Axial Fans and

Compressors
Turbomachines
pp 603-619
&
456-467
Which of the following can be incompressible?
Blower
Fan
Compressor
All of them
Which of the above for a desired velocity of fluid?
Which of the above for high pressures?
Which m/c for higher flow rates at lower
pressure/stage ?
Name the m/c lower flow rates at higher
pressure/stage ?
FAN:
To move gas at desired velocity
Slight pressure rise across fan rotor/impeller
BLOWER:
Appreciable rise in pressure
COMPRESSORS:
Develop moderate to high pressures
Axial Fans & Blowers:
handle higher flow rates at lower pressure/stage
Can have more stages for higher pressures
Centrifugal Machines:
lower flow rates at higher pressure/stage
Many stages not possible due to geometric configeration
Axial Fan for Engine Cooling

Radiator Fan Fan Pulley
Internal Combustion Engine

Axial Flow Ducted Fan without guide vanes


Inlet
Nozzle
Rotor Hub
Diffuser
Outlet

Applications

1) Mining and ventilation
2) Radiator cooling fans
3) Power plants
4) Cooling towers
1) Flow is always parallel to the main shaft axis.
2) Axial fans and compressors handle higher flow
rates at lower stage pressures.
3) In contrast to centrifugal machines, axial
machines have numerous stages.
4) Ceiling and table fans, ventilation fans are
examples of axial fans.
5) Forced and induced draft fans, and high draft
fans used in mines, industrial furnaces and AC
plants are examples for axial blowers.
6) Gas compression devices used in
superchargers, producer gas plants and
aircraft engines are known as compressors.
Forced draft fans

Induced draft fan

Axial Fan Stage with Upstream Guide Vanes
UGVs Rotor
Negative Inlet swirl (-C
y2
)
imparted by UGVs, and
subsequently removed by
the rotor blades.

Velocity Triangle

w
2
C
x2

C
2

Rotor
C
y2

2

I.G.V
C
x1
= C
1

C
x3
= C
3
w
3

u
3
, C
y3
= 0
o
2

u
2

3

st 3 3 2 2
st 2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2
st 2 2 2 2 2
2
2 0
st 0 2 2 2
0
st 2 2
2
w [ ( )]
w ( tan )
w ( tan 1) ( tan 1)
Assuming 100% stage efficiency
( )
w = ( h ) ( tan 1)
Stage Pressure Coefficient
( )
2( tan 1)
1
2
y y
y x
x
s
s
u V u V
u V u V u
V
u u
u
p
u
p
u
|
| | |
| |

| |

=
= =
= =
A
A = =
A
= =
zzz
KK
K
2 2 2 2 2 2
r 3 2 2 3 2 3
2 2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 3 2 2
Degree of Reaction
Pressure Rise in the Rotor :
1 1 1
( p) ( ) (v v ) (v v )
2 2 2
From velocity triangles
v [ ( ) ]; v [ ]
1 1
( ) [ 2 ] [ ( 2
2 2
x y x
r x y y x y y
u u
V u V V u
p V u V uV V u V V


A = + =
= + + = +
A = + + + = +
2 2
2
r
0 2
2 2 2
)]
1
[ ( 2 )]
( p) 1
2
R = 1
( p ) 2
R > 1
Also
1 1
R = 1 + ( tan 1) (1 tan )
2 2
y y
y
st y
u
V V u
V
uV u

| | | |
+
A
= = +
A

= +
Fan Stage with upstream guide vanes (R = )


1
2
C
1

w
2

C
2
C
x2

u
2

C
y2

o
2

2

C
2
= w
3

C
3
= w
2
o
3

3

u
3

C
y3

Rotor
Symmetric fixed and rotating
blades
o
2
=
3
; o
3
=
2
C
2
= w
3
; w
2
= C
3


Axial Fan Stage with
downstream guide vanes
What must be the inlet swirl?
What if inlet swirl..?
How to rectify ?
Axial Fan Stage with downstream guide vanes








C
3
w
3

u
C
y3

w
2

C
x2
= C
2

u
Rotor
D G V
C
4
= C
x4


Axial Fan Stage with UGV and DGV


UGV Rotor
DGV
C
1
= C
x1

w
2

C
x2

C
2

2

o
2

u
C
y2

w
3
C
3

C
y3

o
3

3













Pressure-Velocity variation in an Axial Compressor

Pressure
Velocity
p
V
IGV
Rotor
Diffuser
Velocity Triangles for a Compressor Stage


IGV
Rotor
w
1

C
1

o
1

1

C
2

w
2

C
x1

u
1

C
y1

u
2

o
2

2

C
y2

1
1
2
2
3
h
1
, p
1

h
01
, p
01

h
2
, p
2

h
02
, p
02

h
3
, p
3

h
03
, p
03

C
x3

C
3

o
3

Diffuser
Blades



Free Vortex Flow

V
=
r
1
( )
If the axial component of vorticity is zero (i.e., rV const), then the corresponding flow is a "free vortex" flow.
In such a flow, the fluid is not acted upon by a force.
rV
V
r
rV
r r
u u
u
u
u

c
+
c
c
=
c
=

h 2 2 2 2
h 3 3 3 3
2
const
Entry :
r
At exit:
r
( ) 0
constant along the blade height.
h t t m m
h t t m m
x
x
V rV r V C
V rV r V C
d
V
dr
V
u u u
u u u
=
= = =
= = =
=
=
x1h x1t x1m x1
x2h x2t x2m x2
x1h 1 1 1
x2h 2 2 2
1 1
1h
1
1 1 1 1 1 1
1
1 1 1 1
V V V = V
V V = V = V
Air angles
V
V
Rotor Entry
tan
tan ( )
x t x m x
x t x m x
h
x h h x
h h h
h
x h x h x h x h h x
V V V
V V V
V C
V r V
u V V u u C
V V V V r V
u
u u
o
|
= =
=
= = =
= = =
= =

= = =
1 1
1t
1
1
1
2 2
2h
2
x2h 2h 2 2 2
2 2
2 2
2t 2t
Similarly, for the tip section
tan
tan
Rotor Exit
tan ;
V tan tan
tan tan
Similarly tan ; tan
t
x t t x
t
t
x t x
h
x h x
h x h
h
h h
x
t
t x x t x
V C
V rV
u C
V rV
V C
V r V
u V
u
V
u C C
rV V rV
u
u
o
|
o
| o
| o
o |
=
=
= =
=
=
= =