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HVAC Technology

HVACR Services A Laboratory Sheet: HVACA/11/LA/07/04


Student name: ______________________ Course/Year: ___________ Date: __________

Fan Performance Characteristic

Objectives
After completing this laboratory, you should be able to:
To obtain and study the characteristic curves of a centrifugal fan operating at different
speeds

Equipment Required
Centrifugal Fan Demonstration Unit (FM10)


Fig. 1 Centrifugal fan (FM10)
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The equipment comprises a centrifugal fan (7) driven by an electric motor (8) mounted on
a support plinth (6). Clear acrylic inlet and outlet ducts (15 and 10) are installed on the fan
to allow the air passing through the fan to be monitored. The inlet plate on the fan is
fabricated in clear acrylic to allow visual inspection of the impeller (13) with forward
curved blades which is installed in the fan volute (7).

An alternative impeller (17) with backward curved blades may be fitted in place of the
original impeller to allow comparison of the two styles. The spare impeller is installed on a
mounting bracket at the rear of the plinth.

The flow of air through the centrifugal fan is regulated by a control device (11) installed at
the exit of the discharge duct. Rotation of the collar opens and closes a variable aperture
which allows the head / flow produced by the fan to be varied.

Appropriate sensors are incorporated on the unit to facilitate analysis of the fan
performance when connected to a suitable microcomputer via an IFD interface console. In
addition to the tapings required by the pressure sensors, additional tapings (5, 12 and 19)
are included in the ducts to allow appropriate calibration instruments to be connected. The
following sensors are used to monitor the performance of the centrifugal fan: -

1) Differential pressure sensor (SPG2) connected to Channel 1 on IFD:
This comprises a pressure sensitive piezoresistive device with appropriate signal
conditioning all contained in a protective case (2) and is used to measure pressure
developed across the orifice plate (1) installed at the entrance of the inlet duct (15). The
volume flow rate of air through the fan can be calculated using this measurement.

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The sensor is connected to the appropriate tapings in the duct using flexible tubing. An
additional tapping (19) is provided for the connection of appropriate instrumentation
(not supplied) to facilitate calibration of the differential pressure sensor.

2) Differential pressure sensor (SPG2) connected to Channel 2 on IFD:
This comprises a pressure sensitive piezoresistive device with appropriate signal
conditioning all contained in a protective case (9) and is used to measure the difference
in pressure between the inlet and outlet of the centrifugal fan. The pressure head
developed by the fan can be calculated from this measurement.
The sensor is connected to the appropriate tapings in the duct using flexible tubing.
Additional tapings (5 and 12) are provided for the connection of appropriate
instrumentation (not supplied) to facilitate calibration of the differential pressure sensor.

3) Rotational speed sensor (SSO1) connected to Channel 3 on IFD:
This comprises a reflective infra-red opto switch (14) on a remote lead with appropriate
signal conditioning in a protective case (4) and is used to measure the rotational speed of
the fan impeller.
The opto switch is mounted through a slot adjacent to the face of the impeller which
incorporates a reflective strip to facilitate measurement of the rotational speed. An
appropriate non-contacting optical tachometer (not supplied) may be used to calibrate
the rotational speed sensor.





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4) A temperature sensor (STS1) connected to Channel 4 on IFD:
This comprises a temperature sensitive semiconductor device (16) on a remote lead with
appropriate signal conditioning in a protective case (3) and is used to measure the
temperature of the air entering the fan.
The sensor is inserted through the wall of the duct using a gland. The sensor may be
removed from the gland for the purpose of calibration using appropriate equipment (not
supplied).

5) In addition to the above sensors, which are all permanently attached to the FM10 unit,
an Integrating Wattmeter (SWA1) may be connected to Channel 5 on IFD:
The Wattmeter is connected between the mains lead (18) from the fan and a suitable
power supply to facilitate measurement of the electrical power supplied to the motor.
The Integrating Wattmeter may be calibrated using a suitable twin trace oscilloscope
(not supplied).

In this type of fan (Fig. 2), the fluid is drawn into the centre of a rotating impeller and is
thrown outwards by centrifugal action. As a result of the high speed of rotation, the fluid
acquires a high kinetic energy. The pressure difference between the suction and delivery
sides arises from the conversion of this kinetic energy into pressure energy.

