Technical Bulletin

TBN007.0/1998

FAN TYPES

In order to cover a wide range of

applications, fans are manufactured in a
variety of type. They can be classified
under three general types : (a)
Centrifugal, (b) Axial and (c) Mixed flow.
Table 1 compares the typical
characteristics of some of the most
common fan types.

CENTRIFUGAL FAN
A fan in which the air enters the
impeller axially and is discharge radially
into a volute-type casing. Centrifugal
fans are divided into four general
classifications: Forward Curve (FC),
Backward Inclined (BI), Radial Blade,
and Tubular Centrifugal.

The speed for a given type centrifugal

fan impeller is determined by the tip
speed necessary to produce the required
absolute particle velocity (Fig.1). This
absolute particle velocity vector relative
to ground (S) has two components, one
radial (r) and the other tangential (t) to Fig. 1 Centrifugal Fan Wheels
the wheel.

The velocity of the air relative to the

blade is indicated by the blade vector (B)
which is nearly tangential to the blade
though some slip occurs. The length of
the tip speed vector (R) as shown in the
diagram, indicates the relative wheel
RPM to produce a given capacity. By
examining the relative length of the R
vector, it can be seen that the FC fan
requires the lowest tip speed for a
given
capacity, while the BI requires the
highest tip speed.
Forward Curve Centrifugal Fan
The forward curve centrifugal fan
travels at a relatively slow speed and
generally is used for producing high
volumes at low static pressure.

1-7

Typical operating range of this type of
fan is from 30% to 80% wide-open
volume (Fig. 2). The maximum static
efficiency of 60-68% generally occurs
slightly to the right of peak static
pressure. The horsepower curve has an
increasing slope and is referred to as an
“overloading type”.
The FC fan will surge but the magnitude
is typically less than for other types.
Advantages of the FC fan are low cost,
slow speed which minimizes shaft and
bearing size and wide operating range.
The disadvantages are the shape of its
performance curve which allows the
possibility of paralleling, and an
overloading of the motor may occur if
system static pressure decreases. Also, it
is not suitable for material handling
because of its blade configuration. It is
inherently weak structurally. Therefore,
forward curved fans are generally not
capable of the high speeds necessary for
developing higher static pressures.
Fig. 2 Characteristic Curve
For FC Fan
2-7
Technical Bulletin - TBN007.0/1998
Backward Inclined Fan
Backward inclined fans travel about
twice the speed of the forward curved
fan as previously indicated by the
velocity vector diagram. The normal
selection range of the backward
inclined fan is approximately 40-85% of
wide open CMH. (See Fig. 3).
Maximum static efficiency of about
80% generally occurs close to the edge
of its normal operating range.
Generally, the larger the fan the more
efficient for a given selection.
The magnitude of surge for a BI fan is
greater than for an FC fan.
Advantages of the BI fan are higher
efficiency and nonoverloading power
curve. The power curve generally
reaches a maximum in the middle of
the normal operating range, thus
overloading is normally not a problem.
Inherently stronger design makes it
suitable for higher static pressure
operation.
Fig. 3 Characteristic Curve
For BI Fan

The BI fan’s disadvantages include first,
the higher speed which requires larger
shaft and bearing sizes and places more
importance on proper balance, and
secondly, unstable operation occurs as
block-tight static pressure is approached.
This fan is also unsuitable for material
handling.
A refinement of the flat-blade, backward
inclined fan makes use of airfoil shaped
blades. This improves the static
efficiency to about 86% and reduces
noise level slightly. The magnitude of
surge also increases with the airfoil
blades. Characteristic curves for airfoil
fans are shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 Characteristic Curve
For Airfoil Fan
Radial Blade Fans
Radial blade fans (Fig. 5) are generally
narrower than other types of centrifugal
fans. Consequently, they require a larger
diameter wheel for a given capacity. This
increases the cost and is the main
3-7
Technical Bulletin - TBN007.0/1998
reason why they are not used for air
conditioning duty.
The radial blade fan is well suited for
handling low volumes at relatively high
static pressures and for material
handling. Absence of surge and a nearly
straight power curve with linear
relationship with CMH are its other
advantages.
This proportional relationship allows
capacity control to be actuated from
motor power input. Disadvantages of
this type of fan are higher cost and
lower efficiency.
Fig. 5 Characteristic Curve
For Radial Blade Fan
Tubular Centrifugal Fans
Tubular centrifugal fans, illustrated in
Fig. 6, generally consist of a single
width airfoil wheel arranged in a
cylinder to discharge air radially against
the inside of the cylinder. Air is then
 Technical Bulletin - TBN007.0/1998

deflected parallel with the fan shaft to

provide straight-through flow. Vanes are
used to recover static pressure and
straighten air flow.

Characteristic curves are shown in Fig. 7.

The selection range is generally about
the same as the scroll type BI or airfoil-
blade wheel, 50-85% of wide open
volume. However, because there is no
housing of the turbulent air flow path
through the fan, static efficiency is Fig. 6 Tabular Centrifugal Fan
reduced to a maximum of about 72%
and the noise level is increased.

