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Centrifugal Fans with Backward-curved and Forward-curved Blades

Conference Paper · October 2015

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Živan T. Spasić
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 17th Symposium on Thermal Science and Engineering of Serbia
Sokobanja, Serbia, October 20–23, 2015

Society of Thermal Engineers of Serbia Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Niš

Centrifugal Fans with Backward-curved and Forward-curved Blades

Jasmina Bogdanović-Jovanovića, Božidar Bogdanovićb, Živan Spasićc
a
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Nis, Serbia, bminja@masfak.ni.ac.rs
b
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Nis, Serbia,
c
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Nis, Serbia.

Abstract: In order to achieve better efficiency, and also the better shape of the fan pressure diagram, fan
runner is designed with backward-curved blades (in relation to the direction of the runner rotation). In that
case, the relative flow angle in the outlet β 2l <90o. Fans can operate in three different ducting
arrangements: a) ducted inlet, free outlet (pressure loaded), b) free inlet, ducted outlet (suppression
loaded) and c) ducted inlet and ducted outlet (pressure and suppression loaded fan). For the last two cases
the fan operating characteristic is the total pressure diagram, and for the first case of ducting arrangements
the fan operating characteristic is the static pressure diagram. The centrifugal fans with forward-curved
blades (β 2l >90o) are designed, due to the small dimensions and good static pressure characteristics of fans
and such a recommendation refers to the fans with ducted inlet and free outlet. In the first part of the
paper work it is about operating parameters and operating characteristics of fans, according to different
ducting arrangements. Further will be analyzed the influence of backward and forward blade curving on
fan operating characteristics. For the purpose of comparing the operating regimes of two centrifugal fans,
with backward-curved and forward-curved blades, dimensionless operating diagrams are presented in the
paper.

Keywords: Centrifugal Fan, Backward-curved Blades, Forward-curved Blades, Operating parameters,

Operating characteristics (diagram).

1. Introduction
The curvature of the fan runner blades is defined relative to the direction of fan runner rotation. Angles of the
blades at the inlet (β 1l ) and outlet (β 2l ) of the blade area are defined in relation to the negative direction of
circumferential velocity in the respective counts the fan wheel, as shown in Fig.1.
Centrifugal fan runners with backward-curved
blades (a) and forward-curved blades (b) are
shown in Figure 1.
Centrifugal pump impellers are always made
with backward-curved blades, so the question
is why are manufactured centrifugal fans with
forward-curved blades, and where these fans
are applied.
Total pressure of fan (Δp t.v ) is increase of the
total pressure from in the fan, from the fan inlet
to the fan outlet:
Δp=t .v pt .II − pt .I ,

Figure 1. Centrifugal Fan Runner: a) with backward-curved where pt .I is total pressure in fan inlet and pt .II
blades (β2l<90o), b) with forward-curved blades (β2l>90o) is total pressure in fan outlet.
For Δpt .v ≤ 1000 Pa fans are low-pressured
fans, and in this kind of fan air density is changed by less than 0,9%, and the air that flows through these fans
can be treated as incompressible fluid. In mid-pressure fans Δpt .v ≤ 3000 Pa , and air density is changed by
less than 2%. With negligible error the air that flows through the mid-pressure fans may be treated as
incompressible fluid.

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Note that most of fans applied are low-pressure and mid-pressure fans, so that the further presentation in this
paper are restricted to the low-pressure and mid-pressure fans.
Mach number ( Ma = c / czv , where czv = κ RT ) in inlet (I) and outlet (II) of the fan is much smaller than
0,5 ( Ma  0,5 ), therefore the dynamic pressure of the air (or any other gas) can be calculated, with
negligible error, using equation for incompressible fluids [1]:
c 2j
= pd . j ρ=j , j I , II ,
2
where ρ is a density of air (or any other gas), and c is a gas flow velocity.
The relation ρ I = ρ II can be used in low-pressure and mid-pressure fans.

2. Operating parameters and operating characteristics of fan

Fan operation is characterized by the following operating parameters: volume flow rate Q [m3/s], total
pressure of fan Δpt .v [Pa], static pressure of fan ps.v [Pa], power N [kW], fan efficiency η [-] and static
efficiency of the fan η s [-].
Due to the compressibility of air, which cannot be ignored at high pressure fans, volume flow rate of fan is
defined according to the density of air at the inlet cross-section of the fan (I).
Marking with Q i measured volumetric flow fan, and with ρ i air density in the measuring section, volume
flow rate of the fan is:
ρi
= Q=
Q Qi , (1)
ρI
I

