The process
Oil and gas fired boilers have clean flue gas and no dust collector, so the fan set reduces to an FD or combustion air fan and, on larger units, an ID fan. The duty is clean air or clean gas, selected for efficiency and quiet running, with a silencer on the FD inlet where the boiler house is near offices.
The gas at the fan
Clean air that has passed through an air heater or recuperator. Density is lower than ambient, so the fan is selected at the hot condition and checked for motor load at cold start.
Selection for this duty
| Blade form | Backward curved or aerofoil for the best efficiency on clean gas |
| Material of construction | Mild steel |
| Drive and bearings | Direct coupled or belt driven with a shaft cooling disc and bearings outside the casing |
| Density at the fan | At about 180°C the gas density is close to 0.78 kg/m³, 65% of standard air. Pressure developed and power drawn fall in the same ratio, so the selection is made at this density and the motor is checked at cold start. |
Feeds a burner with air at the pressure the burner register needs. Sized for the burner turndown range, and often fitted with an inlet silencer. Client-stated blade types for the Combustion Air Blower in general: Backward curved and radial tipped.
Industries
Other fans in oil and gas fired boilers
Combustion Air Blower in other processes
Bagasse Fired BoilersRice Husk Fired BoilersAFBC BoilersCFBC BoilersPulverised Coal Fired BoilersBiomass Fired BoilersThermic Fluid HeatersHot Air GeneratorsRotary Lime KilnsVertical Shaft Lime KilnsSponge Iron Rotary KilnsBlast Furnace Hot Blast StovesSinter PlantsCoke Oven BatteriesSteel Reheating FurnacesHeat Treatment FurnacesForge ShopsFerro Alloy Submerged Arc FurnacesAluminium Smelters and Cast HousesIron and Non-ferrous FoundriesHot Dip Galvanising LinesGlass Melting FurnacesCeramic Tunnel and Roller KilnsCeramic Body Spray Dryers
Information needed to select or quote
- Duty point. Volume flow and static pressure at the fan inlet, with the gas density and temperature or the conditions to derive it.
- Operating conditions. Site altitude, normal operating temperature and continuous or intermittent duty.
- Gas stream. Dust loading and particle size, corrosive species, moisture, upset temperature and any tendency of the material to deposit on the impeller.
- Mechanical. Rotation viewed from the drive end, discharge orientation and motor power.