Fan Performance Characteristics of Centrifugal Fans

Did you ever see the big round fan on the ceiling of your classroom? This fan circulates the air helping you to feel cooler and more comfortable. This is known as a centrifugal fan, and this is the way it moves air around a room. And for a more in-depth look at centrifugal fan operation and why it matters. 

How Do Centrifugal Fans Work? 

One word that is crucial is efficiency, or how well something works. In centrifugal fans, efficiency is a measure of the amount of air moved by the fan and the amount of energy it takes to do so. A more efficient fan moves a lot of air for a smaller amount of energy expenditure. This is a good thing because it save electricity and keeps costs down. 

Different fans have different jobs to do. Some, for example, are used to cool a room on a hot day, while other fans assist in getting rid of smoke or unpleasant odors. The type of fan you’ll need will depend on its intended purpose. Step one in picking the right fan is knowing what you need it for. 

Airflow and Pressure – What it Means in Centrifugal Fans 

Cross-flow fans are a type of fan that move air through the blower. Air enters through the fan blades (also known as impellers), moves through them and is expelled into the room. The flow of air pushed out by the fan is airflow, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). This tells us the amount of air that the fan can move in a time frame. 

The fan causes pressure in room as it pushes air. And pressure is what pushes air from one room into the next. The greater the pressure, the quicker the air will flow. The pressure a fan generates is measured with inches of water gauge (WG). This gives us an idea of how powerful the fan is at air movement. 

Fan performance and impeller design 

Impeller is the most important component of fan. That is the part that physically moves the air. Impellers come in many different shapes, and each shape can move air in different ways. The shape of the impeller can increase the volume of air that a fan can carry for a given amount of energy. 

Impellers come in different shapes including backward-curved, forward-curved, and radial. Different shapes have distinct pros and cons, which influence the efficiency of the fan. Some shapes, for example, may be better suited for moving large volumes of air quickly, while others may be best for energy-saving. 

How to Select the Right Fan Using Fan Curve Analysis 

Fan curve analysis can guide us in choosing the proper fan. This allows us to compare the performance of different centrifugal fans. Fan curves tell us what flow and what pressure a fan can create at different energy levels. This is very useful information as it enables us to select the type of fan that is best suited for the task ahead. 

There are a few important considerations to keep in mind when choosing a fan. We have to think about the running costs, how noisy the fan is going to be, and how it affects the environment. Fan curve analysis allows us to make better choices that balance these key elements. 

Why Do Some Fans Make (This Much) Noise? 

Ever notice how some fans are way louder than others? The noise level in a centrifugal fan is determined by various elements, including the design of the impeller and the motor, as well as the speed of the airflow. 

One of the main contributors to noise levels in a cyclone is airflow turbulence. Turbulence occurs when air passes through a fan that is not meant to allow the air to flow freely. This type of noise is very distracting and can make it difficult to hear what is just beyond our body. To help mitigate the noise, it’s a good idea to select fans that are built to minimize airflow turbulence.