Forward-curved vs.Backward-curved Centrifugal Fans

The centrifugal fan manufacturing companies have been investing in research a development to improve the efficiency of fans. This has been the main reason for remarkable improvements in this industry.

The centrifugal fans with the forward-curved and backward-curved blades are used in a number of applications. These fans are known for their high efficiency translating to optimal performance and production.

Noise and vibrations are some of the unwanted phenomenon these companies aim at eliminating at all costs. The modern forward-curved blades are designed with a scroll housing. On the other hand, those with backward-curved blades are basically free-wheeling fans. This reduces the level of noise.

Another important design feature is the position of the motor. In most cases, these fans are designed with external motors. This reduces the chances of the motor overheating during the operation.

The backward-curved blade

These fans are mainly used as intake fans. In these fans, the pressure build up takes place within the impeller. Therefore, there is no need to have a scroll housing. They are suitable for high pressure applications. Moreover, they produce low noise and guarantee high hydraulic efficiency.  These centrifugal fans are commonly used in the heating ventilation and air conditioning systems.

The forwards curved blades

These fans are known for their high power density and low noise level. Their impellers are arranged in two main configurations: either the dual-inlet of the single-inlet. This configurations are determined by the geometrical and aerodynamic requirements.

They are common in applications where large amount of air should be moved within tight spaces. In most cases, the voltage controlled asynchronous motors are used to improve on the fans efficiency.

What does these imply?

The centrifugal fan users should be able to identify the specific equipment they require.  This is because fans are designed for nearly all possible applications. This can be medium, low and high pressure. Most of them are compact and robust. They have different control systems too. Going for either forward-curved or backward-curved should be based on a critical analysis of the situation at hand.