Compiled by Arnold S.

De Leon

Energy Savings on Fan

Applications
Types of Fans
Axial or Propeller Fans
In an axial fan the air flows in
parallel to the shaft.
Axial fans are suited for relatively
large volumes compared to
pressure.
Vane Axial Propeller

Roof Ventilator

ADL 06/07/2010
22
Types of Fans

Centrifugal Fan
In a centrifugal fan the air flows is
in a radial direction relative to the
shaft.
Suitable for higher airflow and
pressure

ADL 06/07/2010
33
Classification of Centrifugal
Fans

 Curved forward blades.

 Straight radial blades. High efficiency, small
Self cleaning. Suitable dimensions, changing in
for material transport pressure have little
influence on pressure head

Curved backward blades. High efficiency, low energy

consumption, changing in pressure have little influence on
air volume. Low noise emission, stable in parallel running.

ADL 06/07/2010
44
Basic Terms in Fan Application

Static Head
is defined as “the pressure exerted by a still liquid or gas, especially
water or air.

 Figure 1, Showing Equal Air  Figure 2, with Exhaust Fan

Pressure inside and outside the running Inside Air is lesser than
building. Here no exhaust fan Outside Air.
running ADL 06/07/2010
55
 Basic Terms in Fan Application

Flow (Q)
Amount of liquid or gas necessary to maintain Static Pressure express is
Cubic Feet per Minute or Cubic Meters per Minute.

 Point to remember
 2.44 ft2 of vent box
opening can accommodate
approximately 1500 CFM of
air or 42 cu. Meters per
minute

ADL 06/07/2010
66
 Basic Terms in Fan Application

Brake Horse Power (BHP)

The brake horsepower is the amount of real horsepower going to the pump, not the
horsepower used by the motor. In the metric system kilowatts (kW) is used.

Due to hydraulic, mechanical and volumetric losses in a pump or turbine the actual
horsepower available for work on or from the fluid is less than the total horsepower supplied.

 P BHP =  * Q * h / 3300 /  P EL = P BHP /  EL


 P EL = Electric Motor Power
 P BHP = Brake Horse Power   EL = stands for motor
  = specific weight of air efficiency
 Q = is for flow in CFM
 h= is for head
  = stands for efficiency

ADL 06/07/2010
77
How to read a Fan
Curve?

Points to Remember:

• The most valuable pieces of

information supplied by fan
manufacturers is the fan
performance curve.

• Each Fan, has its own

performance curve on a
particular application. ADL 06/07/2010
88
 Fan Curve Basics

 Fan Curve
Figure on the right shows a typical centrifugal fan produce at its
outlet at a given RPM.

The curve is a plot of outlet pressure in inches of water versus

the flow of air in CFM of a Fan.
Fan Curve

Operating
 System Curve Point
 The System Curve is added to the Fan
Curve
 This shows the requirement of the vent
system from the fan to overcome losses
and produce an air flow..
System Curve
 Operating Point
 The point where pressure and flow
requirement of the system can meet by
the fan.
 Without external influences, the fan will
operate only at this point. ADL 06/07/2010
99
 Fan Curve Basics

BHP Curve
Now the BHP curve is added.

At Static Pressure of 4 units Head, and Flow of 6.2 units CFM, the motor shaft
will exert 6.2 BHP of power.
BHP

Fan Curve

Operating
Point
 Computing for the Motor HP
 Say motor at full load efficiency of
90%
 P EL = P BHP /  EL System Curve
 P EL = 6.2 / 0.90
 P EL = 6.8 HP
 Commercially available motors
are 5.5 and 7.5 HP, choose 7.5
HP ADL 06/07/2010
1010
 Fan Curve Basics

BHP

Effect of Resistance to the fan Fan Curve

System Curve can shift due to following factors,
● Dirt in the filters
● Damper throttling

Increase decrease
resistance resistance

ADL 06/07/2010
1111
 Methods of Regulation
in Fans

• Outlet Dampers

• Variable Inlet Vanes

• Pitch Control

• AC Drives or Variable Frequency Drive

ADL 06/07/2010
1212
Outlet Damper

The outlet dampers affect the

system curve.
As the outlet damper is closed,
the fan’s point of operation
moves left from the initial design
point on the static pressure curve.
Depending on where the design
point is, damper horsepower may
be less, the same, or more than
the full flow of horsepower.
Outlet dampers are typically the
least expensive first cost option
but also offer the least potential
for energy savings.
ADL 06/07/2010 1313
 Variable Inlet Vane

Inlet-vane dampers affect the Fan

Curve.
It spins the air in the direction of
wheel rotation as it enters the
fan. With this pre-spin, the wheel
cannot develop its full output,
yielding a reduced CFM at
reduced horsepower.
Each damper setting creates new
pressure and horsepower curves.
With inlet-vane dampers, reduced
airflow always results in reduced
horsepower.
More expensive initially than
outlet dampers, but inlet-vane ADL 06/07/2010
1414
dampers offer greater potential
Variable Pitch Axial Fan

It has a sophisticated hub which

carries the blades. Each blade is
connected to a spindle, which is
rotated by a lever. A servo-controlled
hydraulic cylinder moves all the levers
simultaneously while the fan impeller
is rotating. This varies the output of
Mechanically unreliable
the fan. High Electrical Efficiency

The blade/hub assembly is mounted

on a shaft which rotates in a casing,
ADL 06/07/2010 1515
Variable Pitch Axial Fan

Mechanically Linked Servo Controlled

Variable Pitch Axial Fan Variable Pitch Axial Fan

ADL 06/07/2010
1616
 AC Drive or VFD

VFD controllers provide energy

savings by directly controlling fan
speed.
From the fan laws, CFM varies
directly with the change in fan
speed and horsepower varies by
the change in fan speed cubed.
For example, a 20% reduction in
fan speed yields a 20% reduction
in airflow and a 49% reduction in
BHP.
VFD provides the greatest
potential for energy savings.

