Performance Test on Single Stage Axial Flow Fan

Akhil Jaiswal, Akhil Praveen, ASP Gautam, Amal Jyothis V, Amit Kamboj, Anand Kumar, Anurag Singh T
B. Tech. Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
Abstract A performance test was carried out on single stage
axial flow fan test rig and the variables for performance
evaluation were measured. By varying the fan motor rotational
speed, input and output power calculations were done using the
measured variables and variation of efficiency with fan rpm was
studied. Maximum efficiency was obtained at 2000 rpm.
Keywords- Single Stage Axial Flow Fan, Efficiency.
I. INTRODUCTION
An axial fan is a type of a compressor that increases the
pressure of the air flowing through it
[1]
. The blades of the
axial-flow fans force air to move parallel to the shaft about
which the blades rotate. In other words, the flow is axially in
and axially out, linearly, hence the name.
By comparison, a centrifugal or radial flow fan moves air
perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Axial flow fans are better
suited for low-resistance, high-flow applications, whereas
centrifugal flow fans apply to high-pressure resistance, low-
flow conditions.
Axial flow fans, while incapable of developing high pressures,
they are well suitable for handling large volumes of air at
relatively low pressures. In general, they are low in cost and
possess good efficiency, most have a large hub and can have
blades of airfoil shape.
Depending on the operation range of the static pressure,
medium to high, the hub diameter can vary from 30 to 80% of
the blade outside diameter.
The hub/tip ratio is defined as

Figure 1. Fan Nomenclature
[2]


Figure 2. Schematic of Single Stage Axial Flow Fan
1. Fan Motor 2. Fan Blade
3. Stator Vanes 4. Pitot Probe
5. Air Flow Duct 6. Pressure Tappings

II. EXPERIMENT
The experiment was done on a typical centrifugal blower set up
at L002 Thermal lab at IIST. The set up mainly of a pump, a
motor and test rig. Test Rig consists of a single stage axial flow
fan. 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 Pitot-Static probe is
provided to measure the flow rate through the fan.
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. An energy meter is used to measure the input power. A
non-contact type tachometer is provided to measure the fan rpm
directly.

Figure 3. Multi Limb Manometer
III. PROCEDURE
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. Switch on the control panel
with the motor speed control at minimum. Slowly increase the
motor speed to a required test speed. Note the time taken for 10
pulses in energy meter. 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. Repeat the above procedure for different speed
conditions of the motor and note down the readings. Switch off
the motor after decreasing its speed slowly. Tabulate the
observations and calculate the required values.
IV. OBSERVATIONS
Table 1. Pressure Readings across Fan
S. No. Fan Speed
Time
10 rev
Static Pressure Rise across Fan
P2T P2H P3T P3H

RPM s cm of water
1 1955 16.8 28.6 28.1 25.1 26.7
2 2048 14.5 28.8 28.2 25 26.7
3 2149 12.8 29 28.3 24.9 26.8
4 2250 11.1 29.2 28.5 24.8 26.9
5 2349 9.7 29.5 28.8 24.6 27
6 2457 8.1 29.9 29.3 24.4 27.1

Table 2. Pitot Probe Readings
S. No. Fan Speed Time 10 rev
Pitot Tube Reading
h1 h2

RPM s
cm of water
1 1955 16.8
7.8 9.2
2 2048 14.5
7.7 9.2
3 2149 12.8
7.6 9.3
4 2250 11.1
7.6 9.4
5 2349 9.7
7.5 9.5
6 2457 8.1
7.4 9.5
V. EQUATIONS AND SAMPLE CALCULATION
For reading #2:
For Fan Input Power
[3]
,
Input power to motor = (3600*n)/(K*t) kW
Where,
K= Energy meter constant = 1600 imp/kWh.
t =Time for n impulses in seconds.
n = 10
t = 14.49 s.
Efficiency of VFD and Motor = 80% (assumed)
Motor Output Power = (0.8*3600*n)/(K*t) kW
Fan input Power, P
i
= Motor output
= 1.242 kW
For Fan Output Power,
Flow rate, Q = (A * V) m
3
/s

