CHOOSING A FAN

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Ventilation Fans - Page 1 2 3 4

Fan Laws and Running Costs

The Fan Laws are as follows: No.1 Speed / Volume N1 N2
Where; N = Q =

Q1 Q2

Fan speed (rev. per minute or r.p.m.) Volume flow rate of air (m3/s)

This means that fan speed and volume flow rate of air are directly proportional. No.2 Speed / Pressure N1 N2
Where; N = p =
2

p1 p2

Fan speed (rev. per minute or r.p.m.) Fan pressure (N/m2)

This means that as the fan speed is doubled, for example, the pressure developed is raised by a factor of 4. No.3 Speed / Power N1 N2
Where; N = P =
3

P1 P2

Fan speed (rev. per minute or r.p.m.) Fan power (Watts)

This means that as the fan speed is doubled, for example, the power required to drive the fan is raised by a factor of 8. The above three laws may be written differently to aid calculations, as follows; No.1 Speed / Volume Q2 = Q1 N2 N1
or

N2 =

N1

Q2 Q1

No.2 Speed / Pressure p2 = p1 N2 N1

2

or

N2 =

N1

p2 p1

1/2

No.3 Speed / Power

3

P2 =

P1

N2 N1

or

N2 =

N1

P2 P1

1/3

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CHOOSING A FAN

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Fan Running Costs Running costs can be examined as follows; Fan power (W) = Fan pressure (N/m2 or Pa) x Air Volume flow rate (m3/s) / Efficiency

Annual running cost (/annum) =

Fan power (kW) x Hours run per annum x Electrical price per kWh

For example; if a fan runs for 2496 hours per year and delivers 0.625 m3/s against a pressure of 200 Pa, then the annual running costs can be calculated as follows; Take electricity cost at 11.2 p/kWh = 0.112 /kWh. Fan power (W) Fan power (W) Fan power (W) = = = Fan pressure (N/m2 or Pa) x Air Volume flow rate (m3/s) / Efficiency 200 x 208 Watts. 0.208 kW. 0.208 x 2496 x 0.112 0.625 / (say) 0.6

Fan power (kW) =

Annual running cost (/annum) = Annual running cost () =

58.15 per annum

Ventilation Fans - Page 1 2 3 4

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