FLUID MACHINARY LABORATORY

CENTEIFUGAL AIR BLOWER Aim:To study the performance characteristics of centrifugal blower at various operating conditions and plot characteristic curves Volume flow rate v/s head /static pressure Volume flow rate v/s efficiency Apparatus Centrifugal blower AC motor SPECIFICATIONS BLOWER TYPE: centrifugal with rectangular duct of area =0.5625m2 Three impellers of forward, backward, and straight. Speed 2800 rpm (max) Motor 5HP A.C. motor with step cone pulley arrangement Maximum speed: 0-2800rpm Drive V belt drive Electrical input 3ph, 415V, 30A, AC supply with neutral and earth. Theory A large number of fans and blowers all high pressure applications are of the centrifugal type. Fig shows the arrangement employed in centrifugal machines. It consists of an impeller which has blades fixed between the inner and outer diameters. The impeller can be mounted either directly by couplings or belt drives. Air or gas enters the impeller axially through the inlet nozzle which provides slight acceleration to the air before its entry to the impeller. The action of impeller swings the air from a smaller to a large radius and delivers the air at a high pressure and velocity to the casing. Unlike axial type the centrifugal energy also contributes the stage pressure rise. The flow from the impeller blades collected by a spirally shaped casing known as scroll. Description of set up The main components are blower motor unit and control console The blower motor unit essentially consists of centrifugal blower driven by AC motor. The whole unit is mounted on heavy frame work. No foundation is necessary for installation of duct test ring. The outlet to the blower is a straight duct of size 199X250 and 2000mm length and is fixed with door type opening valve at outlet. The pitot tube tapings across duct are connected to double column inclined manometer. The tapping or static pressure measurement is also provided at the wall of the duct and connected to double column water manometer. The pressure distribution tapping points on the periphery of blower casing are made at 6 equiangular positions of 600. These points are connected to double column water manometer through six channel [push to read] selector switch.
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG., GMIT

FLUID MACHINARY LABORATORY

The AC motor body frame is mounted on the frame with step cone pulley arrangement with provision for changing the belt transmission to blower shaft to study the performance at different speeds. The speed pick up is provided for the measurement of rpm of blower and connected digital rpm indicator in the control console. The control panel consists of blower starter, digital speed indicator, fuses, manometer for flow and head static pressure, energy meter for electrical input and out put measurement of the motor necessary mains on indicators and switch is provided for completeness of the instrumentation.

Procedure The complete test rig and control code instrumentation are readily connected. It is enough to observe the full instructions. Connect the input and out put power for console to 3 ph AC supply with neutral and earth connection Keep all the switches / controls off/ zero. Connect the transmission belt to one speed. Switch on the mains and observe the light indicators are on. Keep the inlet valves open fully. Switch on the starter so that the motor blower speeds build up. Take down the readings such as blower speed, flow, head, energy meter reading, etc, for different openings of out let valve. Repeat the experiment for different valve openings. After experiment switch off the motor power supply and tabulate the readings. Result Volume flow rate of blower m3/sec Blower output power HP Blower efficiency

Observation:

Density of water w :1000Kg/m3 Density of air :1.29 Kg/m3 a Area of duct :(0.15x0.375)=0..5625m2 Energy meter constant :400rev/KWH HP :736 watts Electrical input to motor Static head developed due to air in pipe.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG., GMIT

FLUID MACHINARY LABORATORY

Formulae Electrical input

h pe lec trica= l

n 1 0 0 0 6 0 6X0 X X HP E. M . C o n sta n t 7 3 6 T
w 1 a

Static head developed due to air in pipe.

H sta =

hsta X 1000

..meters of air

On substitution of w and a we get

H sta = hsta 0.774 X

Where hsta =is the static head developed in mm of water. Volume flow rate Q=Area of duct X Air velocity, A X V where, A= 0.05625m2 .m3/sec Blower out put

hpblower =

a QHsta 75

..HP

Efficiency of the Blower

blower = hpblower
Table for reading Slno Outlet valve opening

hpelect

.%

Blower speed in Energy meter Static head rise Air velocity rpm reading for in mm of water in m/sec N 5 rev h sta V

Table for calculation Blower Formula-I Speed Electrical I /p in hpelectrical rpm N

Formula-II Static pressure rise meter of air column H static in Mtr

Formula-III Volume flow rate Q m3/sec

Formula-IV Blower out put in KW hpblower

formula-V Blower efficiency %Blower

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG., GMIT