Performance Test on Single Stage Axial Flow Fan

Akhil Jaiswal, Akhil Praveen, ASP Gautam, Amal Jyothis V, Amit Kamboj, Anand Kumar, Anurag Singh T
B. Tech. Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology

Abstract— A performance test was carried out on single stage

axial flow fan test rig and the variables for performance
evaluation were measured. By varying the fan motor rotational
speed, input and output power calculations were done using the
measured variables and variation of efficiency with fan rpm was
studied. Maximum efficiency was obtained at 2000 rpm.

Keywords- Single Stage Axial Flow Fan, Efficiency.

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

Figure 1. Fan Nomenclature[2] Figure 3. Multi Limb Manometer

 III. PROCEDURE For Fan Output Power,
Connect the multi-limb manometer limbs to the various static Flow rate, Q = (A * V) m3/s
pressure taps of the rig and the two probes. Then fill the Where,
manometer reservoir with water. Switch on the control panel Inlet area, A = 0.135 m2
with the motor speed control at minimum. Slowly increase the Velocity, V = √(2*g*Ha) m/s
motor speed to a required test speed. Note the time taken for 10 = √(2*g*(Hw/100)*(ρw/ρa)) m/s
pulses in energy meter. Start taking reading from the manometer Hw = Velocity head in cm of water.
(water column heights) with one of the limbs open to = 1.5 cm of water
atmosphere. The open limb provides a reference atmosphere Velocity, V = 15.091 m/s
water column height. The pressure (positive of vacuum) at that Static pressure head across the fan,
station is noted down. For the limbs connected to the probe, the h = (Delivery head – Suction head) m of water
difference between the water column heights directly gives the h = 0.0265 m of water
velocity head. Repeat the above procedure for different speed Delivery head,
conditions of the motor and note down the readings. Switch off hD = ((atm- P3T)+ (atm- P3H))/2 m of water
the motor after decreasing its speed slowly. Tabulate the = 0.0015 m of water
observations and calculate the required values. Suction head,
hS = ((atm- P2T)+ (atm- P2H))/2 m of water
IV. OBSERVATIONS
= -0.025 m of water
Table 1. Pressure Readings across Fan Fan output power , Po = (ρ*g*h*Q)/1000 kW
Time Static Pressure Rise across Fan g = 9.81m/s2
S. No. Fan Speed
10 rev P2T P2H P3T P3H Q = 2.037 m3/s
RPM s cm of water Po = 0.529 kW
1 1955 16.8 28.6 28.1 25.1 26.7
Efficiency of the axial flow fan,
η = (Po/Pi)*100%
2 2048 14.5 28.8 28.2 25 26.7 η= 42.63 %
3 2149 12.8 29 28.3 24.9 26.8
4 2250 11.1 29.2 28.5 24.8 26.9 VI. GRAPHS
5 2349 9.7 29.5 28.8 24.6 27
6 2457 8.1 29.9 29.3 24.4 27.1

Table 2. Pitot Probe Readings

Pitot Tube Reading
S. No. Fan Speed Time 10 rev
h1 h2
RPM s cm of water
1 1955 16.8 7.8 9.2
2 2048 14.5 7.7 9.2
3 2149 12.8 7.6 9.3
4 2250 11.1 7.6 9.4
5 2349 9.7 7.5 9.5
6 2457 8.1 7.4 9.5 Graph 1 Input Power Vs Flow Rate

V. EQUATIONS AND SAMPLE CALCULATION

For reading #2:
For Fan Input Power[3],
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, Pi = Motor output
Graph 2 Fan speed Vs Flow Rate
= 1.242 kW
 Further there can be sources of error due to which we obtained
discrepancy in results. There could be several reasons for this
such as error in reading of devices manually like manometer,
tachometer, bubbles in the manometer, etc.
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 M
and Dr. Rajesh S for their valuable help. We also thank our lab
assistants for clearing our doubts.
REFERENCES

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_fan_design
Graph 3 Head Vs Flow Rate [2] http://eeref.engr.oregonstate.edu/@api/deki/files/841/=Axial_Fan.png
[3] Dr. Rajesh S, Dr. Deepu M, IIST Lab Hand Out
[4] http://www.nyb.com/Catalog/Letters/EL-03.pdf

APPENDIX I
Specifications Single Stage Axial Flow Fan Test Rig:
Overall 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:
Graph 4. Efficieny Vs Flow Rate Power - 5 HP
Speed range - 0 to 2800 rpm
VII. RESULT
The air flow rate was varied from 1.96 to 2.41 m3/s.
Correspondingly, the graph of total head, fan speed and input APPENDIX II
has been obtained. The total head varied from 24 cm to 38 cm
while the power varied from 1071W to 2232 W. The efficiency Table 3. Calculated Values for all Readings
varied from 40%- 44% and peak in efficiency is achieved at a
flow rate of 1.968 m3/s at around 2000 rpm. Time
Sl
no Fan for 10 Static Fan
VIII. CONCLUSION Flow Fan Input
. Speed Rev of Pressure Head output Efficiency
Rate power
It can be inferred that as flow rate is increased then the fan Energy across fan Power
speed increases linearly and input power increases with the disc
cube of flow rate [4]. The efficiency has a maximum value of
maximum to 44% in the range of fan speeds at which the tests N(rpm) t(s) h(m of water) Q(m3/s) Pi(kW) Po(kW) η(%)
are done. Unlike standard test results referred from the internet 1 1955 16.8 0.0245 1.96826 1.07142857 0.473061 44.15239718
where efficiency increases and then decreases, in this
experiment, it keeps on decreasing monotonically in contrast to 2 2048 14.5 0.0265 2.037342 1.24223602 0.529638 42.63583697
standard results. One reason for such an occurrence may be that 3 2149 12.8 0.028 2.168917 1.4084507 0.595758 42.29881977
we might be doing the test beyond the point of maximum
4 2250 11.1 0.03 2.231797 1.62895928 0.656818 40.32131518
efficiency rpm. This is also supported by the increase in
pressure head with flow rate in this experiment unlike standard 5 2349 9.7 0.0335 2.35252 1.85185185 0.773121 41.74850938
performance test results where pressure head increases only in 6 2457 8.1 0.0385 2.410616 2.23325062 0.910454 40.76808602
the region of surge where efficiency starts decreasing.