Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
LABORATORY 2 (MEEN 30322)
ACTIVITY NO. 6
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Subject
Mechanical Engineering Laboratory 2
By
ABUNDA, GLAZY D.
BORLAGDAN, LEE MATTHEW P.
MANRIQUE, ADREANA F.
YBAÑEZ, ALBERT
BSME 4-2
2024
Experiment No. 6
Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
TEST OF CENTRIFUGAL FANS AND BLOWERS
I. OBJECTIVES:
1. To familiarize the different types of fans and blowers and uses.
2. To know the characteristics of each type and design.
3. To know the pressure exerted by fans by means of measuring instruments.
II. APPARATUS:
Set of orifice plate, manometer, stainless ruler, adjustable wrench V.O.M. tester, tachometer,
clamp ammeter, anemometer, steel tape.
III. PROCEDURE:
1. Draw the set-up of the experiment.
2. Draw the set-up of the experiment. Place the desired orifice diameter at the end of the air
tunnel.
3. Start the motor by switching the main plug to the main AC source.
4. Test the motor with load condition. Find the RPM, current rating and the voltage.
5. Test the motor for no load condition (remove the left). Find the RPM, current rating, and
voltage. Use two minutes duration for each trial.
6. Compute the necessary requirements needed to complete the data sheet.
7. Place a u-tube manometer with water and place the orifice on the other end of the duct,
read the pressure the static and the velocity.
8. Do not same for different orifice diameter.
9. Compute for the losses of the total head in duct.
Where:
h f =loss of head ∈ feet due ¿ friction
f V m2 L
hf = 2 f =0.0008
11,250,000 (d )
V m =Velocity of flow
L=Length of duct
d=diameter of duct
10. Fill up the tabulation below.
IV. QUESTION TO ANSWER:
Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
1. Define each
a. Ventilation fans – Devices that move air to provide fresh air, remove stale air, or
regulate indoor temperature. Commonly used in HVAC systems for air exchange.
b. Blower – A mechanical device designed to create a high-velocity air stream, often
used for applications requiring higher pressure than typical fans, such as industrial
processes.
c. Speed control – A mechanism or system, such as a variable frequency drive
(VFD), used to adjust the rotational speed of a fan or blower motor to optimize
airflow and energy consumption.
d. Inlet vane control – A set of adjustable vanes located at the inlet of a fan to
regulate airflow by changing the angle of air entering the impeller.
e. Static pressure – The pressure exerted by air (or any fluid) in a system when it is
not moving. It reflects the resistance to airflow within a duct or system.
f. Velocity pressure – The pressure generated by the kinetic energy of moving air. It
is proportional to the velocity of the airflow and is a component of total pressure.
2. Explain the test for ventilating fans and blowers
Testing involves measuring performance characteristics to ensure efficiency, capacity, and
compliance with standards. Key tests include:
Airflow Measurement – Using an anemometer or flow hood to determine
volume flow rate.
Pressure Measurement – Measuring static, velocity, and total pressures using a
manometer or pressure sensors.
Efficiency Test – Comparing input energy to the useful energy of the air moved.
Vibration and Noise Tests – Ensuring the system operates smoothly and within
acceptable noise levels.
3. What are the instrument use in test for fans and blowers?
Anemometer – Measures airflow velocity.
Manometer – Measures pressure differences (static, total, and velocity).
Tachometer – Determines the rotational speed of the fan or blower.
Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Sound Level Meter – Records noise levels.
Vibration Analyzer – Detects mechanical imbalances or misalignments.
4. What are the basic operation conditions of force draft fan?
Operates at positive pressure to push air into a system (e.g., a furnace or boiler).
Ensures a steady supply of air for combustion.
Requires clean inlet air and regular maintenance to prevent dust accumulation.
5. What are the basic operation conditions of induced draft fan?
Operates at negative pressure to draw exhaust gases or air out of a system.
Handles high-temperature and potentially corrosive gases, requiring robust
materials.
Must maintain pressure balance to avoid backflow.
