CHAPTER

Fans and Blowers 10

1 What horsepower is supplied to air moving at 20 ft/min through a 2 × 3 ft duct under a pressure of 3 in.
water gage?

2 A fan whose static efficiency is 40% has a capacity of 60,000 ft 3/hr at 60°F and barometer of 30 in. Hg and
gives a static pressure of 2 in. of water column on full delivery. What size electric motor shall be used to
drive this fan?

3 Air is flowing in a duct with velocity of 7.62 m/s and a static pressure of 2.16 cm water gage. Determine
the duct diameter.

4 1.22 m, the barometric pressure 99.4 kPa and the gauge fluid temperature and air temperature are 30°C.
What is the total pressure of air against which the fan will operate in cm of water?

5 A ventilating fan discharges 4.4 m3/s of air through a duct 91 cm in diameter against a static pressure of 22
mm water gauge. Barometric pressure is 730 mmHg, the temperature of air is 29.44°C and the gauge fluid
density is 994 kg/m3. If the power input is 2.65 kW, determine the static efficiency.

6 A ventilation system includes a fan of 570 m 3/min. A capacity discharging thru a 122 cm × 91 cm air duct
against 30 mm static pressure. Air temperature is at 21°C and barometer pressure is 730 mmHg (97 kPa).
What input power will be required to give the fan an efficiency of 44.3%?

7 The mechanical efficiency and static pressure of a fan are 44.3% and 20 m of air respectively. What is the
static efficiency if the total pressure created by an is 25 m of air?

8 Air enters a fan through a duct at a velocity of 6.3 m/s and an inlet static pressure of 2.5 cm of water less
than atmospheric pressure. The air leaves the fan through a duct at a velocity of 11.25 m/s and a discharge
static pressure of 7.62 cm of water above the atmospheric pressure. If the specific weight of the air is 1.20
kg/m3 and the fan delivers 9.45 m3/s, what is the fan efficiency when the power input to the fan is 13.75 kW
at the coupling?

9 The forced draft fans in parallel with a capacity of 73.2 m 3/s each supplying combustion air to a steam
generator. Air inlet is at 43.35°C, a static pressure of 254 mm water gage is developed and the fan speed is
1200 rpm. The fan input is 257 kW each. Calculate the capacity of the fan for a speed increase of 20
percent.

10 Calculate the air power of a fan that delivers 1200 m 3/min of air through a 1 m x 1.5 m outlet. Static
pressure is 120 mmWG and density of air is 1.18.

11 A fan delivers 4.7 m3/s at a static pressure of 5.08 cm of water when operating at a speed of 400 rpm. The
power input required is 2.963 kW. If 7.05 m 3/s are desired in the same fan and installation, finds the
pressure in cm of water.

12 A fan described in manufacturers table is rated to deliver 500 m 3/min at a static pressure (gage) of 254 cm
of water when running at 250 rpm and requiring 3.6 kW. If the fan speed is changed to 305 rpm and the air
handled were at 65°C instead of standard 21°C, find the power in kW.
13 What is the set efficiency of a fan if the fan efficiency is 45% and motor efficiency is 90%?

14 A fan draws 1.42 m3/s of air at a static pressure of 2.54 cm of water through a duct 300 mm diameter and
discharges it through duct of 275 mm diameter. Determine: the static fan efficiency if total fan mechanical
efficiency is 70% and air is measured at 25°C and 760 mmHg.

15 A 12 hp motor is used to drive a fan that has a total head of 20 m. If the fan efficiency is 70%, what is the
maximum capacity in m/s?

16 Find the air horsepower of an industrial fan that delivers 26 m 3/s of air through a 1m × 1.2m; pressure is
127 mm of water; air temperature is 21°C and barometric pressure is 760 mmHg.

17 A large forced-draft fan is handling air at 1 atm, 43.3°C under a total head of 26.6 cm water gage (at
43.3°C). The power input to the fan is 224 kW and the fan is 75% efficient. Compute the volume of air
handled per minute. Local gravity of acceleration is g = 9.81m/s2.

18 A fan develops a brake power of 150 kW at 1.2 kg/m 3 air density. What is the new brake power of the fan if
it operates at 100 kPa and 30°C at the same speed?

19 A blower operating at 15000 rpm compresses air from 20°C and 1 atm to 1.68 atm. The design flow is 38
m3/min and at this point the power input is 60 kW. Determine the blower efficiency at the design flow.

20 A small blower handles 43.33 m3/min of air whose density is 1.169 kg/m3. The static and velocity heads are
16.38 and 1.22 cm WG (at 15.6°C) respectively. Local gravity acceleration is 9.741 m/s 2. Find the power
input to the air from the blower.

