Industrial Fans: Types, Working Principles, and Performance Explained

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Industrial Fans: Types, Working Principles, and Performance Explained

Introduction: What Are Industrial Fans?

Industrial fans are powerful devices engineered to move large volumes of air or gas. Used in:

Ventilation systems
Cooling of machinery
Air purification
Drying and pneumatic conveying

They operate using rotating blades or impellers, powered by motors or turbines, and are constructed from durable materials suited for harsh conditions.

In food factories, these fans are critical for ensuring air quality, humidity control, dust extraction, and process cooling.

How Do Industrial Fans Work?

Industrial fans generate air pressure by rotating a shaft connected to blades. The rotor transfers energy to air, pushing it through duct systems or into open spaces.

Fan performance is influenced by:

Volume flow rate
Pressure capacity
Material compatibility
Space availability
Energy efficiency

Types of Industrial Fans

Industrial fans are mainly categorized into:

1. Centrifugal Fans (Air discharged at 90°)

Air enters the impeller axially and is expelled radially via centrifugal force.

Major Types:

Radial Fans

Handle high static pressure (up to 1400 mm WC)
Ideal for dirty or contaminated airflows

Forward Curved Fans (Multi-Vane/MV)

Low pressure, high flow rate
Common in light-duty exhaust and fume extraction

Backward Curved (BC) Fans

Higher efficiency than MV
Non-overloading design; great for clean air/light dust

Backward Lamina (BL) Fans

Similar to BC fans but with backward-inclined blades
Ideal for general air movement and dust handling

A food processing consultant may recommend BL or BC fans for drying, packaging lines, or enclosed ingredient handling.

2. Axial Fans (Air flows parallel to shaft)

Axial fans propel air in a straight line, with increased velocity pressure and minimal static pressure.

Main Types:

Tube Axial Fans

Cylindrical housing
Efficient for ducted ventilation systems

Vane Axial Fans

Includes guide vanes to straighten airflow
Higher efficiency and better static pressure performance

Propeller Fans

Large air volume, low pressure
Common in cooling towers and greenhouses

Axial fans are commonly used in workshops, computer rooms, poultry sheds, and large food processing halls.

Applications of Industrial Fans

Industrial fans support critical functions in various industries:

Food & Beverage Industry

Ventilation and exhaust in processing zones
Removing moisture and steam
Dust extraction in spice, flour, and cocoa processing
Cooling packaged products or equipment

Cement & Chemical Industry

Handle abrasive airflows with dust and particles
Used for cooling clinker or preventing fume buildup

Pharmaceutical & Cleanrooms

Maintain air changes per hour (ACH)
Control airborne contamination

Agriculture

Ventilate livestock barns
Maintain airflow in dairy sheds and greenhouses

Pneumatic Conveying

Convey grains, powders, wood chips, etc.
Used in mineral, coffee, and plastics industries

Food consultants and plant engineers specify fans based on airflow volume, contamination risk, and temperature tolerance.

Performance Considerations

To ensure optimal fan performance, assess:

Benefits of Efficient Fan Selection

Lower energy bills
Improved air quality
Reduced equipment overheating
Regulatory compliance (GMP, ISO 14644, HACCP)
Safer and more productive work environments

Conclusion: Industrial Fans Are Process Enablers

From cleanroom HVAC systems to heavy-duty cement exhaust, industrial fans are indispensable in managing:

Airflow
Contaminants
Thermal loads
Operational reliability

For customized solutions, consult a food manufacturing consultant or HVAC specialist to:

Evaluate your process airflow needs
Select the right fan type and size
Ensure efficient, low-noise, long-lasting installations

PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering Industrial Fans: Types & Performance Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 1 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering INDEX 1. Introduction 2. Types of Industrial fans 3. Performance and Application of Industrial fans 4. Reference Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 2 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering 1. INTRODUCTION 1. An industrial fan is heavy-duty air flow device, used to provide a large flow of air or gas to various processes of many industries. This is achieved by rotating several blades, connected to a hub and shaft, and driven by a motor or turbine. 2. They are constructed from exceptionally durable materials to withstand restrictive environments and operate longer to provide constant airflow and pressure. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 3 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering • • Industrial Fans generate a pressure to move air (or gases) against a resistance caused by ducts, dampers, or other components in a fan system. The fan rotor receives energy from a rotating shaft and transmits it to the air.. The different types of fans depend on various factors such as; 1. Volume flow rate 2. Pressure 3. Materials that are moved 4. Space limitations 5. Desired efficiency of the fans Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 4 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering 2. Types of Industrial Fans • Industrial fans basically vary in the amount of air to be moved, their motor, the area to be cooled, and a variety of other factors. Most industrial fans may be categorized into one of two general types: 1. Centrifugal fans 2. Axial fans. Axial fans expel air parallel to the intake Centrifugal fans expel air 90° from the intake 5 Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering 2.1. Centrifugal fans • A mechanical device for moving air or other gases in a direction at an angle to the incoming fluid. • Air enters the impeller axially and is accelerated by the blades and discharged radially. • Extract air at right angles to the intake of the fan and spin the air outwards to the outlet by deflection and centrifugal force. • The impeller rotates, using air to enter the fan near the shaft and move perpendicularly from the shaft to the opening in the fan casing. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 6 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering • The major types of centrifugal fan are radial, forward curved and backward curved. 1- Radial Fans • Radial fans are industrial workhorses because of their high static pressures (up to 1400 mm WC) and ability to handle heavily contaminated airstreams. Radial fans Multi-vane fans (MV) 2- Forward curve {Multi-vane fans (MV)} • MV fans are otherwise known as a Multi-Vane fan. These feature forward-curved blades to help clean the air from factory locations. They are considered as a low- pressure fan system and are typically used as a flue fan and other light applications. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 7 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering 3- Backward curved fans (BC) • BC fans or Backward Curved fans. These have slightly higher efficiency than BL fans, but not as high as BA fans. They are non-overloading and particularly good for general clean air and light dust movement. Backward curved fans (BC) Backward lamina fans (BL) 4- Backward lamina fans (BL) • A BL fan or Backward Lamina fan boasts backwards inclined blades. These are particularly good for general clean air and light dust movement. They can be used for a wide range of applications. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 8 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering 2.2. Axial fans • wall-mounted or axial flow fan propels the air in an axial direction with a swirling tangential motion created by the rotating impeller blades. • The axial flow fan increases the air velocity through rotational or tangential force, which produces velocity pressure (VP), kinetic energy, with a very small increase in static pressure (SP), potential energy. What are axial fans used for? • Moving air from one space to another • General-purpose applications • Cooling confined spaces i.e. computers • Cooling larger spaces i.e. workplaces Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Axial fan 9 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering • The major types of axial flow fans are tube axial, vane axial and propeller. 1. Tube axial • These fans have a wheel inside a cylindrical housing, with close clearance between blade and housing to improve airflow efficiency. 2. Vane axial • These fans are like tube axials, but with addition of guide vanes that improve efficiency by directing and straightening the flow. As a result, they have a higher static pressure with less dependence on the duct static pressure. 3. Propeller • These fans usually run at low speeds and moderate temperatures. They experience a large change in airflow with small changes in static pressure. They handle large volumes of air at low pressure or free delivery. Tube Axial Vane axial Propeller 10 Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering 3. Application of Industrial Fans • Industrial fans are majorly required to blow air through heavy-machinery parts and building or structure facilities and are commonly used in places which require ventilation, exhaust clearing , Drying and cooling. • They are used to create suction, pressurization, cooling, combustion air, forced ventilation, and exhaust ventilation. • Agriculture: Used as a method for creating airflow in livestock barns, dairy farms, and greenhouses. • Cement industry: Cement making requires a variety of processing fans that have resistance to abrasion and dust build up and can operate in high temperature applications. • Chemical Industry: Use to keep chemicals cooled and avoids the buildup of hazardous fumes. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 11 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering • Oil & gas Industry : - Designed to perform in the harshest and most severe conditions. - Made of exceptionally durable materials with welded flanges and components that provide resistance to weathering, abrasion, moisture, and other potentially harmful atmospheric elements. • Pneumatic Conveying: - Used in conveying systems to move cereal, grains, wood chips, and powdered materials. - The process of pneumatic conveying is used by the food, mineral, plastics, can be industries. All bulk materials coffee, and pharmaceutical pneumatically conveyed using an abrasion resistant fan. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 12 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering Conclusion Industrial fans are widely used in numerous industrial and even domestic purposes. They are used basically to direct airflow to achieve certain objectives such as dust removal, heat removal, elimination of fumes in buildings and air purification in enclosed environments. Over the years, advanced technology has enabled the centrifugal and axial fan manufacturers deliver high quality and efficient fans , able to deliver and remove air very effectively Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 13 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering Reference 1. https://airprofan.com/ 2. https://sofasco.com/blogs/article/industrial-cooling-fans-overview- benefits-and-applications 3. http://www.ijstr.org/final-print/oct2017/Performance-Testing-Of-A- Modified-Centrifugal-Fan-With-Serrated-Blade-Impeller.pdf 4. https://5.imimg.com/data5/SELLER/Doc/2021/1/AY/RT/WP/10113273/p oultry-farm-fans.pdf Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 14 PMG Engineering Private Limited The End-to-End Engineering Company in Food Industry info@pmg.engineering | www.pmg.engineering About PMG Engineering Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. Competent People. Smarter Work Systems. Exceptional Customer Interactions. 15 We deliver End-to-End Engineering Design and Construction Management Projects in Food and Beverage Industry. Meeting Global Benchmarks In ENGINEERING DESIGN and PROJECT MANAGEMENT for FOOD and BEVERAGE Industry with SINGLE POINT ACCOUNTABILITY Process Engineering | Project Management | Mechanical | Electrical | Automation | Food Safety Key Clients We deliver End-to-End Engineering Design and Construction Management Projects in Food and Beverage Industry. Meeting Global Benchmarks In ENGINEERING DESIGN and PROJECT MANAGEMENT for FOOD and BEVERAGE Industry with SINGLE POINT ACCOUNTABILITY Process Engineering | Project Management | Mechanical | Electrical | Automation | Food Safety Key Clients We deliver End-to-End Engineering Design and Construction Management Projects in Food and Beverage Industry. Meeting Global Benchmarks In ENGINEERING DESIGN and PROJECT MANAGEMENT for FOOD and BEVERAGE Industry with SINGLE POINT ACCOUNTABILITY Process Engineering | Project Management | Mechanical | Electrical | Automation | Food Safety Key Clients

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