Auto Variable Pitch Axial Flow

Fans
Neel Rao
Writer at Reitz India, a leading
provider of high quality fans, with
thousands of centrifugal fan &
PA fan installations in process
industries
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Variable pitch axial flow fans are special type of axial fans with
adjustable impeller blades that are built to handle broad
operating ranges in critical industrial applications. These fans
include an internal mechanism that can automatically adjust
blade angle while the fan rotor is in motion. Due to their
compact design and high efficiency, most of the variable pitch
axial flow fans find applications in the thermal power stations
where fresh air is needed (forced draft) or process involving
high temperatures such as in boilers (induced draft). These
type of fans are proven to have negligible loss in power at the
output and hence they are also used in pulverizer air fans and
flue gas desulphurization (FGD) applications.
Among the single and multi-stage designs, the two stage
variable pitch axial fans with variable blade pitch angle find
wide usage in many industrial processes.
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Types of variable pitch axial fans:

Depending on the number of propellers present on the shaft
the variable pitch axial fans are mainly divided into two
types.
Single stage variable pitch axial fan

Single stage variable pitch axial fan consists of a single

propeller on the shaft.
This system is capable of delivering high volumes of about
1000 m3/s at pressures up to 15 kPa.

Two stage variable pitch axial fan

Two stage variable pitch axial fan consists of two propellers

mounted on a single shaft and the propellers are separated
by guide vanes.
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This type of fan can deliver high volumes relatively at high

pressure when compared to single stage system. (1000 m3/s
at 30kPa.)
As this system consists of two propellers in a single unit, it
has reduced shaft length with minimum overall dimension
resulting in compact system. This rigidity in spacing adds as
an advantage in eliminating the problems of resonance and
vibration at the work place.

Working of variable pitch axial fans:

The main parts that are used in varying the pitch of axial fan
are hub spring, diaphragm, blade shafts, rotary air/gas joint
and valve positioner.
When air/gas stream falls on the propeller blades, it tries to
rotate the blades. The hub spring creates a movement which
helps to rotate the blade in opposing direction.
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The rotation of blades due to air/gas stream, exerts pressure

on the diaphragm to oppose the hub spring movement and
this creates a variation in blade pitch. The amount of pressure
exerted will determine either the amount of air/gas flow or a
complete change in the direction of air/gas flow.
The basic design and operation is similar for both single and
double stage variable axial fans except the later one contains
two propellers.
Comparison - Axial Fan vs Variable Axial Fan

Output volume

Variable pitch axial fans with varied blade angles can deliver
higher volume rates when compared to fixed blades of normal
axial fans.

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Energy consumed

As the air/gas pressure is controlled automatically by the fan

by varying the pitch of propeller, there is no need for an
throttling device which consumes extra energy for its working.
As the stress acting on the blades is also less, the total load
acting on the motor remains constant. In case of fixed axial
blades a throttling device is to be supplied to control flow
pressure, which consumes energy and the blades of the
propeller are subjected to high stress enforcing extra load on
the motor.
Variable pitch axial flow fans are specially designed to serve
specific requirements of industrial applications because of
their instantaneous blade adjustment capability, higher
efficiency and sustainability for higher temperatures.
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It is also simple to maintain the fan system as most of the

critical parts such as rotor - consisting of the impellers, the
main bearing assembly and the propeller blades are isolated
as separate units for easy accessibility.
Reitz India, a global leader in fan technology, has served the
needs of various industries with thousands of centrifugal fan
installations not only in India but in Middle East, East Africa
and South East Asian countries as well. Reitz has incorporated
latest technology in FD fan and PA fan design and fabrication
to provide energy efficient and cost effective solutions with
high industrial standards.
Thank you for spending your precious time in reading this
article.
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