Often volume flow rate is calculated for air density in normal conditions, when ρ I =1,2 kg/m3. These is
emphasized, as has been done in Fig. 2.
Total pressure of fan (∆p t.v ) is equal to the difference of total pressure in the outlet (II) and inlet (I) cross-
section of fan:
Δp=
t .v pt .II − pt .I (2)
Dynamic pressure fan (p d.v ) is called the calculated dynamic air pressure in the fan outlet:
1 1
ρ II= ρ II ( QII / AII ) ,
2
=
pd .v p=
d . II cII2 (3)
2 2
where A II is the flow area of the fan outlet.
In low-pressure and mid-pressure fans (∆p t.v ≤3 kPa) density changing of air is neglected (ρ I =ρ II =ρ,
Q I =Q II =Q), therefore expression (3) becomes:
1
ρ I ( Q / AII ) , for Δpt .v ≤ 3 kPa ,
2
=pd .v (4)
2
Static pressure of fan (p s.v ), by the definition, is equal to the difference of total and dynamic pressure of fan:
ps.v Δpt .v − pd .v .
= (5)

As will be shown, static pressure of fan (p s.v ) and characteristics of static pressure of fan (p s.v (Q)) are
important for the fans with ducted inlet e (having only the suction channel network). For this group of fans
dynamic pressure of fan is not used when speaking of operating characteristics and operating parameters.
Fan power (N) is the power of input shaft on the fan - the fan power obtained from the drive motor.
Fan efficiency (η), or, as it is often called, total fan efficiency, represents a ratio of effectively used and
really fan consumed power:
η = N ef / N . (6)
Since [1]:

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 κ −1
κ 1 pt .II Δp
N ef =β ⋅ Q ⋅ Δpt .v , β = (Π κ − 1), Π t = =1 + t .v
κ −1 Π t −1 t pt .I pt .I
expression (6) becomes:
Q ⋅ Δpt .v
η=β . (7)
N
For low-pressure and mid-pressure fans β=1.
Static efficiency of fan (η s ) is define, by analogy to the (total) fan efficiency:
Q ⋅ ps.v
ηs = β (8)
N ,
and does not give a realistic assessment of the quality of energy transformation in the fan, since it excludes
energy of fan dynamic pressure.

Figure 2. Operating characteristics of the centrifugal

fan operating with n=600 min-1, ρI =1,2 kg/m3.

Fan operating characteristics are graphic functional

dependences ∆p t.v (Q), p d.v (Q), p s.v (Q), N(Q), η(Q)
and η s (Q), for constant number of revolutions of
fan (n=const.) and defined air density in fan inlet
cross-section (ρ I =const). For comparison, operating
characteristics of the fan, which are experimentally
determined, are usually converted for the density of
air under normal conditions (ρ I =1,2 kg/m3). Figure 3. Dimensionless schema and dimensionless
operating characteristics of the centrifugal fan
Operating characteristics of one low-pressured
(D=0,5m, n=1200 min-1, ρI =1, 2kg/m3, Re=106)
centrifugal fan with backward-curved blades are
shown in Fig.2.
Dimensionless coefficients of fan operating parameters are:
Q 2Δpt .v 2 pd .v 2 ps.v 2N
=ϕ = ,ψ = , ψd = , ψs , λ= (9)
A⋅u ρ ⋅u 2
ρ ⋅u 2
ρ ⋅u 2
ρ ⋅ A ⋅ u3 ,
=
where A D=
2
π / 4, u ( D / 2)ω (D - diameter of fan outlet, ω - angular velocity of fan).
Dimensionless coefficients of operating parameters, given in (9), are joined by fan efficiency η and static
efficiency of fan η s . Dimensionless operating characteristics of fan are graphic functions: ψ (ϕ ) , ψ d (ϕ ) ,
ψ s (ϕ ) , λ (ϕ ) , η (ϕ ) , η s (ϕ ) . Dimensionless operating characteristics of one centrifugal fan with
backward-curved blades are shown in Fig.3.

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By applying the theory of similarity, dimensionless operating characteristics can be maped in operating
characteristics of geometrically similar fan of different sizes (different diameters of fan runner D) and
different angular velocities (different number of revolutions).

