Mine Ventilation - Fans and Flow Devices
Mine Ventilation - Fans and Flow Devices
Mine Ventilation - Fans and Flow Devices
1. CENTRIFUGAL FANS – These fans look like "squirrel cages" that draw air
into the centre of the fan and exhaust it at a 90-
degree angle.
– They can operate against a high resistance and are
typically used in local exhaust ventilation systems.
2. AXIAL FANS – These fans look like propellers and draw air straight
through the fan. The basic characteristics of these fans include that they:
can move large amounts of air if there is little resistance, and are not
suited for local exhaust ventilation because they do not provide enough
suction to draw air through the system.
Classification of Fans According to the
Direction of the Flow
1. CENTRIFUGAL FANS - deliver low quantities at high
pressures
Centrifugal fan blade types:
Radial – it operates at high
speeds, can generate high
pressures and are capable of
self-cleaning
Forward-curved - it tends to
operate at lower speed and are
smaller
Backward-curved – it usually
offer high performances, their
power curve is significantly
elastic and are the least noisy.
Fig. 2
2. AXIAL FANS - provide higher flow rates at lower
pressures
Types of Axial Fans:
Then,
FTP = (SPo + VPo) − (SPi + VPi)
where SP and VP represent the static velocity pressures
at the inlet (i) and outlet (o), respectively.
If the size of the fan inlet and outlet section match, then the
velocities are also the same and with them the VP. In such a case:
FTP = (SPo) − (SPi)
All static pressure at the outlet of the fan duct is lost due to the
expansion of the airflow until atmospheric pressure is reached.
There are two possibilities for converting this static pressure into
dynamic pressure at the outlet: the nozzle and the grille. The idea
in both cases is to reduce the duct section so that a greater
amount of static pressure is transformed into velocity pressure. In
addition, both give the airflow the desired exit direction.
Fan losses
To calculate for the overall performance of the fan system which accumulates
a series of operating losses, we can use:
where:
𝑛𝑡 = total efficiency
𝑛𝑜 = organic efficiency (first parenthesis)
𝑛𝑣 = volumetric efficiency (second parenthesis)
𝑛𝑓 = friction efficiency (third parenthesis)
In other words,
Affinity laws in fans
The following laws are used to express the relationship between
variables involved in fan performance and power.
Pressure (P):
2
𝐷
𝑃 = 𝑃0
Fig. 8 𝐷0
Power (Pw):
5
𝐷
𝑃𝑤 = 𝑃𝑤0
𝐷0
Simultaneous variation of several parameters – are used for
two similar fans of diameter 𝐷𝑜 and D rotating at speeds
𝑁𝑜 and N, respectively.
Fig. 9
Fan characteristics curve
The fan characteristic curves are the graphical representation of the
interrelation between a number of parameters, namely, airflow rate, static or
total pressure, fan speed, efficiency and power requirements of a fan.
Fig. 10. Experimental procedure for Fig. 11. The obtaining of the
obtaining the fan characteristic curve at operating point from the system
constant rotational speed in a test rig. characteristic curve and the total
Modified from ASHRAE (2008) pressure supplied by the fan
Fig. 12. Fan stall region and Fif. 13. Effect of natural ventilation
recommended operation zone on the fan characteristic curve
Fan characteristic curves can be obtained for
the static pressure giving rise to the fan static
efficiency (𝑛𝑠 ) using:
Fig. 14. Use of fan curve to determine
power consumption
Flow control strategies
The regulation of the flow supplied by a fan can be carried out
using the following fundamental mechanisms:
1. Rotation speed variation is
achieved by utilizing variable
frequency drives16 acting on the
electric motor, although in the
past pulleys mechanism was
frequent
4. Blade pitch variation provides infinite airflow rate ranges, has relatively
high efficiency and can move air backward employing negative pitch angles.
The greatest drawbacks of this system are its high cost and very high risk of
stall if the pitch angle adjustment is not correct
5. Bypass control acts by lowering down the system impedance curve while
maintaining the fan curve. The system is only used in fans with steep fan
curves, such as centrifugal backward-curved and axial fans. The method is not
used as it creates high losses.
Power-flow and pressure flow curves
for axial and centrifugal fans
• The shape of the characteristic curves of the fans differs
depending on whether they are axial or centrifugal. The
prototypical shape of the pressure and power curves of axial
and centrifugal fans is shown in Fig. 17.
Fig. 17
• The typical shape of the same curves for radial, forward-curved or
backward-curved centrifugal fans is shown in Fig. 18a.
• The most obvious characteristic of both axial and backward-curved fans is
that of non-overloading (Fig. 18b). This results in power curves peaking
and then dropping off. As a result, a motor, already selected to support the
peak power, is not overloaded as long as the speed of rotation remains
constant despite variations in the resistance of the system.
Fig. 18
Characteristics Curve for Series and
Parallel Connection of Fans
Fig. 19
• In this type of connection, if one of the fans is weaker than
the other is, it can act by slowing down the most powerful
one (tandem effect).
• Moreover, in a parallel system of fans, the total airflow rate is
equal to the sum of the individual flows provided by each of
them (Fig. 20 a, b).
