ME 401 A

Energy Systems II
Turbomachinery
Module VII

Module 7

Fans & Blowers

Introduction
Fan:
Objective:
move mass of gas or vapour at desired velocity,
without much rise in pressure!
e.g., Ceiling, Table, ventilation Fans
Blower:
delivers gas or air with appreciable rise in pressure
e.g., hand-held to industrial blowers
Compressor:
generate high pressure
pressure rise expressed as pressure ratio
Applications:

homes, mines, ventilation, air-conditioning, industrial

processes, cooling of electrical motors and generators, power
plants, aircrafts, ..... & many more!!

Classification
Pressure rise & Flow rate:
Fan:
Blower:
Compressor:

low P rise: few mm of water gauge, < 250 mm

moderately high P rise, > 1000 mm of water
quite high P rise

Flow direction:
Axial
Centrifugal
Mixed flow
Axial:

Low pressure
High flow rate

Centrifugal:
High Pressure
Low flow rate

Fans

Courtesy: web

Centrifugal Fans

Courtesy: web

Blowers

Courtesy: web

Centrifugal Fans & Blowers

Components
Main Components:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Courtesy: Turbines, Compressors & Fans Yahya

Inlet nozzle
Impeller
Volute Casing
Delivery pipe

Construction
Blades directly on prime mover shaft OR shaft coupled to motor
Welding blades to shaft , One piece casting
Blades: Sheet metal; uniform thickness or airfoil section
Main difference in construction of Compressor & Fan, Blower :
due to marked difference in Pressure rise

Double entry impeller:

for large capacity

Courtesy: Turbines, Compressors & Fans Yahya

Principle & Working

Types
3 types: Depending upon blade geometry
1. Backward-swept blades
2. Radial blades
3. Forward-swept blades

Conventions: Velocity Triangles

treat:

C as V
C as Vw
Cr as Vf
W as Vr

Velocity
Whirl component
Flow component
Relative velocity

Backward-swept blades
inclination away from motion direction
work depends on whirl components
stagnation pressure rise -> V1 & V2
useful for low pressure rise & flow rate
6 to 17 blades, typically

2 < 90
u2 > Vw2

Courtesy: Turbines, Compressors & Fans Yahya

Radial blades
dashed large whirl component -> low pressure
solid zero whirl preferred

purely radial vanes -> cheap construction

good for dust-laden flows

2 = 90
u2 = Vw2

Courtesy: Turbines, Compressors & Fans Yahya

Forward-swept blades
inclination in the motion direction
inlet has whirl component
not useful arrangement

2 > 90
u2 < Vw2

Courtesy: Turbines, Compressors & Fans Yahya

Commonly used Forward-swept blades

zero whirl at inlet
forward swept at exit large whirl high pressure rise
larger hub/tip ratio
more number of blades required

2 > 90
u2 < Vw2

Courtesy: Turbines, Compressors & Fans Yahya

Velocity Triangles & Analysis

Parametric Calculations
mass flow rate
work
Power requirement
pressure rise
pressure coefficient
efficiency

number of blades

Design Parameters

blade shapes
impeller size
diffusers & volute

Design Parameters
design on similar lines as a low pressure compressor
largely empirical and approximate
1. Impeller Size:

2. Blade shapes:

Eck: d1/d2 = 1.2 1/3

Smaller the ratio, longer the blade passage
straight / curved sheet metal or airfoil blades
optimum blade angle ~ 35 deg.

3. Number of blades:
depends on application, type & size; vary from 2 to 14
too few: unable to impose flow geometry
too many: blockage & loss
Empirical relations:
4. Diffuser & Volute:
recovery of static pressure from KE at impeller exit
diffuser: advantageous, but costly
volute design for constant P or V
cross section: square, rectangular, circular, trapezoidal

Fan Laws
Relationship of Q, H, P with D and N from principle of similarity
for same size

for different sizes

Performance Characteristics of Fan

Forward: highest pressure for given impeller diameter and speed
steep power increase for small change in flow
Backward: rapid decrease in pressure with increasing flow

Summary:
Forward: large pressure & discharge
but, demand large power
unstable at off-design cond.
Backward:

Radial:

drooping power -> suitable for

off-design cond.
efficient

preferred for dust-laden flows

Courtesy: nptel, web

Courtesy: www.youtube.com

(for videos)

Thank you ...