Fans, Blowers and Compressors

P M V Subbarao
Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
I I T Delhi

Machines to Generate Lively Gases….

 First Law Analysis & ASME Classification

Vin2 2
Vexit
hin   hexit   wact
2 2
SSSF :
Vin2 2
Vexit
m in  m exit  u  pv  in    u  pv  exit   wact
2 2
 Q    Q 
in exit
ht ,in  ht ,exit  wact
Hardware
Nearly Incompressible Flow machines : Fans
Fluid Dynamics of Centrifugal Fan
 Centrifugal Fan Operation

• Fans cause a pressure increase through two methods

• Centrifugal force is created by the rotation of the column of air
trapped between two blades.
• Kinetic energy is supplied to the air through the impeller
• Total pressure = static pressure + velocity head
• Blades are backward-curved, forward curved, or radial (straight)

Airfoil-types are
complex and expensive
but very efficient;
they’re used for large
systems where the cost
is justified.
 Axial Flow Fans

• Common types: propeller, tubeaxial, vaneaxial

• Tubeaxial: impeller is inside a tube to guide airflow and
improve performance.
• Vane axial: like a tube axial except vanes downstream of the
impeller are used to reduce swirl and improve performance
• Used to deliver large flow rates but small increase in pressure
• Examples include fans used for ventilation without ductwork,
mobile room fans, and fans used to cool computers.
• Tube-axial fan for computer cooling
• Tube-axial fan for ventilation
• Vane-axial fan for high air resistance electronics cooling
• Straightening vanes are located inside tube.
Types of Axial Flow Fans
Anatomy of Large Axial Flow Fan
 Fan Laws

Operational and performance data of different but geometrically

similar fans can be cast onto a single universal curve using
dimensionless numbers

Pressure


rise
p
Q  pressure 
 flow  rate  3 D 2 N 2
D N
Power

P
 power 
D 5 N 3
Actual Fan Power

Q p fan
Pfan 

 Fan Flow Control

• Fans rarely are operated continuously at the same pressure and

volume discharge rates.
• There exists a need for a system which can vary the vane
output according to requirements.
• Common methods of controlling fan output are:
• Damper control
• Inlet vane control
• Variable speed control.
• Axial fans can control flow using variable pitch blades.
Characteristic Curves: Radial Vane
Centrifugal Fan

Static Pressure

Efficiency

o wer
P
Characteristic Curves: Forward Vane
Centrifugal Fan

Noise Level

Static Pressure e r
Po w

e nc y
f f i ci
E
Characteristic Curves: Backward Vane
Centrifugal Fan

Noise Level

Static Pressure Power

Efficiency
Comparison of Fan Characteristic Curves :
Static Pressure

straight

Backward

Forward
Characteristic Curves: Axial Fan

Noise Level

Power

nc y Static
cie P ressur
Effi e
ASME Classification
 Classification of Compressors

Rotodynamic Compressors Positive Displacement of Compressors

  vdp
 pdv

Centrifugal Mixed Axial Reciprocating Rotory

Compressors Compressors Compressors Compressors Compressors
 Duty of Compressors

• A two step life infusion into gas.

• Rotor : Mostly Energy Transfer
• The centrifugal compressor
consists essentially of a
stationary casing containing a
rotating impeller which imparts a
high velocity to the air.
• Only Energy Conversion:
• A number of diverging passages
(Diffuser) in which the air is
decelerated with a consequent
rise in static pressure.
 Centrifugal Compressors

• Air is sucked into the impeller eye and

whirled round at high speed by the
vanes on the impeller disc.
• Centripetal acceleration leads to
increase in rise of some amount of
static pressure.
• The remaining increase in rise of
pressure occurs in diffuser.
Impeller – Diffuser : Rotor - Stator
Encapsulated Diffuser
Anatomy of A Centrifugal Compressors
Performance of centrifugal compressors

• Total Pressure Ratio

  
  comp Vw,exit rexit  Vw,in rin  
 
pt ,exit ,act   1 
 1  
pt ,in  c pT01 
 

Design clue for Blades:

Vw,exit    U exit
Centrifugal Compressors for High Pressure
Ratio
Performance of Radial Vane Compressor
 Vane Geometry : Compressor
Characteristics
Pressure Ratio

Mass Flow
Performance of Backward Vane
Compressor



 



 
 
 

 Remarks on Centrifugal Compressors

• High pressure ratio per stage (r0p= 3 to 4).

• Less flow area per unit mass flow rate.
• A multistage centrifugal compressors have shorter lengths.
• They are best suited for low mass flow rates.
• As the flow is turned by 900, the efficiency of centrifugal
compressor is relatively low.
• The impeller is an integral unit of blades and a disk.
• Even if one blade is damaged the entire unit is to be replaced.
• Look for other fluid dynamic phenomenon for ingestion of life
into fluids.
• Aerofoil Theory.
 Evolution of Compression Phenomenon

Centrifugal Aerofoil

Compact & Less Efficient Bulky & More Efficient

GE T700
 AXIAL FLOW COMPRESSORS

An Efficient Way to Ingest Life in Gases !!!

A Compressor Stage
Axial Flow Compressors
 Axial Flow Fluid Machines

The power, P of a fluid Machine

P  T  m U Vw,out  Vw,in 
 Similarity Analysis
• Experimental performance curves or maps provide a versatile
data for compressor engineers.
• The data is translated into most general form.
• Data in general form is minimally effected by air speed,
altitude etc.
• The total pressure ratio of a compressor is:
pt ,exit
 f  m , Tt ,in , A, pt ,in ,  ,  , R
pt ,in
Using dimensional analysis & Buckingham Pi Theorem:

pt ,exit ,act  T p  Tt ,in 

 f  m t , in stp  
, N 
pt ,in  Tstp pt ,in   Tstp 

 Similarity Analysis

Tt ,exit ,iso  Tt ,in

 comp 
Tt ,exit ,act  Tt ,in

 T p   Tt ,in 

 comp  f  m t ,in stp  
, N 
 Tstp pt ,in   Tstp 

Test Rig For Centrifugal Compressor
Compressor Characteristics
Maximum Efficiency point

Zero Efficiency Points

Supply pipe

Compressor exit
 Centrifugal Compressor Map

 
 N Tt ,in 
 Tstp 
 
pt ,exitact
pt ,in

 
 m To1 pstp 
 Tstp poi 

Small Centrifugal Compressor Maps
 Axial Compressor Maps

po 3act
p01

 
 m To1 pstp 
 Tstp poi 

Variable Speed Operation
Axial Flow Compressors: Current
Design Practice

Fan or low pressure Compressor

Parameter Range
Pressure ratio for single 1.5 – 2.0
stage
Pressure ratio for two 2.0 – 3.5
stages
Pressure ratio for three 3.5 – 4.5
stages
Inlet mass flow rates 195 – 205 kg/m2.s
Tip speed 427 – 457 m/s
Axial Flow Compressors: Current
Design Practice

High pressure Compressor

Parameter Range
Stage loading 0.3 – 0.35
coefficient
Flow coefficient 0.45 – 0.55
Hub/tip ratio 0.6 – 0.75
Inlet mass flow rates 175 – 185 kg/m2.s
Tip speed 386 – 457 m/s
Multi Stage Hybrid Compressor
 GE9X : The worlds Next Great Jet
Engine : 2020
6-stage turbine

14-stage compressor contributing

to an overall engine pressure ratio
of 60:1.