21 A fan can develop a static pressure head of 350 mm water gage through standard air condition. What is the
new static pressure head if fan will operate at 95°C and 720 mmHg?

22 A two-stage radial-type airplane supercharger is designed to deliver 4533 kg/hr of air at a pressure of 800
mmHg abs when operating at an altitude of 4570 m where the temperature is -15°C and the pressure is 429
mmHg abs. It rotates at 18,000 rpm and is to have an adiabatic over-all efficiency of 72 percent. It is to be
tested at sea level (762 mm Hg abs & 26.67°C) at a speed of 14,000 rpm. Considering that the efficiency at
the design point does not change, determine for the design point under test conditions the volume of air
taken in m3/s.

23 The fan has a total head of 190 m and a static pressure of 20 cm WG. If the air density is 1.15 kg/m3, what
is the velocity of air flowing?

24 A sewerage aeration blower rotating at 3500 rpm is designed to deliver 567 m 3/min of air from 20°C and 1
atm to a discharge of 158 kPa (abs) with an adiabatic efficiency of 65%. During summer the atmospheric
temperature rises to 43°C but the barometric pressure does not change. It is desired to vary the blower
speed to maintain the same discharge pressure. Determine the discharge volume of standard air with the
new speed.

25 A 40-inch diameter fan rated at 160,000 gal/min standard air at 16 in. water static pressure is operating at
1200 rpm. Solve for the specific speed.
26 A boiler requires 75,000 m3/hr of standard air. What is the motor power if fan can deliver a total pressure of
145 mm of water gage. The mechanic efficiency of fan is 64%.

27 Calculate the required . motor capacity needed to drive a forced-draft fan serving a stoker fired boiler using
coal as fuel. Combustion data includes the following:

Atmospheric Air: 101.3 kPa; 20°C

Weight of fuel burned: 10 tons/hr
Ultimate Analysis of fuel:
C = 78% S = 1%
H = 3% Ash = 8%
O = 3% Moisture = 7%

Excess Air: 30%

Fuel bed and air heater resistance: 18cm WG
Fan Efficiency: 60%

28 The motor power needed to drive the fan is 75 kW and the volume flow of air delivered by fan is 23 m/s
and 20 cm water gage. The density of air is 1.2 kg/m 3. What is the fan efficiency?
29 In a certain installation, a fan when driven by a 7.5 hp motor at a speed of 600 rpm delivers 510 m 3/min of
air at a total pressure of 5 cm WC. If in the same installation, 6.5 cm WG pressure is required. What power
and motor speed will the fan be driven?

30 A fan is supplying forced draft into a boiler has the following specifications on its name plate:

Capacity: 280 m3/min

Air temperature: 25°C
Total pressure: 4cm WG
Motor Rating: 5 hp @ 1200 rpm

A tabular air heater is installed in line with the boiler, and the fan is now required to supply heated air for
combustion at 90°C. What drive power is required and the new total pressure that this fan will operate if it
is going to deliver the same volume of heated air at 1200 rpm?

31 A fan has a suction pressure of 5 cm water vacuum with air velocity of 5 m/s. The discharge has 20 cm WG
and discharge velocity of 10 m/s. Find the total head of fan.

32 An Air Handling Unit (AHU) for an air conditioning system has a centrifugal fan with backward curved
blades mounted on a scroll housing driven by a motor at 750 rpm. The fan delivers 2000 ft3/min of air
against 3 in. WG static pressure (including resistance of ducts, elbows, cooling coils, and outlet grills) and
0.80 in. WC velocity pressure. Calculate the tip speed of the wheel.

33 A steam generator supplies 180,000 kg of steam per hour at 5.5 MPa abs and 540°C with feedwater at
176°C. At this output, the thermal efficiency is 85% when burning 42,456 kJ/kg fuel oil at 15% excess air.
The products of combustion with an average molecular weight of 30 are removed from the unit by a pair of
duplicate induced-draft fans operating in parallel and the flue gas temperature at each fan suction is 150°C.
Estimate the capacity of each fan using the following rule: 7.5 kg air required for perfect combustion for
each 23,200 kJ/kg heating value of oil. The fan differential pressure is 190 mm WC.
34 A fan is listed as having the following performance with standard air:

Volume discharge = 120 m3/s

Speed = 7 rev/s
Static pressure = 310 mm water gage
Brake power = 620 kW.

The system duct will remain the same and the fan will discharge the same volume of 120 m3/s of air at
93°C and a barometric pressure of 735 mmHg when its speed is 7 rev/s. Find the brake power input and the
static pressure required.

