How to choose a fan for open circuit wind tunnel?

[help_pls]

Hi all,

I am trying to design a open circuit wind tunnel, and I've got to the point where a fan should be selected. However, I am not familiar with fans at all, so I am wondering if you could help me!

My understanding is that the fan selection process is quite similar to the pump selection process; create a system friction loss curve (pressure vs flow rate) and match that curve with the fan performance curve (pressure vs flow rate), and then the intersection point will be the operating point. Is that correct?

So for my wind tunnel, CFD analysis using ansys aim tells me that with a desired volume flow rate of 5100 cfm, the total pressure difference between the inlet and right before the outlet is -8 kPa, or -32 WC. Does that mean that, doesn't matter if it is an axial fan or a centrifugal fan, or if it located upstream or downstream, I just need to look for a fan that can generate 5100 cfm against 32 WC of pressure?

Thank you

 

[russ_watters]

Hi all,

I am trying to design a open circuit wind tunnel, and I've got to the point where a fan should be selected. However, I am not familiar with fans at all, so I am wondering if you could help me!

My understanding is that the fan selection process is quite similar to the pump selection process; create a system friction loss curve (pressure vs flow rate) and match that curve with the fan performance curve (pressure vs flow rate), and then the intersection point will be the operating point. Is that correct?

So for my wind tunnel, CFD analysis using ansys aim tells me that with a desired volume flow rate of 5100 cfm, the total pressure difference between the inlet and right before the outlet is -8 kPa, or -32 WC. Does that mean that, doesn't matter if it is an axial fan or a centrifugal fan, or if it located upstream or downstream, I just need to look for a fan that can generate 5100 cfm against 32 WC of pressure?

Thank you

Yes, but 32" is a ton of static pressure. It isn't easy to find a fan for that and will require at least 35hp.

 

[help_pls]

Yes, but 32" is a ton of static pressure. It isn't easy to find a fan for that and will require at least 35hp.

Ok, thank you!