Technical Bulletin

TBN003.0/1998

FAN LAWS
It is not practicable to test the
performance of every size of fan in a
manufacturers range at all speeds at
which it may be applied. Nor it is
possible to simulate every inlet density
which may be encountered.

not proportioned, slightly better

performance is generally obtained when
projecting from a given fan size to a
larger one.
Fan laws equations :-

Fortunately, by use of the Fan Laws, it is

possible to predict with good accuracy
the performance of a fan at other speeds
and densities than those of the original
rating test.

N
Q 2 = Q 1 x 2
N1

D2
x
D1

N
= P1 x 2
N1

D2
x
D1

N
W2 = W1 x 2
N1

D2
x
D1

P2

It is important to note, however, that

these Laws apply to a given point of
operation on the fan characteristic. They
cannot be used to predict other points
on this characteristic curve.
These Laws are most often used to
calculate change in flow rate, pressure
and power of a fan when the size,
speed or gas density is changed.

where Q
P
d
N
D
W

The fan Laws will be accurate for

geometrically
proportioned
fans;
however, because tolerances are
usually

1-8

d2
x
d1
5

d2
x
d1

= flow rate, CMH

= pressure (TP, SP or VP), Pa
= gas density, kg/m3
= fan speed, rpm
= impeller diameter, mm
= impeller power, kW

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

Change in Fan Speed

First considered are

applying to a change
(constant system) with a
given system handling
density. (Fig.1)

the fan laws

only in speed
given fan and a
air at a given

N
Q 2 = Q1 x 2
N1

N
W2 = W1 x 2
N1

P2

N
= P1 x 2
N1

Fig. 1

Change in RPM

Efficiency will not change.

Change in Fan Size

Fan Laws 2 account for changes in

performance due to proportioned
changes in fan size, based on constant
tip speed, with constant speed, air
density, fan proportions and fixed
operating point. (Fig. 2)
W
Q 2 = Q1 x 2
W1
D
= Q1 x 2
D1

P2 = P1
D
N2 = N1 x 1
D2

Fig. 2

It is used mostly by fan designers and

rarely has application in the field.

2-8

Change in wheel diameter

(constant tip speed)

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

Fan Laws 3 also account for changes in

performance due to proportioned
changes in fan size but it based on
constant fan speed, with air density, fan
proportions and fixed operating point.
(Fig. 3)
D
Q2 = Q1 x 2
D1

P2

D
= P1 x 2
D1

D
TS2 = TS1x 2
D1
D
W2 = W1 x 2
D1

Fig. 3

Change in wheel diameter

(constant RPM)

It is usually used by fan manufacturers to

generate
performance
data
for
geometrically proportioned families of
fans.
Change in Air Density

Considered next is the effect of change

in air density on fan performance, three
fan laws apply in this situation.
Fan Law 4 (Fig. 4) with constant volume,
system, fan size, and speed .
The fan volume, in Q will not change
with density. A fan is a constant volume
machine and will produce the same Q
no matter what the air density may be.
W
P2 = P1x 2
W1
Fig. 4

d
= P1x 2
d1
Q 2 = Q1

3-8

Effect of density change

(constant flow rate)

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

Fan law 5 (Fig. 5) with constant pressure,

system, and fan size. Variable speed.
N
Q 2 = Q 1 x 2
N1

W
= Q 1 x 2
W1

d
= Q 1 x 1
d2
P2 = P1

Fig. 5

Density change
(constant static pressure)

Fig. 6

Density change
(constant flow rate)

Fan law 6 (Fig. 6) with constant mass

flow rate, constant system and fixed fan
size. Variable fan speed.

N
Q 2 = Q 1 x 2
N1
P
= Q 1 x 2
P1
d
= Q 1 x 1
d2
d
W2 = W1 x 1
d2

Fan laws 4 and 6 are the basis for

selecting fans for other than standard air
density using the catalogue fan tables
which are based on standard air.

4-8

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

Example No. 1

Example No.2

An air-conditioning supply fan is

operating at a speed of 600 rpm against
static pressure 500 Pa and requiring
power of 6.50 BkW. It is delivering
19,000 CMH at standard conditions. In
order to handle an air-conditioning load
heavier than originally planned, more air
is desired. In order to increase the flow
rate to 21,500 CMH, what are the new
fan speed, static pressure and power?

A fan is operating at a speed of 2715

rpm on 20C air against static pressure
300Pa. It is delivering 3,560 CMH and
requires 2.84 BkW. A 5 kW motor is
powering the fan. The system is short
capacity but the owner doesnt want to
spend any money to change the motor.
What is the maximum capacity from his
system with the existing 5 kW motor?
What is the allowable speed increase?
What will the flow rate and static
pressure be under the new conditions?

