Centrifugal Fans Vs Air Blowers

In the world of centrifugal fans and blowers for industrial process applications, “what’s the difference between a fan and a blower” is a trick question to which we have an answer.

What Is A Fan And A Blower?
Fan and Blowers are both devices used in industries that are meant to circulate the air. Fans and blowers are quite different from one another, the primary difference is in their process of air circulation. Usually, these two devices are used for cooling purposes and ventilation in industries

Let us look at some differences between a fan and a blower:
• A fan is an electrical device, while a blower is a mechanical device. Fans have blades that create a continuous airflow and circulate the air around in every direction, whereas a blower has impellers that channel the air in a specific direction towards a particular location
• Fans can move large amounts of air/gas at low pressure. The components of a fan are a rotor (impeller) to which the blades are attached. The impeller allows the fan to channel the airflow even at a minor change in the pressure. Fans have a specific pressure ratio of 1.1. Blowers, on the other hand, can move large volumes of air/gas at a moderate pressure setting. It comprises of a wheel attached with small blades and a casing that helps direct the airflow towards a specific location. The pressure ratio of blowers is 1.1 to 1.2.
• Fans push out the air axially, that is, the airflow is along the axis of the rotor. Blowers use centrifugal force to blow out the air.
• Fans are usually smaller in size compared to blowers.
• The efficiency of fans and blowers depend on the design of their blades and how they propel the air, that is, axially or centrifugally. In axial flow, the air that enters the fan leaves it without any change in the direction. Whereas, in centrifugal flow, the air changes direction twice, once when it enters the fan and once while leaving it
• Talking about energy efficiency, fans consume less power than blowers and hence, are more energy efficient. But when it comes to airflow, blowers are known to produce more airflow than fans
• A fan circulates air inside the entire room or place, but a blower only focuses on a particular area
• A fan is used to create flow within a fluid. On the other hand a blower produces large changes in volumes of fluids with a small variation in pressure. Both are used in ventilation, electrical application like air conditioning, microwaves, furnaces etc.
• Fan consists of vanes or blades that rotate and influence air. The rotating assembly of blades and hub is called an impeller or a rotor or a runner.
• In terms of airflow blowers discharge more airflow than a fan. The suction ratio of the blower is more than the fan
• In case of types of fans there are axial and centrifugal fans which are again subdivided, whereas blowers are just of two types they are centrifugal blowers and positive displacement blowers.
• As fans circulate air in the entire area of a room the air area will be higher. Blowers just simply focus air to a particular area, so the area covered will be less.
• Fan consists of a motor and blades which are run by electricity. Blower consists of a fan, outer cover, inlet, outlet and channels. The motor in the fan is run by electricity.
• Blower is significantly used in high pressure applications and fans are used in low pressure industrial applications.