Propulsion Engineering Laboratory

AXIAL FLOW FAN TEST RIG

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Exp. No : __________
Date : _________

AXIAL FLOW FAN TEST RIG

Aim:

To determine the performance characteristics of a typical axial flow fan.

Specifications:

Test Rig consists of a single stage axial flow fan.

Over all dimensions of Test Rig:
Length = 1.6 m
Width = 1m
Height = 1.5 m
Maximum Pressure developed by the fan = 80 mm of WG
Maximum flow delivered = 2.3 m3/sec
Technical specifications of the fan:
Fan Blades - 8 off air foil section
Inlet guide vanes (IGV) - 8 off flat plate section
Outlet guide vanes (OGV) - 8 off pelage section
Load vanes - 8 off flat plate section
Pressure taps are provided at the hub and tip at the following 4 stations
1. Upstream of IGV
2. In-between IGV and Rotor
3. In between Rotor and OGV
4. Downstream of OGV
At both upstream and downstream of the fan, holes are provided with suitable mounting attachments to
enable probe to traverse in a radial direction. A straight probe is provided for this purpose. At the inlet duct, a
standard Prandl type Pitot-Static probe is provided to measure the flow rate through the fan. Both probes are
provided with scales and protractor to determine the location and the orientation of the probe from a
standard reference.
A multi-limb manometer is provided to measure the following: static pressure at the hub and tip at the 4
stations, the static and dynamic pressure of the straight probe, and the Pitot-Static probe.
Motor:
Power - 5 HP
Speed range - 0 to 2800 rpm
An energy meter is used to measure the input power.
A non-contact type tachometer is provided to measure the fan rpm directly.

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 Time for 10
Static pressure rise across
Fan rev of Pitot tube reading Static Fan Input
the fan (cm of water) Flow rate Fan Output Efficiency
Sl speed energy pressure head power
Q Po ὴ
No N meter disc h Pi
(m3/s) (kW) (%)
(rpm) t (m of water) (kW
Observations :

(s) P2T P2H P3T P3H h1 h2 Hw

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Theory:

To determine the Input power

3600  n
Input Power to motor = kW
Kt

Where, K = Energy meter constant

t = Time for ‘n’ revolution in seconds

Efficiency of VFD and Motor = 80% (assumed)

Motor output Power = (0.8 x 3600 x 10)/(N x t) kW

Fan Input Power, Pi = Motor output

To determine the Fan Output power

Flow rate, Q = A x V m3/s

Where, Inlet area, A = 0.135 m2

Velocity, V = 2  g  Ha

w H
= 2g   w
 a 100

Hw = Velocity head in cm of water

Static pressure head across the fan, h = ( Delivery head – Suction head ) m of water

Atm  P3 T   Atm  P3H

Delivery head, hD = m of water
2

Atm  P2 T   Atm  P2H

Suction head, hS = m of water
2

gQh
Fan Output Power, Po = kW
1000

Po
Efficiency of the axial flow fan,  =  100 %
Pi

Procedure:

1. Connect the multi-limb manometer limbs to the various static pressure taps of the rig and the two
probes. Then fill the manometer reservoir with water.

2. Switch on the control panel with the motor speed control at minimum.

3. Slowly increase the motor speed to a required test speed.

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Sample Calculations:

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4. Note the time taken for 10 pulses in energy meter.

5. Start taking reading from the manometer (water column heights) with one of the limbs open to
atmosphere. The open limb provides a reference atmosphere water column height. The pressure (positive of
vacuum) at that station is noted down. For the limbs connected to the probe, the difference between the
water column heights directly gives the velocity head.

6. Repeat the above procedure for different speed conditions of the motor and note down the readings.

7. Switch off the motor after decreasing its speed slowly.

8. Tabulate the observations and calculate the required values. Plot the necessary curves.

Graphs to be plotted:

Head Vs Flow Rate

Fan speed Vs Flow Rate
Input Power Vs Flow Rate

Result :

Inference :

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