Fluid Mechanics

Performance of Centrifugal Fan

Republic of Yemen
University of Aden

Faculty of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department
Performance of a Centrifugal Fan
Objective:
To determine the performance of a centrifugal fan, through obtaining the
efficiency versus the discharge characteristics at various speeds.
Apparatus:
1. Centrifugal fan as shown in figure 1.
2. Pipe flow setup with nozzle.
3. Dynamometer.
Specifications:
Centrifugal Fan
Discharge
0.24 m3/s
Pressure developed
13 cm water gauge
Motor Power
Motor Speed
Suction Pipe diameter
Discharge Pipe diameter

Dynamometer
Arm Length
17.9 cm
Constant of
53.5 units
Dynamometer

1 hp (736 W)
300 RPM
0.177 m
0.177 m

Theory:
The variation of pressure developed with the discharge represents one of the
important operating characteristics of a fan. The characteristics of a fan depend on the
blade angle ( i.e. radial of backward curved or forward curved type). Here the
characteristics is obtained for a given blade angle, say backward facing.
The discharge from the fan may be varied by means of a valve . It is measured with
the help of nozzle by noting down the pressure drop across the nozzle . It is
calculated by a relation:
2Pa
D 2

a
4

D 2
4

( 0.0751)
4

2 o gH o
D 2

a
4

2 o gH o RTa
Pa

2 875 9.81
H o 0.03 H o
1.2 100

m3/s

Where the diameter of the nozzle is 75.1 mm diameter, the oil density is 875 kg/m3
The air density is taken as 1.2 kg/m3. While And H o (cm Oil) = (h throat- h atm ),
If the other form of equation to be used in which the air density will be calculated
based on the information of Ta (K) room temperature, Pa Atmospheric or barometric
pressure.
Experimentally, including the coefficient of discharge Cd:=.96 for 75 mm nozzle.

Fluid Mechanics
Performance of Centrifugal Fan

2 1000 9.81 287 Ta H w

T H w
1.051139 a
Pa
Pa 100

( 0.0751) 2
4

Q C d 1.051139

Ta H w
T H w
T H w
0.96 1.051139 a
1.009 a
Pa
Pa
Pa

Note Q m3/s and H w in cm of water.

Where Ta and Pa are the Room temperature and Pressure in K and N/m2.
The speed of the fan can be varied and is measured by an electronic speedometer. The
fan total pressure is defined as the difference between the total pressure at fan outlet
and inlet. So the power given to the air by the fan called Air Power is obtained
thus: Air power = Fan total Pressure (Po) * Discharge (Q) = Pair PO Q
Po is the fan total Pressure difference imposed on the air by the fan. It is equal to the
difference between the total pressure at the fan outlet and the fan inlet. Since the
dynamic pressure at inlet and outlet are the same (the pipe of the same diameter at
suction and discharge of the fan), the total pressure difference is equal to the
difference between static pressures at inlet and outlet.
2
2
Therefore PO gH 1000 9.81 (h outlet h inlet ) 10 N / m
Where (h outlet h inlet ) is cm of water.

Or PO gH o 875 9.81 (h outlet h inlet ) 10 2 N / m 2

Where (h outlet h inlet ) is cm of Oil.
So
The Power of the Fan = Air Power= Pair PO Q (W) Where Po in N/m2 and Q in
m3/s.
The power input to the fan called Shaft Power is measured by means of a
dynamometer. It is calculated as follows:
The Shaft Power=
PShaft F 2r

N
2 0.179 N W N W N
F

Where :
60
60
K
53.34

W Brake Load in N, and the N is fan speed in revolution per minute (RPM)
K is the brake constant of the dynamometer =53.35 units
The losses in driving the belt and the fan bearings may be measured by driving the fan
with impeller removed and subtracting the resulting losses from the shaft power to get
the impeller power.
P impeller = P shaft - P Loss (belt + Bearings)
So the overall efficiency of the fan is defined as:
If neglecting the losses then the efficiency is :

Pair
PIm peller

Pair
PShaft

Procedure:

Fluid Mechanics
Performance of Centrifugal Fan
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Run the fan after fitting the impeller in the centrifugal fan.
Adjust the speed to a fixed value, say 1000, 1500, 2500 rpm.
Adjust the value opening (30%, 50%, 80%..100%)
Read the Houtlet, Hinlet across fan..
Read the Hthroat, Hatm for the nozzle.
Note the balance reading for the dynamometer, to calculate the shaft power.
Repeat the above steps for other fixed speeds
Remove the impeller and run at the .above selected speed, note the balance
reading for the dynamometer, to calculate the Ploss.

Observations
Using the impeller type Forward, Backward, Radial
See the next page for the observation table.
Sample calculation for the results
Plot the graph for the efficiency versus Q for different speeds.
Compare the characteristics for different speeds for a particular impeller.
Discussions
Write the effect of speed on and Q for different speeds compare the
characteristics for different impellers at different speeds.
Conclusions
State and comment about the results of the experiment at the different
conditions.

Precautions
1. Make sure that manometers leads are free from air locks or bubbles.
2. Check the air leaks, by providing tight gaskets.

Fluid Mechanics
Performance of Centrifugal Fan

Figure 1 centrifugal fan apparatus

Fluid Mechanics
Performance of Centrifugal Fan

Fluid Mechanics

Speed
N
(RPM)

1500

2000

2800

Valve
Discharge Q (Nozzle)
Opening H throat
H atm
Ho
Q
%
cm oil cm oil cm oil
M3/s

Performance of Centrifugal Fan

H inlet
cm oil

Air Power/ Fan Power

H outlet
Po
Pair
2
cm oil N/m
Watt

Shaft Power
Load
Pshaft
W (N) Watt

Efficiency
of the
Fan
(%)

30
40
50
60
80
100
30
40
50
60
80
100
30
40
50
60
80

Fluid Mechanics

Performance of Centrifugal Fan

100
Observation Table: