Fan Performance and Fan Laws
Fan Performance and Fan Laws
Fan Performance and Fan Laws
Laws
This blog gives a general outline of the rules or laws which can be used to predict fan
performance in a given system. Why are the fan laws important? As an example, let’s
consider the fan curve typically provided by a manufacturer. This fan curve is usually
measured at “standard” or other stated conditions. In real systems, it is unlikely that a
fan will be spending its operating life at these identical conditions. Furthermore, suction
pressure variations, density changes, composition changes, etc are common and can also
affect how the fan will operate in the system.
The fan laws help us estimate how a fan will operate in a system at different speeds,
fluid density, impeller diameter, etc. Once we have a basic understanding of these laws,
the performance of a fan can be calculated for various conditions.
One point to note is that the laws apply to the same point of operation on the fan curve.
They cannot be used to predict other points on the fan’s curve. The fundamental fan
laws governing fan performance are generally only valid for a fixed system with no
changes in airflow characteristics in the system or changes in aerodynamics. The term
“system” refers to the combination of ducting, filters, grilles, dampers louvres, hoods,
etc through which air is distributed.
As noted earlier, as the airflow is increased in any fan system, the system resistance also
increases. In a fixed system, it is said that the pressure required/system resistance varies
with the square of the volume of air flowing through the system. The system resistance
curve can be developed by determining the pressure required over a range of system
flow rates. This resistance curve can then be plotted on the fan performance curve (also
known as the fan capacity curve) to identify the actual duty-point. This is shown as
point “1” in Figure 2 where the fan curve N1 and system resistance curve SC1 intersect.
This duty-point is at airflow Q1 which is delivered against pressure P1.
Figure 2: System
Resistance Curves.
Fans operate along a performance curve as provided by a manufacturer for a given fan
speed. If we wish to reduce the air flow in the system, we could for instance partially
close off a damper in the system or reduce the fan speed. Partially closing a damper will
result in a new system resistance curve. This is shown as system resistance curve SC2
where the required pressure increases for any given air flow. The fan will now operate
at duty-point 2 to provide the reduced air flow Q2 against the higher pressure P2.
On the other hand, we can reduce the fan speed from say N1 to N2 to reduce the airflow
in the system and keep the damper in the fully open position. Under these conditions,
the fan will now operate at duty-point 3 to provide the same airflow rate Q2 but at a
lower pressure.
Therefore, reducing the fan speed is a much more energy-efficient approach to reduce
airflow since less power will be required resulting in less energy consumption.
Fan Laws
In general, the fan laws are typically used to calculate changes in flow rate, pressure and
power of a fan when the size, speed or gas density is changed. In the fan laws outlined
in Table 1 below, the subscript 1 represents the initial existing condition and subscript 2
represents the desired calculated condition.
T
he illustration in Figure 3 helps illustrate the effects of changes in fan speed.
Figure 3: Effects on Flow, Pressure & Power due to changes in fan speed.
The fan laws are a group of equations used to determine the effects of changes in the fan
operating speed, the fan diameter or the density of the air in the system. The
performance of a centrifugal fan, axial fan or blower is often given as a series of
pressure, efficiency and shaft power characteristic curves plotted against air flow rate
for specified values of speed, air density, and fan dimensions. It is, therefore, useful to
determine the operating characteristic of the fan at other speeds and air densities. Using
the fan law relationships, families of fan curves can be developed for operating the fan
at different speeds, etc.
The fan laws can also be utilized to consider test results obtained from smaller prototype
fans to predict the performance of larger fans which are of course geometrically similar.
Knowing the performance of a given fan under set specified operating conditions,
variations in the performance can be predicted according to the fan laws. It should be
noted however that adding or removing components of a fixed system such as dampers
or incurring density changes will create an entirely different system resistance curve.
Also, it’s worth noting that changing fan accessories such as inlet dampers, inlet boxes
will change the fan performance curve from the standard. This should, therefore, be
considered before considering or applying the fan laws.
As part of the system design, the fan laws can be quite useful in determining alternate
performance criteria or in establishing a minimum and maximum range. In the event
that “safety factors” have been applied to system design calculations, it is worth noting
that, based on the fan laws, a 10% increase in volume will result in a 33% increase in
power requirement. Due consideration is therefore recommended on evaluating any
applied “safety factors” against the actual cost penalty incurred.
In general, using these rules or fan laws, once we know the performance of a given fan
under set specified operating conditions, variations in the performance can be predicted
with reasonable levels of accuracy. FluidFlow software considers the effects of
compressibility, suction pressure variation, etc whilst also solving the fan laws ensuring
a high level of accuracy.
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