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Multiple Fan Systems - Fans in Series and Parallel
Multiple Fan Systems - Fans in Series and Parallel
Multiple Fan Systems - Fans in Series and Parallel
Multiple Fan Systems - Fans in Series and Parallel, continued from page 1
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Engineering Update Fall 2004/Winter 2005 3
Multiple Fan Systems - Fans in Series and Parallel, continued from page 2
fans in parallel to ensure that the operation, consideration must be together. It may be advisable to
system resistance remains on a given to those times when only close inlet vanes or dampers
stable portion of the fan curve at one fan is running. This may be during start-up to minimize
all times. This is particularly true during start-up, during repairs horsepower requirements. Once
when the fans have a or as part of a flow control the fans are up to speed, the
pronounced surge area or a dip scheme based upon the number controls may be opened.
in the fan curve and some form of fans running.
Variable pitch vane axials, which
of control is applied. A good rule
1. Start-up conditions - In have a dip in the fan curve,
of thumb is to ensure that the
general, as long as the system should be started with the blade
operating point with all fans
curve and the fan curve always pitch reduced and then opened
running is no higher than the
up once at speed. If the first vane
lowest pressure in the dip. This
axial has been started, it is best
minimizes the possibility that the Fan Curve
Total Pressure
Airflow
1.5 D 1.5 D
Airflow
2D 2D
Airflow
Airflow
1.5 D 1.5 D
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4 Engineering Update Fall 2004/Winter 2005
Multiple Fan Systems - Fans in Series and Parallel, continued from page 3
during start-up of bringing a problem. The motors of the fans • What is the relative location of
windmilling fan to a stop and left running must be sized the rating point on each fan
then up to speed again. This is properly by taking into account curve under all operating
not good for the fan, motor or the shape and slope of the conditions? Does the operating
system. A mechanical back stop horsepower curve further out to point remain on a stable
clutch can also be used to the right. With fewer fans portion of the curve?
eliminate windmilling of fans running, the system line will
• Does the location of the rating
installed in parallel. intersect the fan curve further
point allow the use of the fan
out to the right than with all the
The type of isolation damper control desired and the range
fans running. As an example,
used will vary with the type of of flow desired?
with a vane axial fan the power
fan. Backdraft or opposed-blade • Taking into account the range
may drop off but with a forward
control dampers are used at the of operation and numbers of
curved fan the power will
discharge on double width fans, do the motors satisfy the
increase due to the constantly
centrifugal fans. Butterfly power required?
rising horsepower characteristic.
dampers are commonly used at
• Are there properly designed
the discharge of tubular inline For close-coupled fans in series,
isolation dampers or other
fans (axial, centrifugal, and it is not advisable to run one fan
provisions in case some fans
mixed flow). Isolation dampers with the other off. Obviously, an
are shut down? Are leakage
for plenum fans should be isolation damper will stop the air
requirements satisfied?
located farther away from the entirely. Without an isolation
fan, either up stream or down, in damper, the fan shut down will • Are the system requirements
order to minimize the loss windmill, but the pressure drop satisfied under all operating
through the dampers. across it when added to the conditions?
reduction in pressure having • Are sound levels acceptable
2. Continuous operation with
only one fan running will likely under all operating
one fan - All equipment will
make the system useless. conditions?
need periodic maintenance and
repair. This means that at least Summary Satisfactory applications require
one fan is shut down while the When more than one fan is used satisfactory answers to all of the
others are running. For fans in in a system, whether in series or above.
parallel equipped with isolation parallel, the following questions
dampers, this is generally no must be answered.
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Engineering Update Fall 2004/Winter 2005 5
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6 Engineering Update Fall 2004/Winter 2005
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Engineering Update Fall 2004/Winter 2005 7
Metric conversion Factors for Fan Application per AMCA Standard, continued
from page 6
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8 Engineering Update Fall 2004/Winter 2005
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