18.

4 2000 ASHRAE Systems and Equipment Handbook (SI)

blade tip clearance, which give improved pressure, efficiency, and Table 2 Fan Laws
noise characteristics.
Dependent
Table 1 includes typical performance curves for various types of Law No. Variables Independent Variables
fans. These performance curves show the general characteristics of
the various fans as they are normally used; they do not reflect the 1a Q1 = Q2 × (D1/D2)3 (N1/N2)
characteristics of these fans reduced to such common denominators 1b p1 = p2 × (D1/D2)2 (N1/N2)2 ρ1/ρ2
as constant speed or constant propeller diameter, since fans are not 1c W1 = W2 × (D1/D2)5 (N1/N2)3 ρ1/ρ2
selected on the basis of these constants. The efficiencies and power 2a Q1 = Q2 × (D1/D2)2 (p1/p2)1/2 (ρ2/ρ1)1/2
characteristics shown are general indications for each type of fan. A
2b N1 = N2 × (D2/D1) (p1/p2)1/2 (ρ2/ρ1)1/2
specific fan (size, speed) must be selected by evaluating actual char-
acteristics. 2c W1 = W2 × (D1/D2)2 (p1/p2)3/2 (ρ2/ρ1)1/2
3a N1 = N2 × (D2/D1)3 (Q1/Q2)
TESTING AND RATING 3b p1 = p2 × (D2/D1)4 (Q1/Q2)2 ρ1/ρ2
3c W1 = W2 × (D2/D1)4 (Q1/Q2)3 ρ1/ρ2
ASHRAE Standard 51/AMCA Standard 210 specifies the pro-
cedures and test setups to be used in testing fans and other air-mov- Notes:
ing devices. Figure 3 diagrams one of the most common procedures 1. Subscript 1 denotes the variable for the fan under consideration. Subscript 2 denotes
the variable for the tested fan.
for developing the characteristics of a fan tested from shutoff con- 2. For all fans laws (η t)1 = (η t )2 and (Point of rating)1 = (Point of rating)2.
ditions to nearly free delivery conditions. At shutoff, the duct is 3. p equals either ptf or psf .
completely blanked off; at free delivery, the outlet resistance is
reduced to zero. Between these two conditions, various flow restric- FAN LAWS
tions are placed on the end of the duct to simulate various conditions
on the fan. Sufficient points are obtained to define the curve The fan laws (see Table 2) relate the performance variables for
between shutoff and free delivery conditions. Pitot tube traverses of any dynamically similar series of fans. The variables are fan size D;
the test duct are performed with the fan operating at constant speed. rotational speed N; gas density ρ; volume flow rate Q; pressure ptf
The point of rating may be any point on the fan performance curve. or psf ; power W; and mechanical efficiency η t . Fan Law 1 shows
For each case, the specific point on the curve must be defined by the effect of changing size, speed, or density on volume flow rate,
referring to the flow rate and the corresponding total pressure. Other pressure, and power level. Fan Law 2 shows the effect of changing
test setups described in ASHRAE Standard 51/AMCA Standard size, pressure, or density on volume flow rate, speed, and power.
210 should produce the same performance curve. Fan Law 3 shows the effect of changing size, volume flow rate, or
Fans designed for use with duct systems are tested with a length density on speed, pressure, and power.
of duct between the fan and the measuring station. This length of The fan laws apply only to a series of aerodynamically similar
duct smooths the flow of the fan and provides stable, uniform flow fans at the same point of rating on the performance curve. They can
conditions at the plane of measurement. The measured pressures are be used to predict the performance of any fan when test data are
corrected back to fan outlet conditions. Fans designed for use with- available for any fan of the same series. Fan laws may also be used
out ducts, including almost all propeller fans and power roof venti- with a particular fan to determine the effect of speed change. How-
lators, are tested without ductwork. ever, caution should be exercised in these cases, since the laws
Not all sizes are tested for rating. Test information may be used apply only when all flow conditions are similar. Changing the speed
to calculate the performance of larger fans that are geometrically of a given fan changes parameters that may invalidate the fan laws.
similar, but such information should not be extrapolated to smaller Unless otherwise identified, fan performance data are based on
fans. For the performance of one fan to be determined from the dry air at standard conditions—101.325 kPa and 20°C (1.20 kg/m3).
known performance of another, the two fans must be dynamically In actual applications, the fan may be required to handle air or gas
similar. Strict dynamic similarity requires that the important nondi- at some other density. The change in density may be caused by tem-
mensional parameters vary in only insignificant ways. These non- perature, composition of the gas, or altitude. As indicated by the fan
dimensional parameters include those that affect aerodynamic laws, fan performance is affected by gas density. With constant size
characteristics such as Mach number, Reynolds number, surface and speed, the power and pressure vary in accordance with the ratio
roughness, and gap size. (For more specific information, consult the of gas density to standard air density.
manufacturer’s application manual or engineering data.) Figure 4 illustrates the application of the fan laws for a change in
fan speed N for a specific size fan. The computed pt curve is derived
from the base curve. For example, point E (N1 = 650) is computed
from point D (N2 = 600) as follows:
At D,

Q2 = 3 m3/s and p tf = 228 Pa

2

Using Fan Law 1a at point E,

Q1 = 3 × 650/600 = 3.25 m3/s

Using Fan Law 1b,

p tf = 228(650/600)2 = 268 Pa
1

The total pressure curve p tf at N = 650 may be generated by

1
computing additional points from data on the base curve, such as
Fig. 3 Method of Obtaining Fan Performance Curves point G from point F.