___‫ ____אּ‬5 ½” Diameter

=
1600 rpm 22” Diameter __‫____אּ‬ 8” Diameter
=

‫ אּ‬x 22 = 1600 x 5 ½
400 rpm 10” Diameter

‫ אּ‬x 22 1600 x 5 ½ ‫ אּ‬x 10 = 400 x 8

=
22 22

‫ אּ‬x 10 = 400 x 8
‫ = אּ‬1600 x 5 ½
22 10 10

‫ = אּ‬400 ‫ = אּ‬400 x 8
10

‫ = אּ‬320
Pulley/RPM Adjustment # 1
A 1725 rpm motor drives a fan pulley fly wheel that is 8” diameter. If the desired fan rpm is 620, what

is the motor pulley size?

_620____ ____‫____אּ‬
=
1725 rpm 8” Diameter

1725 x ‫ = אּ‬620 x 8

1725 x ‫אּ‬ 620 x 8

=
1725 1725

‫ = אּ‬620 x 8
1725

‫ = אּ‬2.875 Ø
 Pulley/RPM Adjustment # 2
A 1800 rpm motor has a 3.25” diameter pulley installed on it. If you require a fan rpm of 700rpm,
what is the fan pulley size?

700 rpm 3 1/4” Diameter

=
1800 rpm ‫אּ‬

700 x ‫ = אּ‬1800 x 3 ¼”

700 x ‫אּ‬ 1800 x 3 ¼

=
700 700

‫ = אּ‬1800 x 3 ¼
700

‫ = אּ‬8.357 Ø
 Pulley/RPM Adjustment # 3
If a motor having an rpm of 1750 has a pulley installed on it that is 3 ½ “ dia. What is the flywheel
size if the desired fan rpm must be 860?

860 rpm 3 ½ ” Diameter

=
1750 rpm ‫אּ‬

860 x ‫ = אּ‬1750 x 3 ½ ”

860 x ‫אּ‬ 1750 x 3 ½”

=
860 860

‫ = אּ‬1750 x 3 ½”
860

‫ = אּ‬7.122 Ø
 FAN PULLEY MOTOR PULLEY DRIVER GEAR DRIVEN GEAR

No. of Teeth R.P.M. No. of Teeth R.P.M.

DIA. R.P.M. DIA. R.P.M.

a. ? 300 6" 400 a. 16 100 ? 50

b. ? 250 9" 750 b. 48 200 ? 100

c. 12" 150 ? 450 c. ? 300 96 200

d. 8" 600 ? 200 d. ? 420 28 360

e. 4" ? 3" 1600 e. 56 250 70 ?

f 12" ? 8" 800 f 28 390 32 ?

g. 6" 900 9" ? g. 24 ? 20 135

h. 12" 450 9" ? h. 14 ? 21 1200

 FAN PULLEY MOTOR PULLEY DRIVER GEAR DRIVEN GEAR

DIA. R.P.M. DIA. R.P.M. No. of Teeth R.P.M. No. of Teeth R.P.M.

a. 8 300 6" 400 a. 16 100 32 50

b. 27 250 9" 750 b. 48 200 96 100

c. 12" 150 4 450 c. 64 300 96 200

d. 8" 600 24 200 d. 24 420 28 360

e. 4" 1200 3" 1600 e. 56" 250 70 200

f 12" 533 8" 800 f. 28" 390 32 341.25

g. 6" 900 9" 600 g. 24 112.5 20 135

h. 12" 450 9" 600 h. 14 1800 21 1200

 Fan Law 1: CFM varies directly with RPM R.P.M. C.F.M.
Fan Law 1 says that air volume (CFM) varies directly with rotational speed of the fan in RPM 388 10,000
(revolutions per minute): 582 15,000
776 20,000
CFM2 RPM2
= 970 25,000
CFM1 RPM1
1164 30,000
CFM1 = original CFM RPM1 = original RPM 1358 35,000
Fig. 14: CFM varies directly
RPM2 = new RPM CFM2 = new CFM with RPM

Fan Law 1 means that if the RPM of a fan is increased, the CFM increases by the same
percentage. Figure 14 shows the relationships in Fan Law 1. If the CFM is increased 50%
(from 10,000 to 15,000) the RPM increases 50% (from 388 to 582).

Sheet metal workers often use Fan Law 1 because it predicts RPM or CFM when fan
changes are made. For example, the CFM produced by a fan needs to be raised from 25,000
to 30,000. The current RPM is 970. What RPM should he used to produce the 30,000 CFM
needed?
CFM2 RPM2
=
CFM1 RPM1

RPM2 30,000
=
970 25,000 Therefore to obtain 30,000 CFM, the fan speed must be
increased to 1165 RPM.
RPM2 x 25,000 = 970 x 30,000

RPM2 = 970 x 30,000

25,000
RPM2 = 1164 (Round to 1165)
In the same way, the new CFM can be predicted if the RPM is changed to a specific
amount. For example, a fan is producing 21,420 CFM at 801 RPM. If the RPM is changed
to 700 RPM, what CFM will be produced by the Fan?

CFM2 RPM2

=
CFM1 RPM1

CFM2 700
=
21,420 801

CFM2 x 801 = 21,420 x 700

CFM2 = 21,420 x 700

801

CFM2 = 18,719 (Round to 18,720 CFM)

 FAN LAW #1 QUESTIONS

1. A fan is delivering 3,750 CFM @ 945 RPM. If the speed is increased

to 1,175 RPM, how many CFM will be delivered?

