UNIT II.

FANS AND BLOWERS

Overview

In this unit, you will learn the basic principles, process and technical definitions of
fans and blowers. You will be able to understand how the fans and blowers works, identify
different fans and blowers classifications, identify parts and learn the construction of fans
and blowers.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this unit, I am able to:

1. Solve for the total head in different situations.
2. Identify every part of fans and blowers.
3. Classify different fans and blowers.
4. Solve for the appropriate fan and blower capacity to be use in the system.
5. Select the proper fans and blowers to be use.
Setting Up

Name: ____________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Course/Year/Section: __________________________

Directions: Answer the following questions.

1. What is a fan?
2. What is a blower?
3. What are the classification of fans?
4. What is fan capacity?
5. What are the basic parts of a fan?
6. What is static head?
7. What is the difference between the static head and the total head?
8. What are the difference between an FDF and an IDF?
9. What are the difference between a PA Fan and a SA Fan?
10. How does the Flue Gas Recirculation Fans helps to reduced pollutions that goes to the
atmosphere?
Lesson Proper

FAN

Fan is a machine used to apply power to a gas to increase its energy content thereby
causing it to flow or move.

BLOWER

Blower is a fan used to force air under pressure, that is, the resistance to gas flow is
imposed primarily upon the discharge.

EXHAUSTER

Exhauster is a fan used to withdraw under suction, that is, the resistance to gas flow
is imposed primarily upon the inlet.

Types of Fan:

1. Propeller Fan

2. Tubeaxial Fan

3. Vaneaxial Fan

4. Centrifugal Fan

Classification of Fans:

1. Primary Air Fan (PAF) – use to carry the pulverized coal the furnace as fuel for combustion.

2. Secondary Air Fan (SAF) – use for complete combustion of the fuel inside the furnace.

3. Flue Gas Recirculation Fans (FGR) – use to reduce the flue gas pollution content in the gases
exhausted from combustion process.
Forced Draft Fan and the Induced Draft Fan:

1. Forced Draft Fan (FDF) – forces outside air into the system.

FORCED DRAFT FAN

2. Induced Draft Fan (IDF) – draws gases from the system out to the atmosphere.

INDUCED DRAFT FAN

 DESIGN OF THERMAL SYSTEMS

FANS & BLOWERS FORMULAS

1. Static Head – is the height of the surface of the fluid above the gauge point.

γw hw
hs =
γa
2. Velocity Head – is the head required to produce the flow of fluid.

v02
hv =
2g
3. Total Head – sum of static head and velocity head.

h t = h s + hv
4. Capacity of Fan – the volume flow rate measured at fan outlet.

Q = AV

5. Power Output

P = γQh

Example No. 1:

1. Calculate the air power of a fan that delivers 1200 m3/min of air through a 1 m by 1.5 m
outlet. Static pressure is 120 mm WG and density of air is 1.18 kg/m3.

Solution:

Converting the static pressure:

ρw h w
hs =
ρa
1000 kg/m3
hs = 0.12 m WG
1.18 kg/m3

hs = 101.695 m of air

Solving for the velocity of air to solve the velocity head:

Q = AV

1200 m3 /𝑚𝑖𝑛
= [1 m x 1.5 m] x V
60 min/s

V = 13.33 m / s

v2
hv =
2g

(13.33 m/𝑠)2
hv = m
2(9.81 2 )
s

hv = 9.06 m

Solving for the total head:

h t = hs + hv

ht = 101.695 m + 9.06 m

ht = 110.755 m of air

Solving for the air power:

P = γQh

P = 1.18 kg/m3 (9.81 m/s2) (1200 m3/min) (110.755 m) (1 min/60 s)

P = 25641.55 N-m/s or J/s or W

P = 25.64 kW

6. Brake Power – is the power delivered to the shaft of the fan.

Pair
Pbrake =
ef
Where: ef = mechanical fan efficiency

7. Static Efficiency – is the mechanical efficiency multiplied by the ratio of the static head and
total head.

ef hs
es =
ht
Example No. 2

A fan whose static efficiency is 40% has a capacity of 60,000 ft3/hr at 60°F and barometer in
30 in-Hg and gives a static pressure of 2 in-H2O column on full delivery. What size of electric
motor shall be used to drive this fan?

Solution:

Converting the static pressure:

γw h w
hs =
γa
62.4 lbf /ft3 1ft
hs = 2 in. WG ( )
γa 12 in.

