Fan Types- Centrifugal, Axial, Forward Curve, Airfoil. What does it all mean?
The cfm Distributors Inc Applied Systems Group meets every other Monday at 8am for training. This training covers a plethora of topics, but a portion of this training is on HVAC design and application. Last month we were discussing fan types and we thought it would be fun to create a document that explains the different types of fan systems you might run across in the field and in HVAC systems, along with their benefits or draw backs.There are two main types of fan systems:
- Centrifugal
- Axial
In an axial fan system, by contrast, the air doesn’t change direction. It flows into and out of the fan in the same direction. The benefit of an axial fan is that it can provide high airflow at very low static pressure and at a low power input. This is why you see axial fans in condenser sections in rooftops or split systems, and in free-blow unit heaters. These fans however, are not designed to handle very much static pressure. See Figure 2 below for a picture of this fan type.
- Forward Curve- Sometimes referred to as a “squirrel cage” fan, forward curve fans are used in most residential and light commercial HVAC equipment. These fans are for low to medium static applications. They are the most budget friendly and the least efficient blade design.
- Backward Inclined- The performance of the backward inclined wheel is similar to the forward curve, however BI fans tend to be non-overloading, meaning their fan curves do not tend to increase hp as static pressure changes, but cfm falls off.
- Backward Curved- these wheels are extremely efficient, more robustly built, and very quiet. They are more expensive to build than FC and BI fans.
- Airfoil- these blades are shaped like that of an airplane wing and offer slightly higher efficiencies and lower noise levels than BC fans, however are more expensive to build.
- Tube Axial – These fans consist of propeller shaped blades mounted in a tube. These fans are general built to be installed in low pressure duct work.
- Vane Axial- These fans are a variation of the tube-axial fans with air straightening vanes added in front of or behind the propeller blades.
- Propeller- A propeller axial fan consists of a propeller shaped blade mounted on a flat frame. The construction is often built to be installed in a wall or in an open ceiling or floor mount.
Plenum fans are outfitted with a centrifugal fan wheel but without the full housing that a traditional centrifugal fan system has (it has just a frame, or no housing at all). There are many benefits to a plenum fan: most plenum fans are direct drive which means no belts to service, and plenum fans have a much higher external static capability and are quieter and more efficient to operate.
Resources
- https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Chapter-3.5-Fans-Blowers.pdf
- https://www.tcf.com/fanpedia/
- https://www.cincinnatifan.com/blower-wheels.htm
- https://www.pelonistechnologies.com/blog/axial-vs.-centrifugal-fans
- https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/fan-types-why-choose-a-forward-curved-centrifugal-fan
- http://www.ijirset.com/upload/2017/july/11_Comparative.PDF
Vice President of Sales, Applied Systems Group at cfm Distributors, Inc.
Brad was born and raised in St Louis Missouri, where he spent the first 18 years of his life. At the ripe young age of 18, he embarked onto his next big adventure, traveling to the University of Missouri Columbia for a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Brad joined the cfm team in 2006, and now as the Vice President of Commercial Sales, he focuses on business development, as well as helping contractors and engineers find creative and unique solutions to any size project. When he’s not at work, Brad enjoys photography, running and spending time with his family.
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