Skip to main content
Speclore

Fan Types

Reference data and engineering information about fan types for miscellaneous applications.

fantypes

Overview

Engineering reference data for Fan Types in miscellaneous.

Key Formulas

Unit Conversion

y=x⋅ky = x \cdot k

Multiply by conversion factor.

Linear Interpolation

y=y1+(x−x1)(y2−y1)x2−x1y = y_1 + \frac{(x - x_1)(y_2 - y_1)}{x_2 - x_1}

Estimate between two known points.

Percentage

p=partwhole×100%p = \frac{\text{part}}{\text{whole}} \times 100\%

Part as fraction of whole.

Variables

SymbolDescriptionUnit
xxInput value—
yyOutput value—
kkConversion factor—

Fan Classification

Fans are primarily classified into four main types based on their airflow direction and construction:

  1. Axial and/or propeller fans
  2. Centrifugal (radial) fans
  3. Mixed flow fans
  4. Cross flow fans
4 rows
Primary fan types and their fundamental characteristics
Fan Type
Airflow Direction
Typical Application
Axial / PropellerParallel to shaftHigh volume, low pressure
Centrifugal (Radial)Radial to shaftHigh pressure, varying volume
Mixed FlowAxial & radialHigher pressure than axial
Cross FlowInward then outward radialUniform airflow over large area

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Axial Fan Wheel Types

Axial fans are further classified by their wheel design and blade adjustability:

3 rows
Classification of axial fan wheels
Wheel Type
Blade Adjustability
Key Characteristics
C-wheelAdjustable during operationHigh efficiency, small dimensions, variable air volume
A-wheelAdjustable only when stoppedHigh efficiency, small dimensions, adaptive to recommended air volume
K-wheelNot adjustableSimple construction, small dimensions

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Typical single-stage pressure head for axial fans: up to 300 N/m²

Centrifugal Fan Wheel Types

Centrifugal fans are classified by their blade orientation:

4 rows
Classification of centrifugal fan wheels
Wheel Type
Blade Design
Performance Characteristics
F-wheelCurved forward bladesHigh efficiency, pressure changes have little influence on pressure head
B-wheelCurved backward bladesHigh efficiency, low energy consumption, stable parallel operation, low noise
P-wheelStraight backward bladesHigh efficiency, self-cleaning, pressure changes have little influence on air volume
T-wheelStraight radial bladesSelf-cleaning, suitable for material transport

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Centrifugal Fan Blade Types

Centrifugal fans utilize three primary blade constructions:

  1. Straight steel plate paddle wheel - Simple, robust construction
  2. Forward multi-vane multi-blade - High efficiency at moderate pressures
  3. Backward turbo-vane - High efficiency, good for high-pressure applications

References

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com