Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Fan Performance
Troubleshooting Guide
Introduction Figure 1. Test Points at Constant Speed and
Standard Air Density
Trying to determine why a fan is not working the way
you want it to can sometimes be a very confusing and 49 IN. SINGLE WIDTH BACKWARD INCLINED
frustrating experience. This document, based on our 700 RPM
ρ = 0.075 lb/cu.ft
experience, was put together to help fan users diagnose
and troubleshoot fan performance problems.
BRAKE HORSEPOWER
How Fan Systems Work 30
E2
C2
B2
D2
Before getting into troubleshooting it is worth our while A2
( )
point is sometimes referred to as “shut off” or “no deliv- RPMN
2 ρN
PN = PO x xρ
ery.” RPMO O
Once the performance of a fan at a given speed is
established, it is possible to predict the performance at where: P = pressure (in. w.g.)
other speeds or other air densities using a set of equa- ρ = air density (lb/cu.ft)
tions known as the fan laws. The first fan law states that
the change in flow rate is proportional to the change in The change in the power requirement is proportional to
speed. This can be written as: the cube of the change in speed, as shown in the equa-
tion of the third fan law:
QN = QO x
( )
RPMN
RPMO
HpN = HpO x
( ) RPMN
RPMO
3 ρN
xρ
O
where: Q = volumetric flow rate (CFM)
RPM = fan speed in revolutions per minute where: Hp = fan power requirement (hp)
N = new conditions
O = old conditions
©2010 Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd.
Figure 2 shows the same fan as Figure 1 with the How Systems Work
performance calculated at different fan speeds. It makes sense to say that more pressure is required if
The fan laws show that the pressure and horsepower you want to move more air through your duct system.
change with density but the flow rate stays the same. You can feel this when you try to blow more air through
This is why fans are sometimes referred to as constant a straw. How the airflow varies with pressure is a function
volume machines. But because the pressure and horse- of how the air flows through the duct system.
power change with air density, it is important to select For the vast majority of duct systems, the air flowing
fans for the proper operating conditions. When testing in the ducts is turbulent. Turbulent flow is characterized
fans, it is important to correct the test data for density by rapid, random fluctuations of velocity and pressure.
effects and to make sure when comparing test data to With turbulent flow, the relationship between the flow rate
the design data that they are both at the same density. and the pressure is as follows:
Figure 3 shows the performance of the same fan as
( )
2
Figure 1 at standard air density (0.075 lb/cu.ft) and at an Q1
elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level where air weighs P1 = P2 x
Q2
0.059 lb/cu.ft.
Figure 2. Test Points at Different Speeds where: P1 = pressure at point 1
and Standard Air Density P2 = pressure at point 2
49 IN. SINGLE WIDTH BACKWARD INCLINED
Q1 = flow rate at point 1
ρ = 0.075 lb/cu.ft Q2 = flow rate at point 2
This equation defines a system resistance curve, which
is usually referred to as a “system line.” As long as the
BRAKE HORSEPOWER
30
700 RPM
duct system remains constant (no dampers changing,
650 RPM
filters getting dirty, etc.) the pressure required to achieve
20
600 RPM
different flow rates will follow this line.
550 RPM Example: A duct system requires 2 in. w.g. in order
10 500 RPM
to have a flow rate of 20,000 CFM. What pressure is
required if we want the flow rate to increase to 30,000
CFM?
Using the equation above:
5
( )
