How to Read a Fan Curve

Fan Curves
Three main components
CFM
Static Pressure
Brake Horsepower
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
Fan Curve
(Pressure to CFM relationship)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100

0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
B
r
a
k
e

H
o
r
s
e

P
o
w
e
r
Brake Horsepower Curve
(CFM to BHP relationship)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
B
r
a
k
e

H
o
r
s
e

P
o
w
e
r
Typical Fan Performance Curve
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
CFM x 100

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
Constant Horsepower Curve
Typical System Resistance Curve
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
System Resistance
Curve
Sum of all system
components:
Ductwork
Elbows
Transitions
Filters
Coils
Dampers
Louvers
Building pressure
P
s
= k * CFM
2
Pressure Increases
with the Square
of CFM!
Varying System Resistance Curve
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100
S
t
a
t
i
c

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
Going from curve
A to curve B is an
example of a
system that a
damper closes or
filters get dirty.
Curve B
Curve A
I
n
c
r
e
a
s
i
n
g

R
e
s
i
s
t
a
n
c
e

t
o

f
l
o
w
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
B
r
a
k
e

H
o
r
s
e

P
o
w
e
r
Operating Point
Fan Performance Curve
Brake Horsepower Curve
System Resistance Curve
Operating Point
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
B
r
a
k
e

H
o
r
s
e

P
o
w
e
r
Fan Performance Curve
Brake Horsepower Curve
System Resistance Curve
Operating Point
Reading BHp Curve
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
CFM x 100

P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
700 RPM
350 RPM
Operating Point
at 700 RPM
Operating Point
at 350 RPM
Varying Operating Points
Large change in Ps
Small change in CFM
Small change in Ps
Large change in CFM
CFM
Ps
Selecting Point of Operation
Ps
Operating
Point
Optimum
Range
Unstable
CFM
Selecting Point of Operation