Centrifugal Fans and

Compressors
MEE 304 Turbomachines
Lecture 9
Dr. Y. Mukkamala

Centrifugal Fan

Volute
Casing

Inlet

Impeller

Centrifugal Blower
Impeller

Flow
Inlet
Flange
Nozzle

Outlet

Backward Swept Blades

V2
2

v2

Vr2

V2

u2

V1 = Vr1

v1

Exit Triangle

V2

u1

v2
Vr2

2 < 90

u2

Blades with 2 < 90, are called backward swept blades.

Used for low pstage, with few blades (6-17).

Radial Blades
(Zero Inlet Swirl)

V2

v2 = VR2
2 = 90

u2

V1 = Vr1

v1
1
u1

Radial tipped blades with zero swirl at inlet, are bent forward.
They can be made out of sheet metal, and can be kept purely radial as in
paddle type impellers.
Such impellers are un-shrouded and ideal for circulating air or flue gases.
Their open circulation type, prevents blockage, blade erosion and failure.

Forward Swept Blades (Zero Inlet Swirl)

V2
2

Vr2

2 > 90; Forward Swept (in the

direction of rotation) blades

u2
V2
v1

V1 = Vr1
u1

Large, positive, V2, leads to significant pressure rise in the rotor.

Forward swept blades have high hub-tip diameter ratio, and thus large
stage area for flow.
Due to shorter blade passage length, the number of blades required is
considerably large.

Centrifugal Fan Stage Parameters

Mass Flow Rate

.

m Vr ( db) 1Vr1 ( d1b1 ) 2Vr 2 ( d 2 b2 )

Since Vr1 Vr2 , for incompressible flow
d1b1 d 2 b2

b1 d 2

b 2 d1

Stage Work
Euler's Work, w E = u 2V 2 - u1V 1
In the absence of inlet guide vanes, zero swirl at entry may be assumed, i.e., V 1 0
w E = u 2V 2 u22 (

V 2
)
u2

Assuming backward swept blades

Exit velocity triangle
V2
v2

Vr2
2

V2

From the exit velocity triangle

V 2 = u 2 - Vr2 cot 2
w st = u 2 (u 2 Vr 2 cot 2 )
Vr 2
w st = u (1
cot 2 )
u2
2
2

w st u 22 (1-2 cot 2 )

u2

From the law of Sines

V2
v2
u2

sin 2 sin 2 sin( 2 2 )

u2 sin 2
V2
sin( 2 2 )
u2 sin 2 cos 2
u2 tan 2
V 2 V2 cos 2

sin( 2 2 )
tan 2 tan 2
u22 tan 2
w st
tan 2 tan 2
u22 tan 2
(h0 ) st w st
u22 (1 2 cot 2 )
tan 2 tan 2
Power required to drive the fan
.

P = m(w st ) = m u2V 2

Stage Pressure Rise

1) Rotor Pressure Rise

1
1
2
2
(p ) r p2 p1 (u2 u1 ) (v12 v 22 )
2
2

2)Total Pressure Rise

1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
(p 0 ) st (V2 V1 ) (pr ) (V2 V1 ) (u2 u1 ) (v12 v 22 )
2
2
2
2
For isentropic compression
(p 0 ) st (h 0 )s u2V 2

Pressure Coefficient

1)Stage Pressure Coefficient

(p0 ) st 2u2V 2 2V 2
st

2
1 2
u2
u2
u2
2

2)Rotor Pressure Coefficient

(pr )
r
1 2
u2
2

Stage Reaction

1 2
1 2
2
(u2 u1 ) (v1 v 22 )
( p ) r
2
R
2
(p0 ) st
(u2V 2 )
For backward swept blades
v12 u12 Vr21
v 22 (u2 V 2 ) 2 Vr22
1 2
1 2
2
(u2 u1 ) [(u1 Vr21 ) (u22 V22 2u2V 2 ) Vr22 ]
2
R 2
u2V 2
1
(u2V 2 ) V22
1 V 2
2
R
1 ( )
u2V 2
2 u2

1) Backward Swept Blades (2 < 90)

V2/u2 < 1; R > 1/2

2)Radial Tipped Blades (2 = 90)

V2 = u2; R = 1/2

3)Forward Swept Blades (2 > 90)

V2 > u2; R < .

Also
Vr 2
1 V 2
1 u2 Vr 2 cot 2
1
R = 1- ( ) 1 (
) 1 (1
cot 2 )
2 u2
2
u2
2
u2
1 1
R = 1- 2 cot 2
2 2
1
R = (1 2 cot 2 )
2
V 2 1
Also
st
u2
2
1
R = 1- st
4

stage

Stage Efficiency

p0
(
)s
ws
(p0 ) s

wa
u2V 2
u2V 2