2. A fan is delivering 12,225 CFM @ 1,150 RPM. If the speed is

decreased to 775 RPM, how many CFM will be delivered?

3. A fan is delivering 3,600 CFM at 1,000 RPM. If the fan speed is

increased to 1,250 RPM, how many CFM will be delivered?

4. A fan is delivering 7,500 CFM at 886 RPM. If 10,000 CFM is

required, what will be the new RPM?
1. A fan is delivering 3,750 CFM @ 945 RPM. If the speed is increased to 1,175 RPM, how
many CFM will be delivered?

CFM2 RPM2
=
CFM1 RPM1

CFM2 1175
=
3750 945

CFM2 x 945 = 3750 x 1175

CFM2 = 3750 x 1175

945

CFM2 = 4662.6984

There fore the new CFM will be 4665 CFM.

2. A fan is delivering 12,225 CFM @ 1,150
If the speed is decreased to 775 RPM, how
many CFM will be delivered?
CFM2 RPM2
=
CFM1 RPM1

CFM2 775
=
12225 1150

CFM2 x 1150 = 12225 x 775

CFM2 = 12225 x 775

1150

CFM2 = 8238.587

There fore the new CFM will be 8240 CFM.

 3. A fan is delivering 3,600 CFM at 1,000 RPM.
If the fan speed is increased to 1,250 RPM,
how many CFM will be delivered?
CFM2 RPM2
=
CFM1 RPM1

CFM2 1250
=
3600 1000

CFM2 x 1000 = 3600 x 1250

CFM2 = 3600 x 1250

1000

CFM2 = 4500

There fore the new CFM will be 4500 CFM.

 4. A fan is delivering 7,500 CFM at 886 RPM. If 10,000 CFM is required,
what will be the new RPM?

CFM2 RPM2
=
CFM1 RPM1

10000 RPM2
=
7500 886

7500 x RPM2 = 10000 x 886

CFM2 = 10000 x 886

7500

CFM2 = 1181.333

There fore the new RPM will be 1180 RPM.

 Fan Law 2: SP varies as a square of RPM

Fan Law 2 is used to determine the static pressure a fan will produce after
the fan RPM is changed. Fan Law 2 says that static pressure (SP) varies
directly as a square of the rotational speed of the fan (RPM):
2
SP2 RPM2
SP1 RPM1

For example, a fan is producing 0.5” wg static pressure. The RPM is

changed from 500 RPM to 550 RPM. What will the new static pressure be?

2 2
SP2 550 SP2 = 0.5 x 550 SP2 = 0.605”
0.5 500 500
Fan law 2 says that the SP ratio is the square root of the RPM ratio. You can
demonstrate this with the answer to the problem above. The SP ratio is 1.21:

0.605 1.21

0.5

The RPM ratio

550 1.1

500

The SP ratio is the square of the RPM ratio 1.1:

2

1.1 = 1.21
Because a change in RPM is directly related to a change in CFM (Fan Law 1),
the following variation of fan law 2 can be used:

2
SP2 CFM2
SP1 CFM1

A fan is delivering 7,534 CFM @ 886 RPM @ 1.2 SP. If 10,000 CFM is
required, what will be the new RPM? And what will be the new SP?
CFM2 RPM2
=
CFM1 RPM1

10000 RPM2
=
7534 886

10000 x 886 = 7534 x RPM2

10000 x 886 = RPM2

7534

RPM2 = 1176.002124
2

SP2 CFM2
SP1 CFM1
2

SP2 10000 2.1141218”

1.2 7534
Fan Law # 3 Bhp varies as the cube of the RPM
• Fan law 3 is used to find the new Bhp (brake horespower) needed if the RPM is
changed, or it can find the RPM if the Bhp is changed. Fan Law 3 says that brake
horsepower (Bhp) varies as the cube of the rotaitional speed of the fan (RPM):
3

Bhp2 RPM2
Bhp1 RPM1

For example, a fan motor is drawing 0.84 Bhp and is producing 7650 CFM at 360
RPM. The speed is increased to 396 RPM. What is the new Bhp?

Bhp2 RPM2
Bhp1 RPM1
3

Bhp2 = 0.84 x 396

360

Bhp2 = 1.118
• Fan Law # 3 says that the Bhp ratio is the cube root of the RPM ratio. You can
demonstrate this with the answer to the problem above. The Bhp ratio is 1.331

1.118 = 1.331
0.84

The RPM ratio is 1.1

396 = 1.1
360

The Bhp ratio 1.331 is the cube root of the RPM ratio 1.1:
3

1.1 = 1.331
1. A system is operating under the following conditions: 7,255 CFM, 575 RPM, 1.36”
SP, 7.75 Bhp. If the system required 9,250 CFM, what would be the new values
for RPM, SP, Bhp?

2. A system is operating under the following conditions: 12,735 CFM, 976 RPM, 1.55”
SP, 12.35 Bhp. If a 15 hp motor is installed, what are the maximum CFM,
RPM,SP that can be obtained?
A system is operating under the following conditions: 7,255
CFM, 575 RPM, 1.36” SP, 7.75 Bhp. If the system required
9,250 CFM, what would be the new values for RPM, SP, Bhp?