Where,
Inlet area, A = 0.135 m
2

Velocity, V = (2*g*H
a
) m/s
= (2*g*(H
w
/100)*(
w
/
a
)) m/s
H
w
= Velocity head in cm of water.
= 1.5 cm of water
Velocity, V = 15.091 m/s
Static pressure head across the fan,
h = (Delivery head Suction head) m of water
h = 0.0265 m of water
Delivery head,
h
D
= ((atm- P
3
T)+ (atm- P
3
H))/2 m of water
= 0.0015 m of water
Suction head,
h
S
= ((atm- P
2
T)+ (atm- P
2
H))/2 m of water
= -0.025 m of water
Fan output power , P
o
= (*g*h*Q)/1000 kW
g = 9.81m/s
2

Q = 2.037 m
3
/s
P
o
= 0.529 kW
Efficiency of the axial flow fan,
= (P
o
/P
i
)*100%
= 42.63 %
VI. GRAPHS

Graph 1 Input Power Vs Flow Rate

Graph 2 Fan speed Vs Flow Rate
Graph 3 Head Vs Flow Rate


Graph 4. Efficieny Vs Flow Rate
VII. RESULT
The air flow rate was varied from 1.96 to 2.41 m
3
/s.
Correspondingly, the graph of total head, fan speed and input
has been obtained. The total head varied from 24 cm to 38 cm
while the power varied from 1071W to 2232 W. The efficiency
varied from 40%- 44% and peak in efficiency is achieved at a
flow rate of 1.968 m
3
/s at around 2000 rpm.
VIII. CONCLUSION
It can be inferred that as flow rate is increased then the fan
speed increases linearly and input power increases with the
cube of flow rate
[4]
. The efficiency has a maximum value of
maximum to 44% in the range of fan speeds at which the tests
are done. Unlike standard test results referred from the internet
where efficiency increases and then decreases, in this
experiment, it keeps on decreasing monotonically in contrast to
standard results. One reason for such an occurrence may be that
we might be doing the test beyond the point of maximum
efficiency rpm. This is also supported by the increase in
pressure head with flow rate in this experiment unlike standard
performance test results where pressure head increases only in
the region of surge where efficiency starts decreasing.
Further there can be sources of error due to which we obtained
discrepancy in results. There could be several reasons for this
such as error in reading of devices manually like manometer,
tachometer, bubbles in the manometer, etc.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to acknowledge with appreciation the numerous
and valuable persons whose contribution has been important in
this report. We would like to thank our instructors Dr. Deepu M
and Dr. Rajesh S for their valuable help. We also thank our lab
assistants for clearing our doubts.
REFERENCES

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_fan_design
[2] http://eeref.engr.oregonstate.edu/@api/deki/files/841/=Axial_Fan.png
[3] Dr. Rajesh S, Dr. Deepu M, IIST Lab Hand Out
[4] http://www.nyb.com/Catalog/Letters/EL-03.pdf
APPENDIX I
Specifications Single Stage Axial Flow Fan Test Rig:
Overall dimensions of Test Rig:
Length = 1.6 m
Width = 1 m
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
Motor:
Power - 5 HP
Speed range - 0 to 2800 rpm

APPENDIX II
Table 3. Calculated Values for all Readings
Sl
no
.
Fan
Speed
Time
for 10
Rev of
Energy
disc
Static
Pressure Head
across fan
Flow
Rate
Fan Input
power
Fan
output
Power
Efficiency

N(rpm) t(s) h(m of water) Q(m
3
/s) P
i
(kW) P
o
(kW) (%)
1 1955 16.8 0.0245 1.96826 1.07142857 0.473061 44.15239718
2 2048 14.5 0.0265 2.037342 1.24223602 0.529638 42.63583697
3 2149 12.8 0.028 2.168917 1.4084507 0.595758 42.29881977
4 2250 11.1 0.03 2.231797 1.62895928 0.656818 40.32131518
5 2349 9.7 0.0335 2.35252 1.85185185 0.773121 41.74850938
6 2457 8.1 0.0385 2.410616 2.23325062 0.910454 40.76808602