ADL 06/07/2010 1717

Which the best
Regulation Method?

Outlet Damper Inlet Vane VFD

ADL 06/07/2010
1818
Mathematical Concept
System Curve Formula;
P = K * Q2
Where
P = the pressure required to
produce a given flow in the
system
K = is a function of the system
and represents the friction to
air flow. The outlet vanes
affect the K factor.
Q = is the airflow desired
 Fan Affinity Law;
Volume Capacity
Q1 / Q2 = (n1 / n2)         (1a)
Head or Pressure
P1 / P2 = (n1 / n2)2          (2a)
Power
HP1 / HP2 = (n1 / n2)3          (3a)
Where
P = the pressure required to produce a
given flow in the system
n= is the motor speed
Q=ADLis the airflow desired
06/07/2010 1919
Mathematical Concept

Note that when System Curve Formula and Affinity Law are
combine,
P = K * Q2 ; K=
P / Q2
From Affinity Laws Volume Capacity:

Q1 / Q2 = (n1 / n2)    ;   {Q1 / Q2} 2 = (n1 / n2)

2 

From Affinity Laws Pressure Vs. Speed:

P1 / P2 = (n1 / n2)2   ;   P1 / P2 = {Q1 / Q2} 2

  
ADL 06/07/2010 2020
 Mathematical Concept

The mathematical equation shows,

that VFD regulation can achieves
flow control in a way that closely
matches the system or load curve

As the fan speed is reduced, a

significant reduction in power
requirement is achieved.

For example, a 20% reduction in

fan speed yields a 20% reduction in
airflow and a 49% reduction in BHP.

ADL 06/07/2010 2121

Sample Calculation

A Fan was selected to run

at 300 RPM, 100 CFM and
4 inches of Static Pressure.

Determine the best

regulation method.

ADL 06/07/2010 2222

Sample Calculation-
Outlet Damper
CFM Duty HP Weighted HP
From Fan Curve
100 10% 35 3.5

80 40% 35 14.0

60 40% 31 12.4

40 10% 27 2.7

Total 32.6

CFM Outlet Without

Dwell time Damper Regulation
Weighted HP 32.6 35
Equivalent in KW 24.3 26.1

Dwell time 496 496

Power rate PHP 8/ kW-hr PHP 8/ kW-hr

Total Energy PHP 96,424 PHP 103,565

Cost/month
ADL 06/07/2010
Savings using Outlet Damper 2323
PHP 7,141.00
 Sample Calculation- VFD
Regulation
CFM Duty HP Weighted HP
 Using Fan Affinity Law; Using Affinity Law

100 10% 35 3.5

Power versus Speed or Cube Law
80 40% 18 7.2
HP = n 3
60 40% 7.56 3.02

@ 100% CFM ; HP = 100% 40 10% 2.24 0.22

Total 13.94
@ 80% CFM ; CFM VFD Without
Dwell time Regulation Regulation
HP = (0.8)*(0.8)*(0.8)= 0.512*
35HP= 18HP Weighted HP 13.94 35
Equivalent in KW 10.4 26.1

@ 60% CFM ;
Dwell time 496 496
HP = (0.6)*(0.6)*(0.6)= 0.216*
Power rate PHP 8/ kW-hr PHP 8/ kW-hr
35HP= 7.56HP
Total Energy PHP 55,314 PHP 103,565
@ 40% CFM ; Cost/month

HP = (0.4)*(0.4)*(0.4)= 0.064* ADL 06/07/2010

Savings Using VFD 2424
PHP48,251
Savings Comparison

Without Outlet Damper VFD Regulation

Regulation
Weighted HP 35 32.6 13.94
Equivalent in KW 26.1 24.3 10.4

Dwell time 496 496 496

Power rate PHP 8/ kW-hr PHP 8/ kW-hr PHP 8/ kW-hr
Total Energy PHP 103,565 PHP 96,424 PHP 55,314
Cost/month
Savings using PHP 7,141.00
Outlet Damper
Savings Using VFD per Month PHP48,251

Difference in Savings per Month PHP 41,110.00

ADL 06/07/2010 2525

Welcome to VACON

ADL 06/07/2010 2626

Vacon HVAC Proven
Technology
Jumeirah
Heathrow
Emirates
Airport,
Towers,
Terminal 5,
Dubai, UAE
UK

DR multimedia
Inox
house,
multiplex
Copenhagen,
cinema,
Denmark
Pune, India

Raffl es private Sello

hospital, shopping
Singapore centre,
Espoo,
Finland

ADL 06/07/2010 2727

Questions?

ADL 06/07/2010 2828