35 Local coal with higher heating value of 5,500 kCal/kg is burned in a pulverized coal fired boiler with 25%
excess air at the rate of 25.9 megatons per hour when the steam generated is 220 megatons per hour. This
boiler is served by 2 forced-draft fans of equal capacity delivering the air at 305 mm of water to the
furnace. Calculate the capacity of each fan in m/s if fan capacity is to be 110 per cent of the maximum
requirement. Ambient air is 100 kPa and 30°C.

36 Find the motor size needed provide the forced-draft service to a boiler that burns coal! at the rate of 10 ton
per hour. The air requirements are 59,000 ft 3/min, air is-being provided under 6 in. water gage (WG) by the
fan which has mechanical efficiency of 60 percent. Assume fan to deliver at total pressure of 6 inch WG.

37 A blower with the inlet open to the atmosphere delivers 3000 ft3/min of air at a pressure of 2 in. WG
through a duct 11 inches in diameter, the manometer being attached to the discharge duct at the blower. Air
temperature is 70°F, and the barometer pressure is 30.2 in Hg. Calculate the horsepower.
38 A certain fan delivers 12,000 ft3/min at a static pressure of 1 in. WG when operating at a speed of 400 rpm
and requires an input of 4 hp. If the same installation 15,000 ft3/min are desired, what will be the new
speed, and the new power required?

39 A fan discharges 10,000 ft3/min of air through a duct 2 ft × 2 ft against a static pressure of 0.90 in. of water.
The gage fluid density is 62 lb/ft3, air temperature is 85°F and the barometric pressure is 28.7 in. Hg. If the
power input to the fan is measured as 3.6 hp, what is the over-all mechanical efficiency of the fan?

40 A ventilation system includes a fan with a mechanical efficiency of 45% against a static pressure of 30 cm
WG. If the total pressure created by fan is 300 m of air, what is the static efficiency?

41 It requires 55 hp to compress 1000 ft3/min of air at 60°F and 14.7 psi to a pressure of 10 psig. The
temperature of the air leaving the blower is 184°F. What is the flow in ft3/min from the blower discharge?

42 A blower draws 3000 ft3/min of air through a duct 12 inches in diameter with a suction of 3 inch of water.
The air is discharged through a duct 10 inch in diameter against a pressure of 2 inch of water. The air is
measured at 70°F and 30.2 in. Hg. Calculate the air horsepower. Use density of 62.34 lb/ft 3.

43 A blower operating at 15,000 rpm, compresses air from 68°F and 14.7 psia to 10 psig. The design flow is
1350 ft3/min. Determine the power of the blower at the design point.

44 A fan running at 2000 rpm delivers 16,000 ft 3/min against 3 inch water static pressure, thereby consuming
15 brake horsepower. If the rpm is increased. to 2200 rpm so that the rpm ratio is 1.1:1. What is the new
ft3/min?
45 A 0.70 m vane axial fan is running at 2000 rpm delivers 7.5 m 3/s against 0.08 m water static pressure
thereby consuming 12 kW brake power. If the fan wheel diameter is increased from 0.70 m to 0.76. m, so
that the diameter ratio if 1.10:1, what is the new static pressure?

46 At standard air density a fan delivers 8 m3/s against 0.05 m static pressure consuming 12 kW of brake
power. If it will operate in a higher ground where due to high altitude the air density is only 82.4% of the
standard air density, what is the new power rating?

47 What horsepower is supplied to air moving at 20 ft/min through a 2 x 3 ft duct under pressure of 3 in. WG?

48 A fan whose static efficiency is 40% has a capacity of 60,000 ft 3/hr at 60°F and barometer of 3 in. Hg and
give a static pressure of 2 in. WG on full delivery. What size of electric motor be used to drive this fan?

49 What horsepower is supplied to air moving at 7 m/min through a 70 cm x 90 cm duct under pressure of 8
cm of water?

50 What horsepower is supplied. of air moving at 25 ft/min through an air duct 2 ft × 3 ft? Fan pressure is 4 in.
of water column.

51 A fan delivers 1.42 m3/s air at a static pressure head of 2.54 cm of water through a duct 300 mm in
diameter and discharge it through a duct 275 mm in diameter. Determine the static fan efficiency if the total
fan mechanical efficiency is 70% and air is measured at 25°C and 760 mmHg.

52 A certain fan delivers 6 m3/sec of air at 27°C, and 101.3 kPa is operating at 500 rpm and requires 2 kW of
power. If the air temperature is increased to 70°C and the speed of the fan remains the same, calculate the
new power in kW.

