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Participant

Join Date: Apr 2008
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The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/01/2008 11:34 PM

what is the difference between fan, blower and compressor?

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Guru

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#1

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/03/2008 12:07 AM

"what is the difference between fan, blower and compressor?"

Easier to describe the characteristics and applications of each one.

1. Fan: Household with 4 to 6 blades in safety bird cage to provide a cooling breeze.

2. Industrial high capacity fan, essentially an over sized version of a household fan to provide fresh air ventilation for large shop areas.

3. Scroll casing and squirlcage rotors to move air at low pressures measured in inches of water in ducts for building heating, cooling and ventilation.

4. Blowers produce higher pressures or vacuums for special applications not requiring the precision of air compressors.

5. Air compressors produce high pressure compressed air for use with air operated tools for use where electrical tools pose a safety hazard, laboratory uses, etc.

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/03/2008 12:58 PM

Half of this is guesswork......sorry.

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/03/2008 3:04 PM

Andy Germany "Half of this is guesswork......sorry."

As I see it, Andy, it is all in the eye of the beholder. It is what one sees that one describes.

PS Most of the 'fans' on CR4 blow a lot of either smoke or hot air anyway. SS

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#5
In reply to #4

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/03/2008 10:15 PM

Why would you say that, Andy? The information is a simple answer to the question. There have been several books written on any one of these products. Let's hear if it helped the original "asker". Regards, Howard.

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#2

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/03/2008 9:32 AM

The previous info is quite accurate. I would add that fans are generally low pressure or low vacuum (depending on which side of the fan you are) and would be measured in inches of water gauge. I would suggest fans normally generate less than 5 psi differential pressure.

Blowers is the usual name for a device working on its own to create positive pressure ( above atmospheric pressure) or a vacuum (pressure below atmospheric). The standard Roots design is a two lobe blower and another version is a tri-lobed blower. The tri-lobed blower can be quieter. These can create a pressure of up to 1 bar, 15 psi, above atmospheric and 15 inches of Mercury vacuum, ie a 1/2 atmosphere below normal air pressure.

If a blower is used in conjunction with a another mechanical vacuum pump is is called a booster. It generally is then used to increase the mass of gas moved, cfm, and will also create a lower pressure (higher vacuum) than the mechanical vacuum pump alone. Vacuum levels can be in the range of 1/000th of a torr. (760 torr = std atmospheric pressure).

Compressors are used to create pressures in the range of 100 psi above atmospheric pressure (shop air), and multi-stage compressors can create pressures in the 1000s of psi. Compressors can be reciprocating type, often used in garages for tire air, and also twin screw type used in larger sizes for factory compressed air supply and other applications.

I hope this helps you.

Howard

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#6

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/05/2008 8:20 AM

Actually, a FAN is used to move air in a random movement, unconfined.

A blower is used to move air through a conduit such as a pipe.

A compressor is used to provide air at relatively high pressures through a conduit.

Now, there are, of course, refinements to these simple definitions, but the general terms are as I have stated.

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#7
In reply to #6

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/05/2008 10:59 AM

Your FAN definition is not always true. The fan in your furnace blows/moves air along the ducts. (Or is that then a blower?)

There are lots of discussion points, I hope the original question has been answered, we haven't heard.

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/05/2008 12:42 PM

The fan in a furnace is more correctly called a blower. As a matter of fact, my furnace refers to this apparatus as a blower in the manual. Your avatar does not indicate your location, but if you are in the U.S. you may be familiar with W. W. Grainger, a supplier of nearly everything. Starting on page 3749 of their current catalog (#399) you will find many various types of "furnace blowers".

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#9

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/20/2008 10:59 AM

We have a stream 6000 m3/hr of hot flue gases at 5 kPa. We want to extract 5500 m3/hr of flue gas from it and discharge at 90 kPa without disturbing inlet pressure of 5kPa (i.e. without creating any vacuum at the inlet). Is it possible to do it? Is it possible with a blower? I think ID fan will creat vacuum at the inlet.

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#10
In reply to #9

Re: The Difference Between a Fan, Blower and Compressor

05/20/2008 12:09 PM

Guest:

REGISTER and repost your question as a NEW THREAD!

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