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Understanding Fan Curves Fe-2000 PDF
Understanding Fan Curves Fe-2000 PDF
STATIC PRESSURE
STALL C
fans and FE-2400 for centrifugal fans. 4 REGION
RE LEC
SE
Pressure Volume Curve
CO TIO
M N
M R
3
The most important characteristic of a fan or a system
EN AN
DE GE
is the relationship that links the primary variables asso-
D
ciated with its operation. The most commonly used fan 2
characteristic is the relationship between pressure rise
and volume flow rate for a constant impeller speed
(RPM). Similarly the relationship between pressure loss 1
and volume flow rate is the most commonly used sys-
tem characteristic. D
0
Fan pressure rise characteristics are normally 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
CFM
expressed in either total pressure (TP) or static pressure
(SP), with static pressure being the units most com- Figure 2. Static Pressure Curve, Backward Inclined
monly used in the United States. The fan volume flow Centrifugal
rate (airflow) is commonly expressed in cubic feet per
minute, or CFM. Therefore, the system pressure loss and
volume flow rate requirements are typically expressed as
7
a certain value of static pressure (SP) at some CFM.
The fan “pressure-volume” curve is generated by con- B
ION C
necting the fan to a laboratory test chamber. By follow- 6 STALL REG
ing very specific test procedures as outlined in the Air A
Movement and Control Association (AMCA) Standard
SE
5 RE ECT
STATIC PRESSURE
L
CO IO
210, data points are collected and plotted graphically for MM N R
a constant RPM, from a “no flow” block off condition
EN AN
4
to a “full flow” or wide condition. Figure 1 represents
DE GE
6
7 7
5 6 6
STATIC PRESSURE
BH
5 5
STATIC PRESSURE
4
BHP
4 4
3
3 3
2
2 2
1
SP
1 1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
CFM 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
CFM
4 8
Figure 6. Fan/System Operating Point,
BHP
BH
P Backward Inclined Centrifugal
3 6
2 4 7 7
SP
1 2 6 6
BH
5 5
STATIC PRESSURE
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
CFM
SYSTEM
BHP
4 LINE 4
OPERATING
By adding the BHP curve to the static pressure curve POINT
from Figure 3 we complete the fan performance curve. 3 3
To determine BHP simply extend vertically the CFM
point established in Figure 3 until it intersects the BHP 2 2
curve. Draw a horizontal line from this point of intersec-
tion to the right to the BHP scale to establish a BHP of
SP
1 1
7.27 units, which corresponds to the previously estab-
lished performance of 4.71 CFM units at 3.0 SP units.
Similarly, we can add the BHP curve to the static 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
pressure curve of the backward inclined centrifugal fan CFM
from Figure 2 to complete that fan performance curve
(Figure 5).
2 Fan Engineering FE-2000
The system line is simply a parabolic curve made up Figure 8. Variable System Characteristic Curve,
of all possible SP and CFM combinations within a given Backward Inclined Centrifugal
system and is determined from the fan law that SP var-
ies as RPM2. Another fan law states that CFM varies as
the RPM. Therefore, we can also say that SP varies as
BH
5 5
P
delivering too much CFM. In either case, it is necessary
to either speed the fan up or slow it down to attain
BHP
4 4
design conditions. OPERATING
LINE
Knowing that the fan must operate somewhere along
the system curve, and knowing that it is possible to SYSTEM
{
3 3
LINES
predict the fan performance at other speeds by applying
the following fan laws: 2 2
SP
1 1
3. BHP varies as RPM3
We can now graphically present an “operating line” 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
between various fan speeds using the fan/system oper- CFM
ating point data from Figure 6. This results in new SP
curves and BHP curves as shown in Figure 7. Combining the fan control curve (Figure 7) with the
system controlled curve (Figure 8) results in a fan/system
Figure 7. Variable Fan Characteristic Curve, controlled curve having an “operating region” as shown
Backward Inclined Centrifugal in Figure 9.
INCREASING
Figure 9. Variable Fan/System Characteristic Curve
Backward Inclined Centrifugal
SP, FAN PRESSURE RISE – SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS
7 RPM
7
BH
P
6 6
SP, FAN PRESSURE RISE – SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS
BH
7 7
P
BH
5 5
P
6 6
SYSTEM
LINE
BHP
4 OPERATING 4
BH
LINE 5 5
SP
P
SP
3 INCREASING 3
SPEED (RPM)
BHP
4 4
OPERATING
REGION
2 2
{
SYSTEM
3
LINES{ 3
SP
1 1 FAN
2 CHARACTERISTICS 2
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
SP
CFM 1 1
0
These speed changes represent an example of fan 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
control that can be accomplished through drive changes CFM
or a variable speed motor.
Another way to present an “operating line” is to add
a damper, making the system the variable characteristic. Conclusion
By modulating the damper blades, new system lines are The foregoing methodology provides the knowledge nec-
created resulting in an operating line along the fan essary to understand fan curves. When used in conjunc-
curve. This can be seen graphically in Figure 8. tion with FE-100, FE-600, FE-2300 and FE-2400, it
provides the user with the working knowledge necessary
to understand the fan performance characteristics and
capabilities of different fan equipment.