53 What is the static air power in watts of a fan designed to deliver 1000 m3/hr of air with static pressure of 10
cm of water column on full delivery?

54 A certain ventilating fan delivers 500 m3/min of air against a back pressure of 10 cm water when the fan is
operating at 500 rpm. The plant wishes to increase the air flow of 600 m3/min. Determine (a) the air power
produced by the fan, (b) the new speed to obtain the increased air flow, (c) the new head, and (d) the new
air power at increased flow rate.

55 A blower delivers 250 m3/min of standard air against a back pressure of 12 cm of water while it is
operating at 450 rpm. The efficiency of the blower is 82%. (a) Determine the power, in kW, required to
operate the blower. If the speed is increased to 750 rpm, determine (b) the new flow rate in m3/min, and (c)
the new power required.

56 A certain power boiler requires 1600 m3/min of air at a pressure of 20 cm of water for the combustion
process. The fan has a mechanical efficiency of 60% at the given conditions. How large of a motor, in kW,
is required to power this fan?

57 An industrial fan draws 90 m3/min of air through a duct 32 cm in diameter with a suction of 80 mm of
water. The air is discharged through a duct 24 cm in diameter against a pressure of 60 mm of water. The air
is measured at 20°C and 755 mm Hg. Calculate (a) the air horsepower of the fan, and (b) motor horsepower
assuming an electrical efficiency of 78%.
58 Determine the minimum power required to drive the induced-draft fan, which has a static efficiency of 70%
and is to develop a static head of 350 mm of water. The temperature of the gases entering the fan is 180°C
and for the wet flue gas, R = 0.32 kJ/kg-K. Consider standard pressure.

59 An industrial power plant firing pulverized coal generates 100,000 kg/hr of steam. The feedwater enters the
boiler at 180°C. Steam at superheater outlet is at 7.0 MPa and 500°C. The over-all efficiency is 82%. The
air-fuel ratio is 16:1.

Proximate analysis as fuel, as fired:

Moisture: 5%
Volatile matter: 30%
Fixed carbon: 60%

Gross calorific value = 34255 kJ/kg

60 The following are the conditions of a certain installation:

Coal analysis:
C = 80% S = 2% Ash = 5%
H = 4% O = 4% Water = 5%

Excess air = 35%

Coal rate = 12000 kg/hr
Plenum chamber pressure = 21 cm water gage
Atm. Conditions: 101.325 kPa, 27°C
Motor efficiency = 64%

Compute the required motor capacity needed for the fan.

61 A blower is driven by a belt and pulley so that its speed can be changed by changing the pulley diameter.
The fan is rated at 240 m3/min and 16 cm static pressure for 1850 rpm and 18°C air. Determine (a) the
static air horsepower, (b) fan air power if the air temperature is 75°C and the static efficiency of 75%, and
(c) the maximum speed at which the fan can operate without overloading a 12-hp motor if the air
temperature is 93°C.

62 A fan used for ventilation discharges 6.5 m3/s of air through a duct 90 cm in diameter against a static
pressure of 25 mm WG (water gage). Barometric pressure is 740mmHg, the temperature of the air is 27°C
and the gage fluid density is 995 kg/m3. If the power input to the fan is 4 kW, determine (a) the static
efficiency of the fan, (b) air power of the fan, and (c) the overall mechanical efficiency.

63 An industrial fan discharges 280 m3/min of air through a duct 95 cm in diameter against a static pressure of
25 mm of water. The gage fluid density is 991 kg/m 3, the air temperature is 25°C and the barometric
pressure is 740 mm Hg. If the power input to the fan is measured as 3.0 horsepower, determine (a) the air
horse power, (b) the static efficiency, and (c) mechanical efficiency.

64 Find the air horsepower of an industrial fan that delivers 25 m 3/s of air through a 900mm by 1200mm
outlet. Static pressure is 127mm of water gage and air density is 1.18 kg/m 3.
65 A manufacturer of fans and blowers has the following product specifications: 15 cm of water static pressure
at 180 m3/min of 21°C air, 1200 rpm, 760 mm Hg barometric pressure and 75% static efficiency. Find (a)
the new air flow at 2000 rpm, 85°C, and 600 mm Hg barometric pressure, (b) the new static pressure, and
(c) the new shaft horsepower.

66 A large forced draft fan is handling atmospheric air, 45°C under a total head of 275 mm water gage at
43°C, The power input to the fan is 200 kW and the fan is 70% efficient. Assume local gravity of
acceleration is 9.77 m/s2. At 45°C, ρ = 990.2 kg/m3. Determine (a) the air pressure, and (b) volume of air
handled per minute.

