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. 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. 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. The fan Laws will be accurate for geometrically proportioned fans; however, because tolerances are usually not proportioned, slightly better performance is generally obtained when projecting from a given fan size to a larger one. Fan laws equations :-

N Q 2 = Q1 x 2 N 1
N = P1 x 2 N 1

D2 x D 1
D2 x D 1 D2 x D 1
3 2

P2

d2 x d 1 d2 x d 1
5

N W2 = W1 x 2 N 1

where Q P d N D W

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

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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)
N Q 2 = Q 1 x 2 N 1 P2 N = P1 x 2 N 1
2

the fan laws only in speed given fan and a air at a given

N W2 = W1 x 2 N 1

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 = Q 1 x 2 W 1 D = Q1 x 2 D 1 P2 = P1 D N2 = N1 x 1 D 2
Fig. 2 Change in wheel diameter (constant tip speed)
2

It is used mostly by fan designers and rarely has application in the field.

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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 D 1
3

P2

D = P1 x 2 D 1

D TS2 = TS1x 2 D 1 D W2 = W1 x 2 D 1
5

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 W 1 d = P1x 2 d 1 Q 2 = Q1
Fig. 4 Effect of density change (constant flow rate)

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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 N 1 W = Q 1 x 2 W 1 d = Q 1 x 1 d 2 P2 = P1
1

Fig. 5

Fan law 6 (Fig. 6) with constant mass flow rate, constant system and fixed fan size. Variable fan speed.

Density change (constant static pressure)

N Q 2 = Q 1 x 2 N 1 P = Q 1 x 2 P 1 d = Q 1 x 1 d 2 d W2 = W1 x 1 d 2
2

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.

Fig. 6

Density change (constant flow rate)

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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? Using Fan Law 1 (Fig. 7)
N Q 2 = Q 1 x 2 N 1 Q N2 = N1 x 2 Q 1 = 600 x (21500 19000 ) = 679 rpm
N P2 = P1 x 2 N 1 2 = 500x(679 600 ) = 640Pa
2

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. 8)
W N2 = N1 2 W 1
1 3

= 2715 x(5.0 2.84 )

1 3

= 3280 rpm

N Q 2 = Q1 x 2 N 1 = 3560 x(3280 2715) = 4300 CMH

N P2 = P1x 2 N 1 2 = 300x(3280 2715) = 440 Pa
2

N W2 = W1 x 2 N 1 3 = 6.50x(679 600 ) = 9.42BkW

Fig. 7

RPM change

Fig. 8 RPM change

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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)
D Q 2 = Q 1 x 2 D 1 3 = 7,750x(800 400 )
3

Fig. 9 Diameter change

= 62,000 CMH
D P2 = P1x 2 D 1 2 = 100x(800 400 )
2

Example No.4

= 400 Pa
D W2 = W1 x 2 D 1 5 = 1.77x(800 400 )
5

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 ? Using Fan Law 4 (Fig. 10) Density of 20C air = 1.2 kg/m3 Density of 116C air = 0.9 kg/m3
Q 2 = Q 1 = 18,620 CMH d P2 = P1x 2 d 1 = 250x (1.2 0.9) = 335Pa

= 56.6BkW
D TS 2 = TS1 x 2 D 1 = 14.53x (800 400 ) = 29.06 m / s

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.

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Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

d W2 = W1 2 d 1 = 9.9(1.2 0.9) = 13.2BkW

From a chart of air density ratios, we would find

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

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) 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.

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

Note also from this example that the static pressure resistance of the system varies directly with air density.

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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 d std = 200x0.88 = 176Pa,say175

Fig. 12 Density change

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

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.
N Q 1 = Q 2 x 1 N 2 418 = 41,280x = 38,000 CMH 454
2 2

As would be expected, the answer comes out the same with either solution.

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

N W1 = W2 x 1 N 2

Example No.6

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

418 = 18.7x = 14.6BkW 454

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.

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