700 RPM
2
30000
650 RPM P1 = 2 x = 4.5 in. w.g.
4 20000
STATIC PRESSURE
600 RPM
3 550 RPM Figure 4 shows these two points along with the sys-
500 RPM tem line that is defined by them. If the flow remains
2 turbulent (and it almost always does) and if the duct
configuration does not change (including the position of
1 any dampers), the pressure required for a given flow rate
will follow this line. Some variable air volume (VAV) sys-
0 tems require a minimum pressure at the end of the duct
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 runs in order for the VAV boxes to open. No flow occurs
CFM in 10000's until this pressure is reached. The system line equation
for this type of system is:
( )
Figure 3. Test Points at Different Air Densities Q1
2
P1 = P0 + (P2 - P0) x
49 IN. SINGLE WIDTH BACKWARD INCLINED Q2
700 RPM
30
20
ρ = 0.059 lb/cu.ft
Figure 4. Two Performance Points Along the System Curve
10
5
ρ = 0.075 lb/cu.ft 4
STATIC PRESSURE
4
STATIC PRESSURE
3
3
ρ = 0.059 lb/cu.ft
2
2
1
1
0
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 CFM in 10000's
CFM in 10000's
Most of the time fans are tested with open inlets, and
3
designs that do not have an integral inlet bell will be
tested with one to simulate inlet ductwork. Figure 7
2 shows the streamlines the air follows as it enters a fan
with a well-designed inlet bell and with a straight run of
1 duct upstream of the fan. The airflow is smooth and the
velocity at the entrance is uniform.
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Figure 7. Air Streamlines at Fan Inlets
CFM in 10000's INLET BELL INLET DUCT
FAN FAN
30 C2
E2 D2 B2
A2
20
10
F2
E1
5
D1
F1
4 A length of straight duct is required at the outlet to
STATIC PRESSURE
30 effects.
Often the duct configuration can cause an airflow pat-
20 tern that is detrimental to fan performance. Figure 12
shows one example of a duct configuration that causes
10 the air to spin in the direction opposite the impeller rota-
tion (counter rotating swirl). When this happens there may
be a slight increase in pressure produced by the fan, but
with a significant increase in horsepower.
BRAKE HORSEPOWER
STATIC PRESSURE
Case Study 1
System Resistance Higher Than Anticipated RPMnew = 1196 x ( ) 15000
13600
= 1319
( )
This case study demonstrates one of the most common
1319 3
fan performance problems. A 36" tubeaxial fan was HPnew = 6.8 x = 9.12
selected and installed to deliver 15,000 CFM at a static 1196
( )
pressure of 1.70 in. w.g. After the fan was installed, an 1319 2
air performance test indicated a flow rate of 13,600 CFM SPnew = 1.68 x = 2.04
1196
with a static pressure of 1.68 in. w.g. and 6.8 BHP.
Further investigation revealed that four additional
elbows and 10 feet of additional duct length was in
order to clear some obstructions, as shown in the figure Figure 16a. System as Designed
below. The additional ductwork increases the resistance AIR
Density: 0.075
4.0 MEASURED 8
CFM & HP
H O R S E P O W E R
3.5 7
SP
3.0 BHP 6
2.5 5
EXPECTED
CFM & SP SP REQ'D. FOR
2.0 DESIGN FLOW
4
S T A T I C
1.5 MEASURED
3
CFM & SP
AS DESIGNED 2
1.0 SYSTEM CURVE
AS INSTALLED
SYSTEM CURVE
0.5 1
0 0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28
C F M ( i n 1, 0 0 0 's)
CURVE #1
problems. One was that the duct geometry caused the Figure 18a.
air in the vertical duct section below the fan inlets to
spin in the direction of wheel rotation. The streamlines SECTION A-A
sketched in Figure 18a show the general pattern of the AIRFLOW PATTERN BEFORE STRAIGHTENER WAS ADDED
airflow.
The other problem was airflow monitoring probes
mounted in the throats of the fan inlets. The throat of
a fan inlet is one of the most performance-sensitive ADDED FLOW STRAIGHTENERS
parts of a centrifugal fan. The velocity in the throat can
be 10,000 fpm or higher, so obstructions can result in Figure 18b.
significant pressure losses. In addition, subtle changes
SECTION A-A
in the velocity profile at the throat can have significant
effects on fan performance.
To correct the problem with the spin, flow straighten-
ers were added at the lower portion of the vertical duct LOCATION OF PROBES
sections. These straighteners eliminated most of the spin ROOF
and as a result the airflow increased to 34,000 CFM.
The next step was to remove the probes from the Figure 18c.
inlets. When this was done, the performance increased A A
to 41,000 CFM with a static pressure of 1 in. w.g. ADDED FLOW STRAIGHTENERS
Removing the probes increased the flow rate by 25%!