Fig. 20
Fans operation
When a three-phase motor is started with a direct-on-line motor starter, a
peak of current consumption takes place. This peak can reach 4–10 times
higher than the motor running current and may cause a voltage dips in the
grid. For this reason, the following starting systems are usually adopted,
namely:
o Star-delta starter
o Auto-transformer starter
o Soft starter
The manufacturer determines the type that best suits the motor for each
model of starter.
As far as maintenance is concerned, modern fans have electronic
devices to protect the motor. This includes thermistors to control temperatures,
accelerometers to control vibrations and Petermann probes to detect the stall
effect.
In addition, the following recommendations are established:
• In order to avoid bearing failure, the alignment between the
motor and fan shafts must be checked at least once every six
months.
• The oil tanks should be checked at the frequency indicated by
the manufacturer. The same applies to the greasing of the fan
parts.
• The blades must be checked annually to avoid material deposits
and wear. A complete overhaul of the bearings is recommended
every year.
• In general, action should be taken on the fan if it shows:
abnormal vibrations, excessive noise, high-energy consumption
or low performance.
References
Fig. 1 – https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Centrifugal-Fan-with-Scroll-
Enclosure-6-5_fig4_332606723
Fig. 2 – https://www.scy-fan.com/types-centrifugal-fanaxial-fans-and-
common-blower/
Fig. 3 – https://www.directindustry.com/industrial-manufacturer/axial-
fan-73235.html
Fig. 4 – https://www.cincinnatifan.com/tube-axial-fans.htm
Fig. 5 – https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/vane-axial-fans-
11158011948.html
Fig. 6 – https://www.tcf-azen.com/products/mixed-flow-fans/
Figs. 7-20 – Sierra, C. (2020). Mine Ventilation: A Concise Guide for
Students.
QUESTIONS
a. Axial Fan
b. Auxiliary Fan
c. Booster Fan
d. Centrifugal Fan
2. These fans look like propellers and draw air straight
through the fan.
a. Axial Fan
b. Auxiliary Fan
c. Booster Fan
d. Centrifugal Fan
3. Rotating part that communicates pressure and
movement to the air. It consists of the blades, which
may or may not be adjustable, and their support–
normally a shaft.
a. Impeller
b. Housing or Casing
c. Diffusers and/or evasés
d. Propeller
4. These are the elements of gradually increasing area,
which when coupled to the discharge of the fan
transform part of the dynamic pressure at the outlet
into static pressure.
a. Impeller
b. Housing or Casing
c. Diffusers and/or evasés
d. Propeller
5. The stationary part, protects the impeller and guides
the air in its route.
a. Impeller
b. Housing or Casing
c. Diffusers and/or evasés
d. Propeller
6. A type of Centrifugal Fan that usually offers high
performances, their power curve is significantly elastic
and are the least noisy.
a. Straight radial
b. Forward-curved
c. Backward-curved
d. Tubeaxial
7. A type of Centrifugal Fan that tends to operate at
lower speed and are smaller.
a. Straight radial
b. Forward-curved
c. Backward-curved
d. Tubeaxial
8. A type of Centrifugal Fan that operates at high
speeds, can generate high pressures and are capable of
self-cleaning
a. Straight radial
b. Forward-curved
c. Backward-curved
d. Tubeaxial
9. The type of ventilation that utilizes the application of
fans, vents, tubings and baggings.
a. Natural ventilation
b. lime dusting
c. Natural draft
d. Mechanical ventilation
10. An electronic device used to control vibrations.
a. Thermistor
b. Accelerometer
c. Petermann probe
d. None of the above
ANSWER key
1. D. Centrifugal Fan
2. A. Axial Fan
3. A. Impeller
4. C. Diffuser and/or evasés
5. B. Housing or casing
6. C. Backward-curved
7. B. Forward-curved
8. A. Straight radial
9. D. Mechanical ventilation
10. B. Accelometer
CONCLUSIONs/Takeaways
• A fan has three main parts – impeller, housing, and diffusers.
• Main fan has two types – centrifugal and axial fans.
• Centrifugal fan has three blade types – radial, forward-curved, and
backward-curved.
• Propellers, tubeaxials, and vaneaxials are the three types of axial fans.
• Fan Total Pressure (FTP) represents the total energy per unit volume
communicated to the fluid.
• Fluid friction is one factor that affects fan efficiency.
• Rotation speed variation, diameter variation, and simultaneous variation
of several parameters are some of the laws used to express the
relationship between variables involved in fan performance and power.
• Fan characteristic curves are the graphical representation of the
interrelation between a number of parameters, namely, airflow rate, static
or total pressure, fan speed, efficiency and power requirements of a fan.
• Flow control strategies are associated with the fundamental mechanisms
of rotation speed variation, inlet guide vanes, variable-pitch control, blade
pitch variation, and bypass control.
• The shape of the characteristic curves of the fans differs depending on
whether they are axial or centrifugal.
• In a series arrangement of identical fans without mutual interference, the
total pressure is equal to the sum of the individual total pressures
provided by each fan.
• And it is worth noting that the recommendations in fan operation must be
put into practice.
ARIGATOUGOZAIMASU!
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