10.4 ft
hs = of air
γa
Solve for the air power:

Pair = γaQ h

𝑓𝑡 3 10.4 ft 1 ℎ𝑟
Pair = γa (60000 )( )( )
hr γa 3600 s

ft−lb 1 HP
Pair = 173.33 ( ft−lb )
s 550
s

Pair = 0.315 HP

Solving for the brake power needed to drive the fan

Pair
Pbrake =
es

0.315 HP
Pbrake =
0.4

𝐏𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟖𝟕𝟓 𝐇𝐏 therefore, we should use 1 HP motor

FAN LAWS

1. Fan Speed Variation

Q1 N 1 H1 N 2 P1 N 3
= ( 1) = ( 1) = ( 1)
Q2 N 2 H2 N 2 P2 N 2

2. Fan Size Variation

Q1 D 3 H1 D 2 P1 D 5
= ( 1) = ( 1) = ( 1)
Q2 D 2 H2 D 2 P2 D 2

3. Gas Density Variation

H1 ρ1 P1 ρ1
Q2 = Q1 = =
H2 ρ2 P2 ρ2
Example No. 1

A fan delivers 4.7 m3/s at a static pressure of 5.08 cm of water when operating at a speed of
400 rpm. The power input required is 2.963 kW. If 7.05 m3/s are desired in the same fan and
installation, find the pressure in cm of water.

Solution:

H1 N 2
= ( 1)
H2 N 2

5.08 𝑐𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 400 rpm 2

=( )
H2 N2

Solving for N2:

Q1 N1
=
Q2 N2

4.7 400
=
7.05 N2

N2 = 600 rpm

Solving for H2:

5.08 𝑐𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 400 rpm 2

=( )
H2 600 rpm

H2 = 11.43 cm of water

Example Application Problem

Calculate the required motor capacity (in hp) and the air capacity (in cfm) of a forced draft
fan serving a stoker fired boiler using coal as fuel. Combustion data includes the following:
Atmospheric Air 101.325 kPa ; 20 °C
Weight of fuel burned per hour 10 tons
Ultimate analysis of fuel:
C = 78% S = 1%
H = 3% A = 8%
O = 3% M = 7%
Excess air 30%
Fuel bed and air heater resistance 18 cm WG
Fan Efficiency 60%
 O
Use Wt = 11.5C + 34.5 (H − 8 ) + 4.3S for solving the theoretical air/fuel ratio.

Solution:
O
Wt = 11.5C + 34.5 (H − 8 ) + 4.3S
0.03
Wt = 11.5(0.78) + 34.5 (0.03 − 8
)+ 4.3(0.01)

Wt = 9.92 kgair/kgfuel

Solving for the actual weight of air supplied into the boiler
Wa = mfuel[ Wt (1+e)]
Wa = 10 tonsfuel/hr [9.92 kgair/kgfuel (1+0.3)] [1000 kgfuel/tonsfuel]
Wa = 128,960 kgair/hr

Solving for the density of air:

PV = mRT
m P
=
v RT
101.325 kPa
ρ= kJ
0.287 (20+273)K
kg−K

ρ = 1.205 kg/m3

Solving for the volume of air needed by the Boiler:

Wa
Q=
ρ
128,960 kgair/hr 1 hr
Q= ( )
1.205 kg/m3 3600 s

3.28 ft 3 60 s
Q = 29.73 m3/s ( ) (1 min)
1m

Q = 62, 945.94 cfm say 63,000 cfm

Solving for the motor capacity

 Pair
Pbrake =
ef

P = γQh

P = 1.205 kg/m3 (9.81 m/s2) (29.73 m3/s) (0.18 m) (1000 kg/m3/1.205 kg/m3)

P = 52,497.234 N-m/s or J/s or W

P = 52.5 kW

52.5 kW 1 hp
Pbrake = ( )
0.60 0.746 kW

𝐏𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐞 = 𝟏𝟏𝟕. 𝟑 𝐡𝐩 𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟐𝟎 𝐡𝐩

References

(Capote & Mandawe, POWER PLANT ENGINEERING, 2007)

Assessing Learning

Activity 2

Name: ____________________________________________ Score: ___________________

Course/Year/Section: __________________________ Date: _____________________

Directions: Research, solve, and compile at least 10 problems in unit 2