Module 4 – Fans and Ducts

 Lesson 1: Fans

A fan is the prime mover of an air system or ventilation system. It moves the air and provides
continuous airflow so that the conditioned air, space air, exhaust air, or outdoor air can be transported
from one location to another through air ducts or other air passages.

It is driven by a motor directly (direct drive) or via belt and pulleys (belt drive). Some large
industrial fans in power plants are driven by steam or gas turbines.

 TYPES OF FANS

Two types of fans can be used for the transmission of air:

(i) Centrifugal fans

Uses a rotating impeller to increase the velocity of an airstream. As the air moves from
the impeller hub to the blade tips, it gains kinetic energy. This kinetic energy is then converted to a
static pressure increase as the air slows before entering the discharge. Centrifugal fans are capable
of generating relatively high pressures.

(ii) Axial-flow fans

Axial-flow fans move an airstream along the axis of the fan. The air is pressurized by the
aerodynamic lift generated by the fan blades, much like a propeller and an airplane wing. Axial fans
have less rotating mass and are more compact than centrifugal fans of comparable capacity.
Additionally, axial fans tend to have higher rotational speeds and are somewhat noisier
than in-line centrifugal fans of the same capacity; however, this noise tends to be dominated by high
frequencies, which tend to be easier to attenuate.
 a. Centrifugal Fan b. Axial-flow Fan

 FAN PERFORMANCE CURVE

There are three pressure-volume flow characteristic

curves:
1. Total pressure-volume flow - ∆Pt-V
2. 2. Static pressure-volume flow - ∆Pt-V
3. 3. Velocity pressure-volume flow - Pv-V

The point where the ∆Pt-V or ∆Ps-V curve

intersects with ordinate is called the shutoff point. At
this point, the block tight or completely shut-off
volume flow rate Vblock=0. Moreover, static pressure is
equal to total pressure at this point.
The volume flow rate at the point of
intersection either between the ∆P t-V and Pv-V
curves or between the ∆Pt-V curve and the x axis is
called free delivery, or the wide-open volume flow rate.
At the point of free delivery, ∆ps = 0, ∆pt = pv, and fan
static efficiency ɳs = 0.

The other curves shown are the fan total efficiency

curve, the fan static efficiency curve ɳ s-V curve, and the
fan power input P-V curve. The efficiency curves show
that at the shutoff point, both ɳ t and ɳs are zero, and at free delivery ɳ s is again zero. It is important
that the fan be operated near maximum efficiency as much as possible. Because of friction and
dynamic losses, fan power input at the shutoff point is not equal to zero.

 FAN SELECTION

Selection of a fan for a given type of air system or mechanical ventilating system actually is done
in two stages: selection of fan type and determination of fan size.

The following factors should be considered during the selection of:

 Pressure-volume flow operating characteristics. Selecting a fan to provide the

required volume flow rate and total pressure loss for an air system or a ventilating
system is of prime importance. An undersized fan results in an uncontrolled indoor
environment. An oversized fan wastes energy and money.

 Fan capacity modulation. A variable-air-volume system operates at a reduced

volume flow rate during part-load operation. Effective and economical fan capacity
modulation is an important factor that affects the operation of an air system.
  Fan efficiency. Fan efficiency is closely related to the energy consumption of an air
system. Fans should be selected so that they can operate at high efficiency during as
much of their operation time as possible.

 Sound power level. Most commercial and public buildings and many industrial
applications need a quiet indoor environment. Fans are the major source of noise in
an air system. Usually, the higher the fan total efficiency, the lower the sound power
level of the selected fan. A fan with a low sound power level and sound power level at
high frequencies is preferable. High-frequency sound is more easily attenuated than
low-frequency sound.

 Airflow direction. In many applications, a straight-through or in-line flow occupies

less space and simplifies layout. Initial cost. The initial cost of the fan modulation
device, sound attenuator(s), and space occupied by a particular type of fan, in addition
to the cost of the fan itself, should be considered.

