparison, a centrifugal or radial flow fan moves air
perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Axial flow fans are
better suited for low-resistance, high-flow applications,
whereas centrifugal flow fans apply to high-pressure
resistance, low-flow conditions.
Axial flow fans, while incapable of developing high
pressures, they are well suitable for handling large
volumes of air at relatively low pressures. In general,
they are low in cost and possess good efficiency, most
have a large hug and can have blades of airfoil shape.
Depending on the operation range of the static pressure,
medium to high, the hub diameter can vary from 30 to
80% of the blade outside diameter.
The hub/tip ratio is defined as

Figure1. Fan Nomenclature




II. EXPERIMENT
The experiment was done on a typical centrifugal blower set up
at L002 Thermal lab at IIST. The set up mainly of a pump, a
motor and test rig. Test Rig consists of a single stage axial flow
fan. At both upstream and downstream of the fan, holes are
provided with suitable mounting attachments to enable probe to
traverse in a radial direction. A straight probe is provided for
this purpose. At the inlet duct, a standard Pitot-Static probe is
provided to measure the flow rate through the fan.
A multi-limb manometer is provided to measure the following:
static pressure at the hub and tip at the 4 stations, the static and
dynamic pressure of the straight probe, and the Pitot-Static
probe. An energy meter is used to measure the input power. A
non-contact type tachometer is provided to measure the fan rpm
directly.


Figure3. Multi Limb Manometer
III. PROCEDURE

Figure 2. Schematic of Single Stage Axial Flow Fan
1. Fan Motor 2. Fan Blade
3. Stator Vanes 4. Pitot Static Tube
5. Air Flow Duct 6. Pressure Tappings

Connect the multi-limb manometer limbs to the various static
pressure taps of the rig and the two probes. Then fill the
manometer reservoir with water. Switch on the control panel
with the motor speed control at minimum. Slowly increase the
motor speed to a required test speed. Note the time taken for 10
pulses in energy meter. Start taking reading from the manometer
(water column heights) with one of the limbs open to
atmosphere. The open limb provides a reference atmosphere
water column height. The pressure (positive of vacuum) at that
station is noted down. For the limbs connected to the probe, the
difference between the water column heights directly gives the
velocity head. Repeat the above procedure for different speed
conditions of the motor and note down the readings. Switch off
the motor after decreasing its speed slowly. Tabulate the
observations and calculate the required values.


IV. OBSERVATIONS
Table 1
S
no
Fan
Spee
d
Time
10
rev
Static Pressure Rise across Fan
P2T P2H P3T P3H

RPM s cm of water
1 1955 16.8 28.6 28.1 25.1 26.7
2 2048 14.5 28.8 28.2 25 26.7
3 2149 12.8 29 28.3 24.9 26.8
4 2250 11.1 29.2 28.5 24.8 26.9
5 2349 9.7 29.5 28.8 24.6 27
6 2457 8.1 29.9 29.3 24.4 27.1


V. EQUATION AND SAMPLE CALCULATION
For reading #2 the following calculation has been done:
For Fan Input Power,
Input power to motor = (3600*n)/(K*t) kW
Where,
K= Energy meter constant = 1600 imp/kWh.
t =Time for n impulses in seconds.
n = 10
t = 14.49 s.

Efficiency of VFD and Motor = 80% (assumed)
Motor Output Power = (0.8*3600*n)/(K*t) kW
Fan input Power, P
i
= Motor output
= 1.242 kW
For Fan Output Power,
Flow rate, Q = (A * V) m
3
/s

Where,
Inlet area, A = 0.135 m
2

Velocity, V = (2*g*H
a
) m/s
= (2*g*(H
w
/100)*(
w
/
a
)) m/s
H
w
= Velocity head in cm of water.
= 1.5 cm of water
Velocity, V = 15.091 m/s
Static pressure head across the fan,
h = (Delivery head Suction head) m of water
h = 0.0265 m of water
Delivery head,
h
D
= ((atm- P
3
T)+ (atm- P
3
H))/2 m of water
= 0.0015 m of water
Suction head,
h
S
= ((atm- P
2
T)+ (atm- P
2
H))/2 m of water
= -0.025 m of water
Fan output power , P
o
= (*g*h*Q)/1000 kW
g = 9.81m/s
2

Q = 2.037 m
3
/s
P
o
= 0.529 kW
Efficiency of the axial flow fan,
= (P
o
/P
i
)*100%
= 42.63 %

VI. GRAPHS

Graph 1 Input Power Vs Flow Rate



Graph 2 Fan speed Vs Flow Rate


Graph 3 Pressure Head Vs Flow rate
VII. RESULT
The discharge rates were varied from 1.32 to 2.46 m
3
/s.
Correspondingly the graph of total head, fan speed and
input has been obtained. The total head varied from 10
cm to 35 cm while the power varied from 409W 2250
W. The efficiency varied from 38.9%- 53.8% and peak in
efficiency is achieved at 1.866 m
3
/s.
VIII. CONCLUSION
We conclude that as flow rate is increased then the
power required, fan speed and pressure head also
increases. The efficiency goes maximum to 53.8%, so a
lot of head developed is lost. This happens due to
irreversibilitys in the system as equations are applicable
for reversible which is not possible.
Further there can be sources of error due to which we
get lower efficiency readings. There could be several
reasons for this such as error in reading of devices
manually like manometer, tachometer, and bubbles in
the manometer

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to acknowledge with appreciation the
numerous and valuable persons whose contribution has
been important in this report. We would like to thank our
instructors Dr. Deepu and Dr. Rajesh S for their valuable
help. We also thank our lab assistants for clearing our
doubts.
REFERENCES

0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005
I
n
p
u
t

P
o
w
e
r

(
W
)

Flow Rate (m3/s)
Input Power Vs Flow Rate
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
1.2 1.7 2.2 2.7
F
a
n


S
p
e
e
d


(
m
/
s
)



Flow Rate (m3/s)
Velocity vs Flow Rate
0.0091
0.0141
0.0191
0.0241
0.0291
0.0341
0.0391
1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.1 2.3 2.5
H
e
a
d

(
m
)

Flow Rate (m3/s)
Pressure Head vs Flow Rate
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_fan_design
[2] Dr. Rajesh S, Dr. Deepu assistant professors department of aerospace
engineering IIST ,Lab Hand Out


APPENDIX
Specifications:
Over all dimensions of Test Rig:
Length = 1.6 m
Width = 1 m
Height =1.5 m

Maximum Pressure developed by the fan = 80 mm of WG
Maximum flow delivered = 2.3 m3/sec
Technical specifications of the fan:
Fan Blades - 8 off air foil section
Inlet guide vanes (IGV) - 8 off flat plate section
Outlet guide vanes (OGV) - 8 off pelage section
Load vanes - 8 off flat plate section

Motor:
Power - 5 HP
Speed range - 0 to 2800 rpm