An Overview Of Applications Of Induced Draught Fans in Power Plants

Induced draught (ID) fans and forced draught (FD) fans are crucial elements in any plant involved in the generation of power. Both these blowers fall under the category of centrifugal fans. These two types of fans, also called blowers, are of equal importance in power plants. The words draught fans and draft fans mean the same, with the spelling changing based on British or American English usage.

But, the focus of this article is going to be confined to having an understanding of the role of ID fans. How the induced draft fans contribute towards enhanced efficiency and minimized pollution in these plants is what is going to be explained here.

• The ID blower addresses the pivotal aspect of gathering the gasses and other noxious substances present within the system, and expelling them into the outside atmosphere. They achieve this objective by generating negative pressure.

• The induced draft fans are generally installed near the boiler system’s outlet typically in the middle of the chimney and dust collector. That is imperative because it’s only then that they can serve the desired purpose.

• By promptly eliminating the gasses and other contaminants, the ID fans make sure that the combustion process progresses smoothly within the boiler system. This automatically enhances the overall efficiency of the system.

• Because the ID fans work in conjunction with the FD blowers, the airflow remains consistently balanced inside the boiler. This is again a paramount aspect when it’s the question of making the system operate more efficiently.

• When the risk of fire is taken into consideration, the induced draft blowers are way safer than the FD variants.

• The ID blowers are more susceptible to issues such as erosion and corrosion when compared with FD fans. As a result, the blades of the induced draft versions are either backward inclined or forward curved. This particular design ensures that these blowers can withstand harsh conditions to a substantial extent. They can do full justice to the job for which they are deployed.

• The design of a typical induced draft blower is such that the quantity of energy it consumes is relatively lower. Consequently, these fans enable the power plant to significantly reduce the costs specific to energy, over a period of time.

• The ID fans are manufactured in such a way that the levels of noise emitted by them are not high. Therefore, there is less noise pollution within the plant; a comfortable work environment can be provided for the employees. Here, it also has to be mentioned that as the fans quickly remove the gasses and pollutants, the well-being of the staff is protected.

• The presence of ID blowers can be of real help to a power plant only if proper care is taken of these devices. Because ID fans have a higher level of vulnerability to various types of damage, the company is required to take the utmost care. Instead of allowing any problem to manifest, the plant should concentrate on preventive maintenance of induced draft fans. This drastically reduces the chances of major repairs involving huge costs.

• Businesses have to note that there is no standard model of ID fan suitable for all power plants. The appropriate blower varies from one plant to another. It depends on the precise requirements, which are varied for different factories.