COMPARISON OF BETWEEN VARIOUS TYPES OF FANS

 Lesson 2: Ducts

 TYPES OF AIR DUCT

1. Supply duct. Conditioned air is supplied to the conditioned space.
2. Return duct. Space air is returned (1) to the fan room where the air-handling unit is
installed or (2) to the packaged unit.
3. Outdoor air duct. Outdoor air is transported to the air-handling unit, to the fan room, or
to the space directly.
4. Exhaust duct. Space air or contaminated air is exhausted from the space, equipment, fan
room, or localized area.

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ventilation/ducts.html

 FRICTIONAL LOSSES
In an air duct system, there are two types of resistance against the airflow: frictional losses
and dynamic losses.

 DYNAMIC LOSSES
When air flows through duct fittings, such as, elbows, tees, diffusers, contractions, entrances
and exits, or certain equipment, a change in velocity or direction of flow may occur.

i. Elbows. An elbow is a duct fitting in which the airflow changes direction.

The magnitude of the local loss coefficient of an elbow is influenced by the following
factors:

 Turning angle of the elbow

 Ratio of centerline radius (CLR) to diameter Rc /Dor Rc /W, where Rc represents
the throat radius and W the width of the duct, both in in. (mm)
 A three-gore (number of pieces), five-gore, or pleated seven-gore 90° elbow
  Installation of splitter vanes, which reduce the eddies and turbulence in an elbow
 Shape of cross-sectional area of the duct

ii. Converging and Diverging Tees and Wyes.

 Lesson 3: Controls system
 PURPOSE OF CONTROL SYSTEM

It usually is thought that the purpose of the automatic control system is to provide control
of the temperature and/or the humidity in a space, but these are not the only functions that the
system can serve; it also can control the relative pressure between two spaces, a very useful
attribute in preventing the spread of contamination.

Safety controls prevent the operation of equipment in an unsafe condition and can trigger
visual or audible alarms to alert operating personnel to those conditions.

Lesson 4: Thermostat and humidistat

A thermostat is a combination of a temperature sensor and a temperature controller, whereas a

humidistat is a combination of a humidity sensor and a humidity controller.

Module 5 – Vapor Compression System

Lesson 1: Compressors

 TYPES OF COMPRESSOR

i. Positive displacement compressors (reciprocating, rotary, scroll and screw compressors)

 This type of compressors increases the pressure of the vapor refrigerant through
reducing the internal volume of the compression chamber by mechanical force
applied to the compressor.
ii. Non-positive displacement machines (centrifugal compressors)
 For non-positive displacement compressors, the increase of the pressure of the
vapor refrigerant depends mainly on the conversion of dynamic pressure to
static pressure.

I. POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT COMPRESSORS

A. Reciprocating Compressors
 Lesson 2: Condensers

 TYPE OF CONDENSERS
Condenser is generally characterized by the cooling medium used. Thus there are three
types of condensers:

(i) Air-cooled condensers

Heat is removed by air using either natural or forced circulation. The condensers are made
of steel, copper or aluminium tubing provided with fins to improve air-side heat transfer
coefficient. The refrigerant flows inside the tubes and the air flows outside.

(ii) (ii) Water-cooled condensers

(iii) (iii) Evaporative condensers

Lesson 3: Evaporators

Lesson 4: Expansion Devices and Vapor Compression System Analysis

An expansion device in a refrigeration system normally serves two purposes. One is the
thermodynamic function of expanding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser pressure to the
evaporator pressure. The other is the control function which may involve the supply of the liquid
to the evaporator at the rate at which it is evaporated.
 TYPE OF EXPANSION DEVICES

Basically there are two types of expansion devices. These are:

(i) Variable-restriction type

a. automatic expansion valve
b. thermostatic expansion valve

(ii) (ii) Constant-restriction type

Module 6 – Cold Storage System

Lesson 1: Cold Chain for Agricultural Commodity

Lesson 2: Cold Storage System