3. Calculation of fan operating parameters

Total pressure drop ( Δpt .v ) in the pipe network, marked as j, can be expressed as:
∆ pt=
.v K j ⋅ Q 2j , ,

where: Q j - volume flow rate in pipe network, K j - coefficient of total pressure drop in the pipe network.
Depending on the connection of the ventilation network to the fan, the following cases are possible:
a) fan with ducted inlet and ducted outlet (suction and pressure loaded fan),
b) fan with ducted outlet (pressure loaded fan),
c) fan with ducted inlet (suction loaded fan),
In the case where fan operates with ducted inlet and ducted outlet (with no branches), as shown in Fig. 4.a,
the fan is suction and pressure loaded, and it's easy to show:
patm − ∆ pt .1 , ∆ pt .1 =
pt .I = patm + ∆ pt .2 , ∆ pt .1+ 2 =
∆ pt .1 + ∆ pt .2 ,
therefore,
∆ pt .v =
∆ pt .1+ 2 , ∆ pt .1+ 2 =
K ⋅ Q2 , K =
K1 +K 2 ,
In the case where fan operates with ducted inlet and ducted outlet, operating regime is determined by the
intersection of ∆p t.v (Q) characteristics of the fan and the parabola of the total pressure drop characteristics of
intake and discharge channel, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Determination of operating regime of fan: a) ducted inlet and ducted outlet, b) ducted outlet, c) ducted inlet.

In the case when of fan with only ducted outlet (sl.4.b), pressure loaded fan, it's easy to show:
pt .I =patm , Δpt .II =patm + Δpt .2 ⇒ Δpt .v =Δpt .2 =K 2Q 2 . ,

Operating regime of fan with ducted outlet is determined by the intersection of ∆p t.v (Q) characteristics of the
fan and the parabola of the total pressure drop characteristics of discharge channel (sl.4.b).
A simple example of fan with ducted inlet is shown in Fig.4.c, where:
pt .I =patm − ∆ pt .1 , ∆ pt .1 =K1Q 2 i pt .II =patm + ∆ pd .II =patm + pd .v , ,
thus:
∆ pt .v − pd .v =∆ pt .1 =K1 ⋅ Q 2 ⇒ ps.v =K1 ⋅ Q 2 .
Operating regime of fan with ducted inlet is determined by the intersection of ∆p t.v (Q) characteristics of the
fan and the parabola of the total pressure drop characteristics of intake channel (sl.4.c).

293
A fan with ducted inlet and branchy network in front of the inlet is represented in Fig. 5. A ventilation
network can be also a ring type network [1].
As previously said, for fan with ducted inlet and ducted
outlet, as well as for fans with ducted outlet, the significant
characteristic is the characteristic of fan total pressure
(∆p t.v (Q)). For fan with ducted inlet the significant
characteristic is the static pressure of fan.
To obtain the stable operation of fan and to maintain the
small volume flow rate changing with change of fan total
pressure, the significant pressure characteristic (∆p t.v (Q) ili
∆p s.v (Q)) should be decreasing curve, what satisfy
pressure characteristics of centrifugal fans with backward- Figure 5. Fan with branching ducted inlet.
curved blades (Fig.2 and Fig.3).
It's easy to show that fans with forward-curved blades (β 2l >90o) have smaller dimensions, in the case of
equal operating parameters as fans with backward-curved blades (volume flow rate and pressure). As it will
be shown, fans with backward-curved blades has decreasing curve of fan static pressure, and the
recommendation is to use such a fans for cases of ducted inlet.
Due to possible cavitation phenomena, centrifugal pumps are never used with only inlet pipe network, as it
the case with fans.

4. The influence of the blade angle β 2L on the diameter of the fan runner
The change of the gas potential (positional) energy in fans ( g ( z II − z I ) ) is negligibly small compared to the
change in the energy of total pressure ( ( pt .II − pt .I ) / ρ =
Δpt .v / ρ ),therefore, with negligible loss, can be
written:
Δpt .v
=Yv = , i.e. Δpt .v ρYv , (10)
ρ
where Yv - specific work of the fan [J/kg], and Δpt .v - total pressure of fan [Pa].
According to Euler's equation for turbomachines, the specific work of fan runner can be calculated:
=Yv.k u=
2 cu 2 , where cu1 0 , (11)
where u2 and cu 2 are circumferential velocity and circumferential component of absolute flow velocity in
the outlet cross-section of fan.
The specific work of fan runner ( Yv.k ) is larger than the specific work of fan (=
Yv Yv.k − Yg .v ) for the value of
specific work of energy loss in the fan ( Yg .v ).
Since Yv / Yv.k = η h hydraulic efficiency of fan, according to equations (10) and (11), can be written:
Δpt .v = ρ ⋅η h ⋅ u2 ⋅ cu 2 , where cu1 = 0 . (12)
The velocity triangle in the outlet cross-section of centrifugal fan runners are shown in Fig.6, where: a)
β 2l <90o and b) β 2l >90o.
Velocity triangles for fictive fan runners, with the same angles β 2l and infinitive number of immeasurable
thin blades, are shown in the same Fig. 6.
Due to flow deflection in the outlet cross-section of the fan β 2 >β 2l , respectively cu 2 <  cu 2∞ .
Denoting µ = cu 2 / cu 2∞ as a coefficient of flow deflection in the outlet cross-section of the fan, the equation
(12) can be written in the form:
Δpt .v = ρ ⋅η h ⋅ µ ⋅ u2 ⋅ cu 2∞ , za cu1 = 0 . (13)