6. What are some fans equation and discuss?
Bernoulli’s Equation (for pressure):
o Pt =Ps + P v
Where:
Pt : Total pressure,
Ps: Static pressure,
Pv: Velocity pressure
Fan Laws:
o Airflow ( Q ) ∝ Fan speed (N )
o Pressure ( P ) ∝ N 2
o Power ( W ) ∝ N 3
7. Explain. How to purchase large fan.
Determine Requirements – Specify airflow, pressure, noise, and efficiency
needs.
Material Selection – Choose based on operating conditions (temperature,
humidity, corrosive environment).
Certifications and Standards – Ensure the fan complies with standards like
AMCA (Air Movement and Control Association).
Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Testing and Warranty – Confirm pre-delivery performance testing and warranty
support.
8. Draw and discuss each.
a. Forward Curved Fan Blade
Characteristics – Small blades curved in the direction of rotation.
Applications – Low-pressure, high-airflow applications like HVAC.
Efficiency – Moderate but prone to dust accumulation.
b. Backward Curved Fan Blade
Characteristics – Blades curve opposite to the direction of rotation.
Applications – High-efficiency applications requiring lower noise and energy
consumption.
Efficiency – Very efficient, less prone to wear.
c. Radial Fan Blade
Characteristics – Blades extend straight from the center.
Applications – High-pressure industrial systems, material handling.
Efficiency – Handles tough environments and debris.
9. How are fan is tested for direct connected to steam engine and motor.
When testing a fan driven by a steam engine or motor:
Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Load Matching – Verify that the fan load matches the power capacity of the
engine or motor.
Torque and Speed Measurement – Use dynamometers to measure torque and
speed.
System Efficiency – Calculate overall efficiency by comparing input
(steam/motor energy) to output (airflow energy).
Operational Stability – Monitor vibration, pressure, and temperature to ensure
system balance.
V. CONCLUSION:
The experiment testing centrifugal fans and blowers provided valuable insights into their
operational characteristics, performance, and design variations. Through the activity,
participants gained familiarity with different fan types, including forward-curved, backward-
curved, and radial fan blades, and their respective applications and performance traits. The
tests allowed for the analysis of key performance parameters such as static pressure, velocity
pressure, and airflow rates using instruments like manometers, anemometers, and
tachometers. Observations of load and no-load conditions offered a deeper understanding of
fan speed, current, and voltage under varying operational scenarios, ensuring an appreciation
of efficient and safe operation. Furthermore, the application of fan laws and Bernoulli’s
equation helped validate theoretical principles by correlating them with experimental
findings.
VI. DISCUSSION:
To improve future testing, several recommendations are proposed. Regular maintenance of
fans and blowers is essential to minimize efficiency losses caused by wear, dust
accumulation, and mechanical imbalances. Conducting experiments in controlled
environments is advised to reduce the influence of external disturbances such as vibration or
temperature variations. Utilizing modern data logging tools can enhance accuracy and
simplify the analysis of test results. It is also recommended to select materials and designs
suited to specific applications, such as corrosion-resistant materials for chemical
Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
environments. Expanding the scope of experiments to include other fan types, such as axial
fans, and advanced speed control systems like variable frequency drives (VFDs) could further
enhance understanding. Finally, implementing stringent safety measures, including the use of
protective equipment and secure apparatus setups, is necessary to ensure the safety of
personnel during high-speed operations.
VII. REFERENCE:
01
Admin. (2024, August 31). Radial Blade Fans | Morse Air Systems. Morse Air Systems.
https://morseairsystems.com.au/products/fans-by-type/radial-blade-fans-radial-flow/
02
AMCA International. AMCA Standard 210-16: Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for
Certified Aerodynamic Performance Rating.
03
Bleier, F. P. Fan Handbook: Selection, Application, and Design. McGraw-Hill
Professional, 1998.
03
Cengal, Y. A., & Boles, M. A. Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach. McGraw-Hill
Education, 2021.
04
Dempsey, J. P., et al. (2020). "Optimization of Centrifugal Fan Blade Designs Using CFD
Simulations." Journal of Mechanical Design and Manufacturing, 142(5), 501-510.
05
Thangarasu, V., & Dhandapani, N. (2015). Design and experimental investigation of
forward curved, backward curved and radial blade impellers of centrifugal blower.
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Design-and-Experimental-Investigation-of-Forward-
of-Thangarasu-Dhandapani/9f5f21428ce5cb4e8593184eb185019f3ebd6f3c/figure/0
