DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG.

SEMESTER IV

Experiment No. : - 06 Date:-

Title: - Study and trial on centrifugal blower

Aim: - To conduct performance test on the given centrifugal blower

Apparatus:- Centrifugal blower test rig

Theory: - Centrifugal blower is a non-positive displacement or a steady flow machine. It

discharges high volume air with a comparatively low pressure with respect to the positive
displacement type‟s machines.
The “Centrifugal Blower Test Rig” gives the study of a universal blower in which different
type of impeller‟s can be interchanged in the casing one by one. The air pressure is measured
with the help of a manometer the discharge is measured with the help of an orifice meter. An
energy meter is provided to measure the power input. Thus the overall efficiency of the
blower can be found out.

Specifications:-

1. Motor – 2 H.P., 3 Ph. Induction motor.

2. Impeller‟s – a) Radial b) Forward & c) Backward.

3. Orificemeter- to measure the flow rate of blower having Ø 65mm.

4. Energymeter – to measure the power input (Energy meter constant = 1600 imp./Kw/hr.)

5. Valve – to control the flow rate of blower. ( at the end of the discharge pipe)
6. Pipe Dia. = 82mm.

Procedure:-
1. A Fill up clean water in both manometer up to 20 cm height.

2. Mount any selected impeller in the casing properly. See that after clamping the impeller, it

rotates freely in the casing.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG.
SEMESTER IV
3. Initially, open the butterfly valve of suction duct & gate valve at the end of piping

completely.

4. Switch „ON‟ blower. See that the Impeller rotates in a proper direction ( i.e. the motor

shaft should rotate in anticlockwise direction when viewed from rare end of motor)

Note. - If the motor rotates in opposite direction, interchange any two phases in supply line.

See that the blower is completely stopped before switching „ON‟.

5. After starting the experiment wait for 2 to 3 minutes, till the impeller is set to a steady

speed. Note down the speed (from the motor rare end), manometer difference of

orificemeter and blower pressure & time required for 10 impulse of the energy meter.

6. Change the gate valve position & take down all the readings.

7. Repeat the procedure for different impellers.

Observation Table:-
Time for 10
Impeller Manometer Orificemeter imp. of
Sr. Impeller
speed Head ‟H‟ manometer „hw‟ energymeter
No. Type
(rpm) (mm) (mm) „t‟
(sec)

Formulae’s;-
1. Blower Head
w
H b  h w in mtr X
a

where, a = Density of air 1.17 kg/m3 at NTP.

2. Discharge of blower
a1 X a 2
Q= C d X X 2 gh w
2 2
a1  a2
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGG.
SEMESTER IV
Q= 0.35 (hw)0.5 m3 / sec

a1 = Inlet area of pipe = ______ x 10 -3 m2

a2 = Orifice area = _______ x 10 -3 m2
hw = Manometer head in mtr.

3. Input power
IMPX 3600
I .P 
tc X EMC
…………………..Kw

4. Shaft power
S.P. =I.P. x 0.785 Kw. ( motor efficiency = 0.785)

5. Output power

 air Q a H
O /P 
1000

(where, þa= 11.477 N/m3 )

6. Overall efficiency-
Output power
n= --------------------
Shaft power

Precautions:-

1. Do not fully close the gate valve.

2. Do not close suction duct.
3. Properly fit the impeller and suction duct.