The different types of centrifugal fans

About centrifugal fan:

The different types of centrifugal fans

Sometimes known as blowers, centrifugal fans are generally found in commercial and industrial HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) markets. They can be used for a variety of applications such as commercial ventilation, domestic boilers and heat recovery systems. There are a wide range of centrifugal fans available based on the different airflows required for certain applications. But what are the different types of centrifugal fans?  Here we have picked out four of the main types of centrifugal fan to help answer this question.

Forward curved centrifugal fans

Forward curved centrifugal fans have a relatively large amount of forward facing curved impeller blades (facing the direction of rotation of the impeller). The blades are relatively shallow in terms of the length of the blade arc. Forward curved fans can either be of a single-inlet or double-inlet type with air inlet to the impellers at right angles to the direction of airflow through the fan.

This type of fan requires a fan scroll housing or volute to convert the high velocity air exiting the blades into static pressure and also to provide directionality for the output airflow. The power demand for this type of fan steadily increases in proportion to the airflow being delivered, meaning that motors can easily be overloaded if operating at higher flow rates and lower pressures.

This type of fan is particularly suited to higher flow rate applications requiring lower operating speeds in comparison with a backward curved fan, but has a lower overall efficiency when compared with a backward curved fan.

Backward curved centrifugal fans

Backward curved centrifugal fans typically have fewer impeller blades which are facing away from the direction of rotation of the impeller. The blades have a longer blade arc length in comparison with forward curved fans, so in general tend to be larger in diameter.

The impellers usually have a shaped inlet shroud at the inlet side to the impeller and can be either single-inlet or double-inlet in design. In contrast to a forward curved impeller, static pressure is developed across the depth of the impeller blade meaning that backward curved impellers can be configured for use either with or without a fan scroll. Adding a fan scroll can provide a better pressure characteristic so is therefore suited to combustion (boiler) fan applications or applications which need a higher pressure capability. Operation without a fan scroll is more suited to applications with higher flow rate requirements. The power demand for a backward curved impeller fan, typically peaks around the middle of its performance characteristic, so that the motor is less liable to be overloaded at lower pressures & higher flow rates.

Backward curved fans offer an improved level of efficiency in comparison to a forward curved impeller type, but typically require higher speeds of operation to achieve higher airflow rates.

Where to buy centrifugal fan

AFL Fan Equipment Factory is a leading China centrifugal fan supplier and axial fan manufacturer. We have our own production workshop and design team. If you cooperate with us, we can provide you with first-hand prices.

Welcome to choose AFL Fan Equipment Factory - a leading China centrifugal fan supplier and axial fan manufacturer.

For more product information about YouTube and Centrifugal fan, you can click on the relevant link below.

AFL China Centrifugal Fan supplier Axial fan manufacturer