1-8

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 :-

3
1
2
1
2
1 2
D
D
x
N
N
x Q Q

=
1
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
1 2
d
d
x
D
D
x
N
N
x P P

=
1
2
5
1
2
3
1
2
1 2
d
d
x
D
D
x
N
N
x W W


where Q = flow rate, CMH
P = pressure (TP, SP or VP), Pa
d = gas density, kg/m
3

N = fan speed, rpm
D = impeller diameter, mm
W = impeller power, kW













2-8


Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

Change in Fan Speed

First considered are the fan laws
applying to a change only in speed
(constant system) with a given fan and a
given system handling air at a given
density. (Fig.1)

=
1
2
1 2
N
N
x Q Q

2
1
2
1 2
N
N
x P P

=

3
1
2
1 2
N
N
x W W

=

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)

=
1
2
1 2
W
W
x Q Q

2
1
2
1
D
D
x Q

=

1 2
P P =

=
2
1
1 2
D
D
x N N

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

















































Fig. 1 Change in RPM
Fig. 2 Change in wheel diameter
(constant tip speed)

3-8



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)

3
1
2
1 2
D
D
x Q Q

=
2
1
2
1 2
D
D
x P P

=
1
2
1 2
D
D
x TS TS
5
1
2
1 2
D
D
x W W

=

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.

=
1
2
1 2
W
W
x P P

=
1
2
1
d
d
x P

1 2
Q Q =
Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

















































Fig. 3 Change in wheel diameter
(constant RPM)
Fig. 4 Effect of density change
(constant flow rate)


4-8



Fan law 5 (Fig. 5) with constant pressure,
system, and fan size. Variable speed.

1 2
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1 2
P P
d
d
x Q
W
W
x Q
N
N
x Q Q
=

=




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


2
2
1
1 2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1 2
d
d
x W W
d
d
x Q
P
P
x Q
N
N
x Q Q

=



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.









Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998

















































Fig. 6 Density change
(constant flow rate)
Fig. 5 Density change
(constant static pressure)

5-8



Example No. 1

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)

=
1
2
1 2
N
N
x Q Q

=
1
2
1 2
Q
Q
x N N
( )
rpm 679
19000 21500 x 600
=
=


2
1
2
1 2
N
N
x P P

=
( ) Pa 640 600 679 x 500
2
= =

3
1
2
1 2
N
N
x W W

=
( ) BkW 42 . 9 600 679 x 50 . 6
3
= =













Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998


Example No.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)

3
1
1
2
1 2
W
W
N N

=
( ) rpm 3280 84 . 2 0 . 5 x 2715
3
1
= =

=
1
2
1 2
N
N
x Q Q

( )
CMH 4300
2715 3280 x 3560
=
=


2
1
2
1 2
N
N
x P P

=
( ) Pa 440 2715 3280 x 300
2
= =















Fig. 8 RPM change

Fig. 7 RPM change

6-8


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)

3
1
2
1 2
D
D
x Q Q

=
( )
CMH 000 , 62
400 800 x 750 , 7
3
=
=


2
1
2
1 2
D
D
x P P

=

( )
Pa 400
400 800 x 100
2
=
=


5
1
2
1 2
D
D
x W W

=

( )
BkW 6 . 56
400 800 x 77 . 1
5
=
=

=
1
2
1 2
D
D
x TS TS
( )
s / m 06 . 29
400 800 x 53 . 14
=
=


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.


Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998





















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 ?


Using Fan Law 4 (Fig. 10)

Density of 20C air = 1.2 kg/m
3
Density of 116C air = 0.9 kg/m
3


CMH 620 , 18 Q Q
1 2
= =

=
1
2
1 2
d
d
x P P
( )
Pa 335
9 . 0 2 . 1 x 250
=
=




Fig. 9 Diameter change

7-8

=
1
2
1 2
d
d
W W
( )
BkW 2 . 13
9 . 0 2 . 1 9 . 9
=
=


















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.



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.

Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998


From a chart of air density ratios, we
would find

225 say , Pa 227
88 . 0
200
d
d
x P P
88 . 0
dard tan S d
Actual d
act
std
act std
= =

=
=

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 :

=
std
act
std act
d
d
x W W

BkW 1 . 7
88 . 0 x 07 . 8
=
=


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

Fig. 10 Density change
Fig. 11 Density change

8-8



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.

CMH 400 , 13 88 . 0 x 200 , 15
d
d
x Q Q
std
act
act std
= =

=
std
act
act std
d
d
x P P
175 say , Pa 176 88 . 0 x 200 = =

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 :

( ) BkW 1 . 7 88 . 0 55 . 5
d
d
x W W
rpm 1120 88 . 0 988
d
d
x N N
2
2
act
std
std act
act
std
std act
= =

=
= =

=


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



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
Technical Bulletin - TBN003.0/1998



















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.

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

=
Pa 339
454
418
x 400
N
N
x P P
2
2
2
1
2 1
=

=
BkW 6 . 14
454
418
x 7 . 18
N
N
x W W
3
3
2
1
2 1
=

=


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.
Fig. 12 Density change