Introduction to Industrial Fans for Non-Engineers

In order for an industry to function efficiently, various components are required to keep things moving in the right direction. Industrial fans occupy a place of significance, among the different types of components which are indispensable for the smooth running of factories. The same industrial fans are sometimes referred to as industrial blowers. Industrial Fans are essential for a number of manufacturing processes. Their uses range from providing a ambient work conditions to workers to creating the required air pressure for performing specific factory type activities. It would be difficult to do industrial activity without proper air circulation at an enclosed space when hundreds of people are working an entire day.

Also, in some industrial plants the fans enable a suitable work environment by preventing the toxic gases from entering areas where people are working. We initially think only from point of view of ventilation especially to make an industrial environment amenable and suitable for human beings. However, Industrial fans are used for other purposes than ventilation. They are commonly used to force air into furnaces to enable combustion and also help in the manufacturing process like cleaning the raw materials or drying the end products. They are also used to extract the bye-products away from furnaces so that industrial processes can be run continuously.

Major Types of Fans Based on Their Design
Industrial fans can be broadly classified into two types based on their design. They are centrifugal fans and axial fans. While the size and specifications may vary based on the type of manufacturing process, there are only 2 commonly used fan designs. The details and differences between these two fan technologies are explained below.

Centrifugal Fan
This type of industrial fan uses the centrifugal force, which is created by a disk that rotates and the center and has blades attached to it. The blades are attached at right angles to the disk for maximum impact. This type of fan is used to induce movement to a large volume of gas or air. The objective is to increase its pressure to a great extent. Usually, the blades and the disk of a centrifugal fan are encased in a container with a centrally located perforation to ensure that the air flows properly through it. Such fans make use of the inlet and outlet ducts to keep the flow of fresh air running in the workplace.

Axial Fan
The axial fan derives its name from the type of design, which is used to create such fans. These fans have a central space from where the blades extend in a radial form. When the fan rotates, the liquid or gas, on which it works, moves parallel to the shaft of the fan’s wheel. The diameters of the wheel of the axial fans vary significantly in size, starting from small ones to their much larger counterparts. The size of the diameter of the wheels depend on the amount of liquid the fan needs to move. Hence, it is completely related to the type of industry for which the fan is used.

Applications of Industrial Fans
Engineers have made good use of the industrial fans to support the manufacturing of a variety of products. Based on the type of industry and the industrial process, the fan needs to be designed to the required specifications to enable smooth and efficient industrial production. Different types of industrial fan designs are used across various factories. The fans need to be manufactured to the specifications of the manufacturing process. Some fans with pre-defined specifications may be readily manufactured in a few days, these are called as standard fans. However, for many industrial fans the fans are custom designed by experts having vast expertise and experience to ensure the desired result.

It is important to frame the correct specifications of the industrial fan to ensure that the manufacturing process reaches optimum production levels.