Frequently, the straight-through flow

results in significant space saving. This is
the main advantage of tubular centrifugal
fans.

AXIAL FANS
Axial fans are divided into three groups -
propeller, tubeaxial, and vaneaxial.

The propeller fan (Fig. 8) is well suited

for high volumes of air at little or no
static pressure differential. Tubeaxial and Fig. 7 Characteristic Curve For
vaneaxial fans (Fig. 9), are simply Tabular Centrifugal Fan
propeller fans mounted in a cylinder and
are similar except for vane type
straighteners on the vaneaxial. These
vanes remove much of the swirl from the
air and improve efficiency. Thus, a
vaneaxial fan is more efficient than a
tubeaxial and can reach higher
pressures. Note that with axial fans the
BkW is maximum at block-tight static
pressure. With centrifugal fans the BkW
is minimum at block-tight static pressure.

Advantages of tube and vaneaxial flow

fans are the reduced size and weight and
straight-through air flow which
frequently eliminates elbows in the
ductwork.The maximum static efficiency Fig. 8 Characteristic Curve
For Propeller Fan
of an industrial vaneaxial fan is

4-7
 Technical Bulletin - TBN007.0/1998

approximately 85%. The operating range

for axial fans is from about 65% to 90%.

The disadvantages of axial fans are high

noise level and lower efficiency than
centrifugal fans.

In recent years, more sophisticated

design of vaneaxial fans has made it
possible to use these fans at pressures
comparable to those developed by the
airfoil backward inclined fans, with
equal overall efficiency. These fans have
variable pitch blades which can be
activated by an external operator. For
Fig. 9 Characteristic Curve
large-size fans requiring motor power
For Vaneaxial Fans
above 75 kW, it is comparatively simple
(high performance)
to change the fan characteristics by using
either a manual or pneumatic controller.
The disadvantage of these fans is their
high noise level; sound traps are
generally required both upstream and
downstream. Despite this added
acoustical requirement, the initial cost of
these fans compares favorably with the
airfoil BI fans

MIXED FLOW FANS

This type of fan has an airpath through
the impeller which is between that of the
axial and centrifugal types. It is capable
of being constructed to provide either
axial or radial discharge and produces
more head than a comparable flow fan. Fig. 10 Mixed Flow Fan
(Fig.10 )

5-7
 Technical Bulletin - TBN007.0/1998

Table 1 Types of Fans

TYPE IMPELLER DESIGN HOUSING DESIGN
• Highest efficiency of all centrifugal fan designs. • Scroll-type design for efficient conversion of
• 10 to 16 blades of airfoil contour curved away velocity pressure to static pressure.
AIRFOIL

from direction of rotation. Deep blades allow for • Maximum efficiency requires close clearance
efficient expansion within blade passages. and alignment between wheel and inlet.
• Air leaves impeller at velocity less than tip speed.
• For given duty,has highest speed of centrifugal fan
designs.
• Efficiency only slightly less than airfoil fan. • Uses same housing configuration as airfoil
BACKWARD-

BACKWARD-

• 10 to 16 single-thickness blades curved or inclined design.

INCLINED

CURVED

away from direction of rotation.

CENTRIFUGAL FANS

• Efficient for same reasons as airfoil fan.

• Higher pressure characteristics than airfoil, • Scroll. Usually narrowest of all centrifugal
backward-curved, and backward-inclined fans. designs.
RADIAL

• Curve may have a break to left of peak pressure • Because wheel design is less efficient, housing
and fan should not be operated in this area. dimensions are not as critical as for airfoil and
• Power rises continually to free delivery. backward-inclined fans.

• Flatter pressure curve and lower efficiency than the • Scroll similar to and often identical to other
airfoil, backward-curved, and backward-inclined. centrifugal fan designs.
FORWARD-
CURVED

• Do not rate fan in the pressure curve dip to the left • Fit between wheel and inlet not as critical as for
of peak pressure. airfoil and backward-inclined fans.
• Power rises continually toward free delivery.
Motor selection must take this into account.

• Low efficiency • Simple circular ring, orifice plate, or venturi.

• Limited to low-pressure applications. • Optimum design is close to blade tips and forms
PROPELLER

• Usually low cost impellers have two or more blades smooth airfoil into wheel.
of single thickness attached to relatively small hub.
• Primary energy transfer by velocity pressure.
AXIAL FANS

• Somewhat more efficient and capable of developing • Cylindrical tube with close clearance to blade
more useful static pressure than propeller fan. tips.
TUBEAXIAL

• Usually has 4 to 8 blades with airfoil or single-

thickness cross section.
• Hub usually less than transfer by velocity pressure.

• Good blade design gives medium- to high-pressure • Cylindrical tube with close clearance to blade tips.
capability at good efficiency. • Guide vanes upstream or downstream from
VANEAXIAL

• Most efficient of these fans have airfoil blades. impeller increase pressure capability and
• Blades may have fixed, adjustable, or controllable efficiency.
pitch.
• Hub is usually greater than half fan tip diameter.

