The Role of Performance Testing for Backward-Curved Stainless Steel Centrifugal Fans in Condition Monitoring

The Role of Performance Testing for Backward-Curved Stainless Steel Centrifugal Fans in Condition Monitoring

To ensure stable operation of backward-curved stainless steel centrifugal fans and their systems, the design must meet the flow and pressure requirements near the fan's peak efficiency point. However, during prolonged operation, factors such as blade deformation and increased duct resistance cause the fan's efficiency to decline annually, while motor power consumption rises. Simultaneously, airflow and pressure levels also decline to some extent, ultimately failing to meet system operational requirements. Taking a backward-curved stainless steel centrifugal fan in a steel plant's dust removal system as an example: during a 1999 performance survey, the fan's efficiency was approximately 70%. Prior to the 2004 converter and dust removal system retrofit, performance testing was conducted on the backward-curved stainless steel centrifugal fan. The measured efficiency of the backward-curved stainless steel centrifugal fan was only 51%, while the motor output power increased from 2,298 kW to 2,582 kW. Calculated based on 8,000 hours of annual operation, the annual power consumption increased by approximately 2.2 million kWh. Moreover, the airflow and pressure also decreased to some extent, failing to meet the dust removal requirements of the newly added converter. An additional stainless steel centrifugal fan was required after dust removal. For such high-power backward-curved stainless steel centrifugal fans, specialized performance testing techniques must be employed to monitor their flow rate, pressure, and efficiency under operating conditions. Low-efficiency backward-curved stainless steel centrifugal fans should be promptly maintained or replaced.