Fig. 2 Centrifugal fan Fig. 3 Operating characteristics of centrifugal fan
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The operating characteristics of a fan are often conveniently shown by plotting pressure
head (p), power (P), and efficiency (E) against discharge flow (Q) for a series of constant
speeds (N), as shown in Fig. 3. It is important to note that the efficiency reaches a
maximum and then falls, whilst the pressure at first falls slowly with (Q) but eventually
falls off rapidly. The optimum conditions for operation occur when the required duty
point of pressure and flow coincides with a point of maximum efficiency.


Part A - Background
The best way to describe the operating characteristics of a Centrifugal Fan is through
the use of characteristic curves (Fig. 4). This figure shows the interrelation of flow
capacity (Q
v
,) discharge pressure (ptF), power input (P
e
), and efficiency (E
gr
) for a
given fan at a certain speed.

The ptF-Q
v
curve shows the relation between total pressure and capacity. The pressure
increase created by a centrifugal fan is commonly expressed in terms of the pressure
head of the fluid. This discharge head (ptF) is independent of the density of the fluid
for incompressible fluids, as is assumed for this equipment.

In Fig. 4, the pressure head increases continuously as the capacity is decreased; this
type of curve is referred to as a rising characteristic curve. A stable pressure-capacity
characteristic curve is one in which only one pressure can be obtained at any one
capacity. Fan selection should be made such that stable operating characteristics are
available.
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The P
e
-Q
v
curve of Fig. 4 shows the relation between power input and fan capacity.
The E
gr
-Q
v
curve relates fan efficiency to capacity. For a fan having the characteristics
of Fig. 4, maximum efficiency would occur at a volume flow rate of 0.075m
3
/s, and a
fan total pressure of 0.7 kPa.


Fig. 4. Characteristic curves for the FM10 centrifugal fan.

The fan characteristics will depend on its speed. The fan total pressure, power and flow
capacity increase with speed following the three fan laws. The change in the fan
characteristic curves with speed is shown as before in Fig. 3.

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Part B Procedures
1. Select a near maximum fan speed (N) by adjusting the power controller SWA1 to 90%.
2. Open outlet valve fully. Select Diagram and note the value of the volume flow indicated
at the bottom of the screen. Decide on suitable increments in flow to give adequate sample
points (typically 15 points between zero and maximum flow).
3. Close valve to correspond to the condition of no flow i.e. Q
v
=0. When the measured
readings as indicated in the boxes on the schematic diagram are sufficiently steady, select
Take Sample. This represents the first point on the characteristic curve.
4. Open valve slightly, to give the first increment in volume flow at the bottom of the screen.
When readings are steady enough, select Take Sample.
5. Repeat step (iv) above for a gradually increasing set of value openings, i.e. increasing
values of flow (Q
v
). The final sample point will correspond to the outlet valve being fully
open.
6. Select another speed by adjusting the power controller to around 30%.
7. Repeat steps (ii) to (v) above.
8. The recorded set of data may now be examined and assessed in the various selectable
options of Graphs, Tables or downloaded into a spreadsheet. (see Software help
screens if necessary).
9. Note down the type of impeller used.








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Part C Results
When using the FM10 program in conjunction with a microcomputer, test results of the
experiment from the sensors are displayed in tabular and graphical forms and used to
compute appropriate calculated variables. These allow the following performance curves
to be displayed on the monitor or copied to a printer:
a. Motor Input Power versus Volume Flow Rate
b. Rotational Speed versus Volume Flow Rate
c. Fan Total Pressure versus Volume Flow Rate
d. Fan Power Output versus Volume Flow Rate
e. Overall Efficiency versus Volume Flow Rate


Part D Discussion
a. From the fan characteristic curves obtained at the higher speed, describe the shapes of
the curves and compare with those of the theoretical fan curves. Sketch the
theoretical fan curves of the type of impeller used for comparison.
b. Comment on any discrepancies that exist between the fan curves obtained and the
theoretical fan curves.
c. Discuss the change in fan characteristics for the two speeds. Quote relevant fan laws
relating the fan performance at different speeds.
d. Briefly discuss the application of fan laws in air conditioning systems.






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