Using Fan Law 1 (Fig. 7)

Using Fan Law 1 (Fig. 8)

N
Q 2 = Q1 x 2
N1

W
N2 = N1 2
W1

Q
N2 = N1 x 2
Q1
= 600 x (21500 19000 )
= 679 rpm

1
3

= 2715 x(5.0 2.84 )

= 3280 rpm

N
Q 2 = Q1 x 2
N1
= 3560 x(3280 2715)
= 4300 CMH

N
P2 = P1 x 2
N1
2
= 500x(679 600 ) = 640Pa

N
P2 = P1x 2
N1
2
= 300x(3280 2715) = 440 Pa

N
W2 = W1 x 2
N1
3
= 6.50x(679 600 ) = 9.42BkW

Fig. 7

1
3

Fig. 8 RPM change

RPM change

5-8

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

Example No.3

A fan manufacturer wishes to project

data obtained for a 400 mm-dia. fan to a
800mm-dia. fan. At one operating point
the 400 mm fan delivers 7,750 CMH of
20C air against 100 Pa static pressure.
This requires 694 rpm (tip speed =
14.53 m/s) and 1.77 BkW. What will the
projected flow rate, static pressure,
power and tip speed (TS) be for a 800
mm fan at the same speed.
Using Fan Law 3 (Fig. 9)
Fig. 9 Diameter change

D
Q 2 = Q1 x 2
D1
3
= 7,750x(800 400 )

= 62,000 CMH

Example No.4

A fan drawing air from an oven is

delivering 18,620 CMH of 116 C air
against 250 Pa static pressure. It is
operating at 796 rpm and requires 9.90
BkW. Assume the oven loses its heat
and the air is at 20C. What happens to
the static pressure and impeller power
required ?

D
P2 = P1x 2
D1
2
= 100x(800 400 )

= 400 Pa
5

D
W2 = W1 x 2
D1
5
= 1.77x(800 400 )

Using Fan Law 4 (Fig. 10)

= 56.6BkW

Density of 20C air = 1.2 kg/m3

Density of 116C air = 0.9 kg/m3

D
TS 2 = TS1 x 2
D1
= 14.53x (800 400 )
= 29.06 m / s

Q 2 = Q 1 = 18,620 CMH
d
P2 = P1x 2
d1
= 250x (1.2 0.9)

This, plus Fan Law 1, are the fan laws

used to project catalogue data for many
diameters and speeds from a test on a
single fan at one speed.

= 335Pa

6-8

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

d
W2 = W1 2
d1
= 9.9(1.2 0.9)

From a chart of air density ratios, we

would find

= 13.2BkW

d Actual
= 0.88
d S tan dard
d
Pstd = Pact x std
d act
=

200
= 227 Pa,say225
0.88

Fig. 10 Density change

This example illustrates why the fan

motor should always be selected on the
power at the maximum density, which
would be at the lowest air temperature
expected.
Fig. 11 Density change

Example No.5

From the catalogue fan table, we find to

deliver 15,200 CMH against 225 Pa
will require 1120 rpm. The power
required is 8.07 BkW. The speed is
correct at 1120, but since the fan is
handling less dense air, then :

An engineer specifies that he wants

15,200 CMH at 200 Pa static pressure,
49C and 300 m altitude. Determine the
fan speed and power.
(Hint : There are two ways to solve this
problem, Using Fan Law 4 or Fan Law 6)

d
Wact = Wstd x act
dstd
= 8.07x0.88
= 7.1BkW

Using Fan Law 4 (Fig. 11)

In order to enter in the manufacturers
catalogue fan tables which are based on
standard air, we must determine the
static pressure that would be required
with standard air.

Note also from this example that the

static pressure resistance of the system
varies directly with air density.

7-8

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

Using Fan Law 6 (Fig. 12)

In this case, assume that operating
condition is standard to determine the
speed and power in the catalogue. Then
the catalogue power and static pressure
will be corrected according to Fan Law6.
d
Q std = Q act x act
d std
= 15,200x0.88 = 13,400 CMH
d
Pstd = Pact x act
dstd
= 200x0.88 = 176Pa,say175

Fig. 12 Density change

would be 400 Pa if the capacity, 41,280

CMH, remains the same. From the fan
manufacturers rating table, it is seen
that the speed would have to be
increased to 454 rpm and would
require 18.7 BkW. This new fan rating
must be reduced to the predetermined
speed of 418 rpm along the new duct
resistance curve by use of Fan Law 1.

The fan will deliver 13,400 CMH against

175 Pa when operating at 988rpm.
Required power 5.55BkW. Correcting
the speed for density according to Fan
Law 6, we obtain :
d
N act = N std x std
d act
= 988 0.88 = 1120 rpm

N
Q 1 = Q 2 x 1
N2

418
= 41,280x
= 38,000 CMH
454

d
Wact = Wstd x std
d act
2
= 5.55 (0.88 ) = 7.1BkW

N
418
P1 = P2 x 1 = 400x
=339Pa
N
454
2

As would be expected, the answer

comes out the same with either solution.

N
W1 = W2 x 1
N2

Example No.6

418
= 18.7x
= 14.6BkW
454

Assume that a fan is handling 41,280

CMH at static pressure of 300 Pa,
running at 418 rpm and requiring 14.99
BkW. If the speed remains constant at
418 rpm, but an additional resistance of
100 Pa (based on existing velocities) is
placed in the system, the static pressure

This example, is useful in those cases

where added resistance, such as
absolute filters, is inserted in the fan
system and thereby raises its static
pressure beyond the fan manufacturers
catalogued ratings.

8-8