294
 Figure 6. Circumferentialal component f axial velocity in the fan runner outlet.

Denoting ω - angular velocity, D(=D 2 ) - outer diameter of the fan runner, according to Fig. 6, it's obtained:
D D Q 
u2 ⋅ cu 2∞ = ω ω − 2 ctg β 2l  , where β 2l < 0 (1)
2 2 D π b2 
D D 
and u2 ⋅ cu 2∞ = ω ω + 2
2 2
Q
D π b2
(
ctg 180o − β 2l [o ] ), where β 2l > 0 (2)

where b2 =  b2 / D .
According to equations (14) and (15) one can conclude that u2 cu 2∞ = const. , ω = const. , Q = const. and
b2 =  const. can be achieved with much smaller diameter , in cases where β 2l >90o.
Despite the fact that, in nominal operating mode, the fan with the fan runner where β 2l >90o have a lower
coefficient of flow deflection in the outlet cross-section of the fan runner and have a slightly lower hydraulic
efficiency, according to equations (13), (14) and (15). It can be concluded that fans with the fan runner where
β 2l >90o obtain the required operating parameters Δpt .v and Q with impellers with smaller diameter D, for
ω = const.

5. Dimensionless operating characteristics of an example of centrifugal fan with

forward-curved blades
Dimensionless schemas and experimentally obtained dimensionless operating characteristics, determined for
50 centrifugal fans with spiral casings, from which 7 are fan runner blades with forward-curved blades, are
represented in reference [2].

Figure 7. Dimensionless operating characteristics of one centrifugal fan with forward-curved blades.

295
 Since the dimensionless operating characteristics of fan impeller with forward-curved blades have
approximately the same character, the operating characteristics of one centrifugal fan with forward-curved
blades are represented in Fig .7.
Centrifugal fans with forward-curved blades have smaller dimensions, but because of the shape of the flow
area between two blades, they operate with lower efficiency.

5. Conclusion
To select fans with ducted inlet and ducted outlet (suction-pressure loaded) and fans only with ducted outlet
(pressure loaded), it is needed the significant fan characteristics of total pressure of fan and total fan
efficiency (∆p t.v (Q) i η(Q)).
To select fan with inlet duct only (suction loaded fans), the static pressure characteristics of fan and static fan
efficiency (∆p s.v (Q) i η s (Q)) are of the great importance as curves of operating characteristics.
Operating efficiency should be as large as possible, and the operating regime should be in the decreasing part
of the pressure operating curve (∆p t.v (Q) ili ∆p s.v (Q)).
Centrifugal fans with forward-curved blades (β 2l >90o ) have smaller dimensions than centrifugal fans with
backward-curved blades (β 2l <90o ), but, according to a characteristic of fan pressure, they can be applied
only when fans are with ducted inlet (suction loaded fan).
Centrifugal fans with forward-curved blades have a slightly lower efficiency and a decisive reason for their
application are their smaller dimensions.

Nomenclature
Latin symbols
Re – Reynolds number. K – Coefficient of the pressure drop, in
–1 [Pa·s2/m6]
c – Absolute velocity of the gas, in [m s ].
w – Relative velocity of the gas, in [m s–1]. Greek symbols
ρ – Density of the fluid, in [kg m–3].
u – Circumferential velocity of the gas, in
[m s–1]. ω – Angular viscosity of the fan, in [min-1].
Q – Flow rate of the fan, in [m3s-1] ϕ – Flow rate coefficient [-].
Δp t.v – Total pressure of the fan, in [Pa] ψ – Pressure coefficient [-].
P d.v – Dynamic pressure of the fan, in [Pa] λ – Power coefficient [-].
p s.v – Static pressure of the fan, in [Pa] η – Efficiency [-].
Δp t – Pressure drop, in [Pa]

References
Books
[1] Bogdanović, B.,Milenković, D., Bogdanović-Jovanović, J., Fans - Operating Characteristics and Exploitation
Properties , University of Nis, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Niš, 2006. (in serbian)
[2] Coломохова, T. C., Чеышева, K. B., Центробежные вентилаторы, справочик, Машиностроение, Москва,
1980.
[3] Babić M., Stojković S., Basics of Turbomachinery, Naučna knjiga, Belgrade 1990. (in serbian)
[4] Milenković, D., Unstable operating regime og turbomachines, University of Nis, Faculty of Mechanical
Engineering, Niš, 1990. (in serbian).
[5] Eck B., Fans - Design and Operation of Centrifugal, Axial-flow and Cross-flow Fans, Pergamon Press, Great
Britan, 1975.

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