ME 372

FLUID MACHINERIES
Engr. Shiela Marie Bering - Alia
Instructor
Fans & Blowers
Fan
- is a machine used to apply power to a gas to increase its
energy content thereby causing it to flow or move.
Blower
- is a fan used to force air under pressure, that is, the
resistance to gas flow is imposed primarily upon the
discharge
Exhauster
- is a fan used to withdraw air under suction, that is, the
resistance to gas flow is primarily upon the inlet
Fans and Blowers
Performance of Fans :
- it is a statement of volume, total pressures, static pressures,
power input, mechanical and static efficiencies at standard air
density
Air Power Brake Power
(Power Output of Fan) (Power input of Fan)
Pair = (γQH)air 𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑟
𝑃𝑏 =
𝑒𝑚
Where:
γ = sp. Weight of air em = mechanical efficiency of fan
Q = volume flow rate (fan
capacity)
H = Total Head in air
Fans and Blowers
Capacity of Fan, Q
- is the volume flow rate measured at the fan outlet.
Where:
𝑄 = 𝐴𝑣 A = Fan outlet area
V = fan outlet velocity

Total Head, H
- is the sum of the static head and velocity head of the air

𝐻 = ℎ𝑠 + ℎ𝑣
Fans and Blowers
Static Head, hs
- is the height of the surface of the fluid above a gauge point
- most of the time is given in manometer reading height of
water
height in H2O height in air
𝛾𝑤 ℎ𝑤 𝜌𝑤 ℎ𝑤
ℎ𝑠 = =
𝑃𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝛾𝑎 𝜌𝑎
𝛾𝑤 ℎ𝑤 = 𝛾𝑎 ℎ𝑠 𝑎 Where:
hw = height of water
𝜌𝑤 ℎ𝑤 = 𝜌𝑎 ℎ𝑠 𝑎
Fans and Blowers
Constants used in Fans and Blower

Density of Water STP (Standard Temperature Pressure)

t = 21 ° C
ρw = 1000 kg/m3 P = 101.325 kPa
= 62.4 lb/ft3
Solve density of air if given conditions
Density of Air are NOT STP

ρair = 1.2 kg/m3 𝑃

= 0.075 lb/ft3 𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 =
𝑅𝑇
Fans and Blowers
Velocity Head, hv
- is the head required to produce the flow of fluid

𝑣𝑑 2 −𝑣𝑠 2
ℎ𝑣 =
2𝑔

Where:
vd = discharge velocity
vs = suction velocity, Note: if not stated assume 0
g = gravitational acceleration
Fans and Blowers
Static efficiency of Fan, es
- is the mechanical efficiency multiplied by the ratio of the
static pressure to the total pressure
ℎ𝑠
𝑒𝑠 = 𝑒𝑚
𝐻

Bernoulli’s Equation Applied to Fan

𝑃𝑑 − 𝑃𝑠 𝑣𝑑 2 − 𝑣𝑠 2
𝐻= +
𝛾𝑎 2𝑔
1. What horsepower is supplied to air moving at 20
fpm through a 2 x 3 ft duct under a pressure of
3 in. water gage?
Ans: Pair = 0.0567 hp

2. A fan draws 1.42 m3/s of air at a static pressure

of 2.54 cm of water through a duct at 300 mm in
diameter and discharges it through a duct of 275
mm diameter. Determine the static fan efficiency if
the total fan mechanical efficiency is 70% and air is
measured at 25°C and 760 mm Hg.
Ans: es = 50%
Affinity Law for Fans & Blowers
Q H P
𝑃1 𝑁1 3 𝐷1 5 𝜌1 1
1 2 3 N =
𝑃2 𝑁2 𝐷2 𝜌2
3 2 5 D
0 1 1 ρ
1 3 𝐻1 𝑁1 2 𝐷1 2 𝜌1 1
𝑄1 𝑁1 𝐷1 =
= 𝐻2 𝑁2 𝐷2 𝜌2
𝑄2 𝑁2 𝐷2
1. A certain fan delivers 12,000 cfm 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 cfm is desired, what will be the
new speed, and the new power needs?
Ans: N2 = 500 rpm ; P2 = 7.8125 hp
2. A fan described in a manufacturer’s table is rated
to deliver 500m3/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.
Ans: P2 = 5.686 kW