Armfield Engineering Education
CAPTURE FLUID MACHINES
FM40 Centrifugal Fan Demonstration Unit - issue 2
The centrifugal fan is a radial flow machine which produces the necessary pressure to move gas by the centrifugal force built up inside the fan casing. The design of the fan blade has a primary influence on performance.
These types of fans are usually employed for ventilating duties
requiring a somewhat higher delivery pressure than that available from
axial fans.
Ordering Specification
• A small-scale centrifugal fan demonstration unit,
comprising of an inlet duct, the fan, an outlet duct and an adjustable
aperture, all mounted on a stainless steel base.
• Equipped with electronic measurement sensors for fan head pressure, flow-rate
(via orifice plate) and air temperature.
• Transparent cover plate on fan volute for visibility.
• Supplied with two different,
easily interchangeable impellers.
• Capable of being linked to a PC
(not supplied) via a USB interface console (an essential accessory), which does
not require internal access to the computer.
Also allows interfacing to other
software packages.
• Supplied with software providing full instructions for setting up, operating,
calibrating and performing the teaching exercises. Facilities for logging, processing
and displaying data graphically.
• Offers a complete teaching package of coursework and laboratory investigation,
complete with a student questions and
answers session.
INSTRUCTIONAL CAPABILITIES
• Measurement of constant-speed machine performance in terms of
static and total pressures, rotor speed and motor shaft power, as a function
of inlet flow
•
Measurement of fan efficiency and estimation of impeller power efficiency
•
Measurement of performance at constant speeds
•
Introduction to similarity laws for scale-up
•
Comparison of student calculations with computer results
Description
A motor driven centrifugal fan, mounted on a stainless steel plinth. Transparent
air inlet and air outlet ducts allow the fan volute and the impellor to
be clearly observed. A manually operated adjustable aperture
allows the air flow rate to be varied at constant fan speed. A calibrated
orifice plate is used on the discharge to measure the air flow rate.
Interchangeable backward and forward curved blade impellers are provided,
to facilitate direct comparison between their respective operating characteristics
and to demonstrate to which duties each is best suited.
Electronic sensors measure the pressure head developed across the fan, the pressure across the orifice plate (and hence the flow rate) and the air temperature.
The fan speed is accurately controlled by an advanced electronic inverter within the IFD7 (an essential accessory). This inverter also calculates the torque produced at the motor drive shaft, allowing the power used by the fan to be derived. The IFD7 also provides the conditioning electronics for the sensors and allows their readings to be displayed on the computer software. Connections to the IFD7 are a single multi-way connector for the sensors and a connector for the pump motor drive.
The equipment is provided with advanced education and data logging software. See the software section of this datasheet for further details.
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION
Max Flow Rate: 70 l/second typical
Max Head: 0.7KPa
Max fan speed 3000rpm
Motor Power rating 550W
SOFTWARE
Windows based software is supplied with the CAPTURE range of equipment offering a complete teaching package of coursework and laboratory investigation.
The familiar Windows environment allows the student to explore the principles of each machine quickly and easily, highlighting the difference between theoretical and practical measurements, thus providing a good understanding of the principles involved.
This software runs under Windows 98, 2000 or XP operating systems and has been designed for maximum flexibility and ease of use. Comprehensive ‘Help’ screens guide the student through both the theoretical background and the practical investigation of the machine under examination. Suggested laboratory investigations and further questions for the student to answer are included in the software, together with all the information required to set up and run the teaching exercises.
SOFTWARE CAPABILITIES
This software includes a range of functions and capabilities designed to make the operation of the equipment and processing of the results more straightforward, and also to enhance student understanding of the subjects being covered.
It includes:
> Diagrammatic representation of the equipment, complete with real time
display of the various sensor outputs
> Presentation screens, giving an
overview of the software, the equipment, the procedure and associated theory
> Detailed ‘Help’ facilities giving in depth guidance
> Automatic data logging of sensor values into a spreadsheet format
> Control over sampling intervals
> Student questions and answers, including a layered ‘Hint’
facility
> Processing of sampled values (this may be linked to the questions and
answers to ensure student understanding)
> Sophisticated graph plotting facilities of both measured and calculated
values, including comparisons taken under different conditions
> Export of data to Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheets
> Links to user defined word processor
> Calibration facility for sensors
> Real time bar graph display of sensor outputs
> Recent history graphical display
TECHNICAL DETAILS
The analogue output data is digitised and transferred to a computer using the standard USB (Universal Serial Bus). This allows any standard modern Windows computer to be used, including notebooks, and does not require any internal access to the computer.
The equipment is supplied complete
with a USB lead for connection to the computer.
The FM40 interfaces to the computer using the IFD7 device and the USB
port of the computer.
Also available is a software driver that allows the outputs to be read in other software programs, such as Labview.
ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT
• Armfield IFD7 Interface Unit
• PC with spare USB port
Shipping Specification
Volume: 0.75m3
Gross Weight: 90kg
Overall Dimensions
Height: 0.97m
Length: 0.88m
Width: 0.51m
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