67 A forced draft fan is used to provide the combustion air requirements for a power boiler that burns coal at
the rate of 10 metric tons per hour. The air requirements are: 120,000 m 3/hr, air being provided under 170
mm water gauge by a fan which has a mechanical efficiency of 65%. Assume fan to deliver at a total
pressure of 170mm water gauge. Determine (a) the air power of fan, and (b) the standard horsepower rating
of a motor to drive the fan.

68 Find the size of the motor in horsepower and the air power of a blower needed to provide the forced-draft
service to a boiler that burns coal at the rate of 12 metric tons per hour. The air requirements are a 420,000
m3/hr, air being provided under 165 mm water gage by the blower which has a mechanical efficiency of
70%. Assume the blower to deliver a total pressure of 165 mm water gage.

69 Determine the air horsepower and the size of the motor of an industrial fan. that delivers 30 m 3/sec of air
through a 1 m x 1 m duct, pressure is 135.mm of water, air temperature is 23°C the barometric pressure is
760 mmHg. Assume that the fan efficiency is 65%.

70 A boiler requires 90,000 m3/hr of standard air. The mechanical efficiency of fan to be installed is 65%.
Determine the size of driving motor assuming fan can deliver a total pressure of 150mm of water gage.

71 At 1.2 kg/m3 air density a fan develops a brake power of 100 kW. It operates at 98 kPa and 32°C with the
same speed, what is the new brake power of the fan?

72 A fan has a suction pressure of 30mm water vacuum with air velocity of 3m/sec. The discharge has 150
mm of water gage and discharge velocity of 7 m/s. Determine the total head of fan if air density is 1.2
kg/m3.

73 A 50-kW motor is used to drive a fan that has a total head of 110 m. If fan efficiency is 70%, what is the
maximum capacity of the fan using standard density of air?

74 A fan using standard air condition can develop a static pressure head of 310 mm water gage. If fan will
operate 93°C and 735 mm of Hg, find the new static pressure required.

75 The total head of fan is 185 m and has a static pressure of 210 mm of water gage, what is the velocity of air
flowing if density of air is 1.15 kg/m3?

76 The volume flow of air delivered by fan is 20 m 3/sec and 180 mm water gage. The density of air is 1.185
kg/m3 and motor power needed to drive the fan is 44 kW. What is the fan efficiency?
77 What size motor would be required to operate a fan which is to supply 30.0 m 3/min of air against a static
pressure of 12.0 cm of water pressure if the fan efficiency is 78%? Assume standard conditions of one
atmosphere and 20°C.

78 What size motor would be required to pump 350 L/min of fluid with a density of 1.20 against a pressure of
360 kPa if the efficiency of the pump is 85%?

79 A fan delivers 225 m3/min of standard air per minute against a back pressure of 10 cm of water while it is
operating at 500 rpm. The efficiency of the fan is 85%. If the rpm is increased to 700 rpm how much power
is required and what is the new flow rate?

80 A motor rated at 5 hp delivers 4.3 hp to a fan. The fan rotates at 920 rpm and moves 160°F air at standard
pressure into a drying process. The static pressure across the fan is 2.3 inches water gage. The fan
efficiency is 62%. Find the fan flow rate at standard conditions.

81 A ventilating operation has a fan which delivers 400 m3/min against a back pressure of 5 cm water gage
when the fan runs at 450 rpm. Determine the new speed considering that the new requirement calls for an
increase in air flow to 500 m3/min.

82 A fan is listed as having the following performances with standard air:

Volume discharged = 120 m3/sec

Speed = 7.0 rev/s
Static pressure = 310 mm water gage
Brake power required = 620 kW

The system duct will remain the same and the fan will discharge the same volume of 120 m 3/sec of air at
93°C and a barometric pressure of 735 mm Hg when its speed is 7.0 rev/s. Find the brake power input and
the static pressure required.

83 A fan is powered by a 0.5 hp motor and delivers air at a rate of 85 m3/min. Determine the highest value for
the average velocity of air mobilized by the fan. The density of air to 1.18kg/m 3.

84 The total head of fan is 187 m and has a static pressure of 210 mm of water gage, what is the velocity of air
flowing if density of air is 1.15 kg/m3?

85 What size of the motor would be required to operate a fan which is to Supply 30 m3/min of air against a
static pressure of 12 cm water gage if the fan efficiency is 78%? Assume standard conditions of one
atmosphere and 20°C.

86 What is the brake horsepower of a ventilation fan with a capacity of 4600 ft 3/min, of 1.56 inches WG and a
fan efficiency of 50%.