PLENUM PLENUM
Another thing to be careful with when measuring the OPENING OPENING
performance of plenum fans is the location of the
ELEVATION VIEW
static pressure tap in the fan outlet plenum. The high
velocity exiting the fan impeller swirls around in the
SP Density: 0.0619
CORRECTED FOR
3.5 28 ALTITUDE 5,200
H O R S E P O W E R
3.0 24
2.5 20
BHP
2.0 16
WITH STRAIGHTENERS
WITH PROBES IN INLET
1.5 12
S T A T I C
B R A K E
WITHOUT STRAIGHTENERS
1.0 8
WITH PROBES IN INLET WITH STRAIGHTENERS
WITH PROBES REMOVED
0.5 4
SYSTEM CURVE
0 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
C F M ( i n 1, 0 0 0 's)
CURVE #2
Figure 21. Air Handling Unit Measured and Expected Performance Curves
Customer: Fan Tag: CFM: 20,000
Job Name: Model: DWDI Fan
SP: 4
RPM: 1,038
P E R F O R M A N C E C U R V E BHP: 16.35
Outlet Vel.: 1,775
6 24
P R E S S U R E ( I N. W. G.)
Density: 0.075
3%
5 DESIGN 20
H O R S E P O W E R
MEASURED PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE BHP
4 SP 16
DESIGN
3 SYSTEM 12
CURVE
S T A T I C
B R A K E
2 8
AS TESTED
SYSTEM CURVE
1 4
0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
C F M ( i n 1, 0 0 0 's)
CURVE #3
FLOW PATTERNS
AIR
FLOW
A A
SECT. A-A
BEFORE
FLOW
STRAIGHTENER
SECT. A-A
AFTER
Density: 0.075
MEASURED CFM & HP BHP
SP WITH STRAIGHTENER
20 50
H O R S E P O W E R
16 40
12 30
MEASURED
CFM & SP
S T A T I C
WITHOUT
B R A K E
8 STRAIGHTENER 20
4 10
SYSTEM CURVE
0 0
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32
C F M ( i n 1, 0 0 0 's)
CURVE #4
Density: 0.075
CATALOG SP DESIGN
25 POINT
20
MEASURED CFM & SP
MEASURED CFM & SP WITH INLET BELL
WITH INLET BELL WITHOUT SCREEN
WITH SCREEN
25
S T A T I C
MEASURED
10 CFM & SP
WITHOUT
BELL WITH
SCREEN
5
SYSTEM CURVE
AMCA TOLERANCE
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
C F M ( i n 1, 0 0 0 's)
CURVE #5
START
Field Measurements:
• Superpose field measurement
data (if any) - verify units (KW
Obtain all job info.: vs. HP, etc.
• Detailed description of problem or issue • Ensure amp measurement is not
• Customer contact #, email address thru VFD
• TCF SO#, Fan, Arrg, special width, dia., • Determine system resistance
etc. curve and performance shortfall
• Drive and motor details • Determine velocity fluctuations at
• Generate fan curve with design data or fixed measurement location
get fan curve from file along with minimum velocity
• Get drawings and pictures of installation measured (not less than 400
• Make sure it is a decent selection fpm)
Basic Checks:
• Fan dimensions (OR, IR, overlap)
• Rotation and leaks
• Flex connectors collapsed in fan's inlet
• Wall clearance ˜ 0.5 D (plug or plenum fans)
• Clearance between fans in parallel ˜ D, where D = Blade OD
• Note if floor mount or centrally located in plenum
• Tip clearance, blade angle on axial fans
• Remove any inlet obstructions like Volu Probe, screens, belt guards, etc.
• Open inlet/discharge dampers fully
• Note any restricted discharge or inlet conditions that can magnify system effect (elbows on
inlet or outlet)
• If parallel fans, were they started and ramped to speed simultaneously (for fans operating
near peak pressure)?
• Does system resistance curve match up for 1 fan vs. 2 fans in parallel for flow, pressure
measurements?
• Are VAV box controls disabled?
Are results
within
tolerance by
No increasing Yes
A speed or STOP
lowering
system
tolerance?
Are piezo
results Yes
within STOP
tolerance
requirements?
No