• Performance similar to backward-curved fan • Cylindrical tube similar to vaneaxial fan, except
CENTRIFUGAL

except capacity and pressure are lower. clearance to wheel is not as close.
TUBULAR

• Lower efficiency than backward-curved fan. • Air discharges radially from wheel and turns 90°
• Performance curve may have a dip to the left of to flow through guide vanes.
peak pressure.
SPECIAL DESIGNS

• Low-pressure exhaust systems such as general • Normal housing not used, since air discharges
CENTRIFUGAL

factory, kitchen, warehouse, and some from impeller in full circle.

POWER ROOF VENTILATORS

commercial installations. • Usually does not include configuration to

• Provides positive exhaust ventilation, which is an recover velocity pressure component.
advantage over gravity-type exhaust units.
• Centrifugal units are slightly quieter than axial units.

• Low-pressure exhaust systems such as general • Essentially a propeller fan mounted in a

factory, kitchen, warehouse, and some supporting structure.
commercial installations. • Hood protects fan from weather and acts as
AXIAL

• Provide positive exhaust ventilation, which is an safety guard.

advantage over gravity-type exhaust units. • Air discharges from annular space at bottom of
weather hood.

6-7

Table 1 Types of Fans (Concluded)
PERFORMANCE CURVES* PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
• Highest efficiencies occur at 50 to 60% of wide open
volume. This volume also has good pressure
characteristics.
• Power reaches maximum near peak efficiency and
becomes lower, or self-limiting, toward free delivery.
• Similar to airfoil fan, except peak efficiency slightly
lower.
• Higher pressure characteristics than airfoil and backward-
curved fans.
• Pressure may drop suddenly at left of peak pressure, but
this usually causes no problems.
• Power rises continually to free delivery.
• Pressure curve less steep than that of backward-curved
fans. Curve dips to left of peak pressure.
• Highest efficiency to right of peak pressure at 40 to 50%
of wide open volume.
• Rate fan to right of peak pressure.
• Account for power curve, which rises continually toward
free delivery, when selecting motor.
• High flow rate, but very low-pressure capabilities.
• Maximum efficiency reached near free delivery.
• Discharge pattern circular and airstream swirls.
• High flow rate, medium-pressure capabilities.
• Performance curve dips to left of peak pressure. Avoid
operating fan in this region.
• Discharge pattern circular and airstream rotates or swirls.
• High-pressure characteristics with medium-volume flow
capabilities.
• Performance curve dips to left peak pressure due to
aerodynamic stall. Avoid operating fan in this region.
• Guide vanes correct circular motion imparted by wheel
and improve pressure characteristics and efficiency of
fan.
• Performance similar to backward-curved fan, except
capacity and pressure is lower.
• Lower efficiency than backward-curved fan because air
turns 90°.
• Performance curve of some designs is similar to axial
flow
fan and dips to left of peak pressure.
• Usually operated without ductwork; therefore, operates at
very low pressure and high volume.
• Only static pressure and static efficiency are shown for
this fan.
• Usually operated without ductwork; therefore, operates at
very low pressure and high volume.
• Only static pressure and static efficiency are shown for
this fan.
* These performance curves reflect general characteristics of various fans as commonly applied. They are not intended to provide complete selection criteria, since
other parameters, such as diameter and speed, are not defined.
7-7
Technical Bulletin - TBN007.0/1998
APPLICATIONS
• General heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning
applications.
• Usually only applied to large systems, which may be low-
medium- or high-pressure applications.
• Applied to large, clean -air industrial operations for
significant energy savings.
• Same heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning
applications as airfoil fan.
• Used in some industrial applications where airfoil blade
may corrode or erode due to environment.
• Primarily for materials handling in industrial plants.
Also for some high-pressure industrial requirements.
• Rugged wheel is simple to repair in the field. Wheel
sometimes coated with special material.
• Not common for HVAC applications.
• Primarily for low-pressure HVAC applications, such as
residential furnaces, central station units, and packaged
air conditioners.
• For low-pressure, high-volume air moving applications,
such as air circulation in a space or ventilation through
a wall without ductwork.
• Used for makeup air applications.
• Low- and medium-pressure ducted HVAC applications
where air distribution downstream is not critical.
• Used in some industrial applications, such as drying
ovens, paint spray booths, and fume exhausts.
• General HVAC systems is low-, medium-, and high-
pressure applications where straight-through flow and
compact installation are required.
• Has good downstream air distribution.
• Used in industrial applications in place of tubeaxial fans.
• More compact than centrifugal fans for same duty.
• Primarily for low-pressure, return air systems in HVAC
applications.
• Has straight-through flow.
• Low-pressure exhaust systems, such as general factory,
kitchen, warehouse, and some commercial installations.
• Low first cost and low operating cost give an advantage
over gravity flow exhaust systems.
• Centrifugal units are somewhat quieter than axial flow
units.
• Low-pressure exhaust systems, such as general factory,
kitchen, warehouse, and some commercial installations.
• Low first cost and low operating cost give an advantage
over gravity flow exhaust systems.