The process
An atmospheric fluidised bed boiler keeps a bed of sand and ash in suspension with a high pressure FD fan under the distributor plate, and the flue gas carries bed fines and fly ash to the ESP or bag filter. The FD fan is a pressure duty, the ID fan a volume duty with abrasive dust, and the PA fan feeds the fuel feeders where they are pneumatic.
The gas at the fan
Fluidised bed combustion carries bed material fines and fly ash in the flue gas. The dust is abrasive and the loading ahead of the collector is high, so the ID fan is placed after the dust collector wherever the layout allows.
Selection for this duty
| Blade form | Radial tipped with wear liners, or straight radial where the dust is coarse |
| Material of construction | Mild steel with replaceable wear liners on the blades and the scroll at the cut-off |
| Drive and bearings | Direct coupled or belt driven with a shaft cooling disc and bearings outside the casing |
| Also specified | Hard facing or liners on the blade pressure face |
| Density at the fan | At about 160°C the gas density is close to 0.81 kg/m³, 68% 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. |
Moves air through a plant or building for fresh air supply, heat removal and fume dilution where the system is ducted. Low pressure, long hours, so efficiency and noise set the selection. Client-stated blade types for the Ventilation Fan in general: Backward inclined and forward curved.
Industries
Other fans in afbc boilers
Ventilation Fan in other processes
Services on this fan
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.