Fan Types Fan Performance Curves Fan Laws Factors affecting Efficiency Flow Control Strategies Energy saving

opportunities

 Provide air for Ventilation & Industrial process requirements As per ASME differentiated by the Specific ratio Fans : up to 1.11 Blowers: 1.11 to 1.20

 Selection depends on Volume flow rate, Pressure, type of Material handled, Space limitation and Efficiency Fan : Centrifugal and Axial Blower : Centrifugal and positive displacement

Type of fan Centrifugal fan Air foil, backward curved/inclined Modified radial Radial Pressure blower Forward curved Axial Van axial Tube axial Propeller

Peak efficiency range 79-83 72-79 69-75 58-68 60-65 78-85 67-72 45-50

Operating Point
The intersection of the system curve and the static pressure curve defines the operating point. When the system resistance changes, the operating point also changes. Once the operating point is fixed, the power required could be found by following a vertical line that passes through the operating point to an intersection with the power (BHP) curve. A horizontal line drawn through the intersection with the power curve will lead to the required power on the right vertical axis. In the depicted curves, the fan efficiency curve is also presented.

Fan laws
Relation of speed, power and pressure. flow speed Q1/ Q2= N1/ N2 flow (speed)2 SP 1/ SP 2= (N1/ N2)2 Power ( speed)3 KW 1/ KW 2= (N1/ N2)3

Efficiency Calculation
Efficiency
= Power absorbed by gas Power input to Motor Power absorbed by gas =V.dP Power input to Motor= 3*V*I*Cos

Factor affecting efficiency

Blade Design

Factor affecting efficiency

Fan Enclosure and Duct design.
Ambient temperature Maximum operating temperature of gas.

Factor affecting efficiency

Composition of gas
Dust concentration and nature of dust Operating frequency

Flow Control stratagies

Pulley Change:- IF fan volume change is required on the permanent basis, then volume change can be achieved by speed change

Damper controls:-

Some fans are designed with damper controls Dampers can be located at inlet or outlet. Dampers provide a means of changing air volume by adding or removing system resistance. This resistance forces the fan to move up or down along its characteristic curve, generating more or less air without changing fan speed.

Comparison between Damper and Speed control for flow regulation.

 Inlet guide vanes:Guide vanes are curved sections that lay against the inlet of the fan when they are open. When they are closed, they extend out into the air stream. As they are closed, guide vanes pre-swirl the air entering the fan housing. This changes the angle at which the air is presented to the fan blades, which, in turn, changes the characteristics of the fan curve. Guide vanes are energy efficient for modest flow reductions

Variable speed drive:Variable speed operation involves reducing the speed of the fan to meet reduced flow requirements. Fan performance can be predicted at different speeds using the fan laws. Since power input to the fan changes as the cube of the flow, this will usually be the most efficient form of capacity control. However, variable speed control may not be economical for systems, which have infrequent flow variations.

 Series and parallel operation:Parallel operation:- Result in doubling the volume flow, but only at free delivery. . Thus, this type of application should only be used when the fans can operate in a low resistance almost in a free delivery condition. Series operation :-can be defined as using multiple fans in a push-pull arrangement. By staging two fans in series, the static pressure capability at a given airflow can be increased, but again, not to double at every flow point, as the above .

Energy Saving Opportunities

Minimising Excess air levels Minimising air in leak Minimising System Resistance & Pressure drop in Duct system In-leaks/out leaks in air conditioning systems Change of Impeller (Hollow FRP) Change of Fan assembly

 Fiber reinforced plastic blade results in high power savings ,as the following effect after FRP blades in Urea cooling tower Gadepan -2
Sl No DESCRIPTION Current with GRP Blades 2 Current with Hollow FRP Blades Power with GRP Power with FRP Savings wrt Amps FAN-1 FAN-2 FAN-3 FAN-4

Amps

108

106

105

108

Amps

81

77

77

81

3 4 5

KW KW %

73 51 26.8

72 50 31

71 50 28.9

72 53 28

Savings w.r.t Power

32.2

34.9

33

32.2