How to Read a Fan Curve

Fan Curves

Three main components

• CFM
• Static Pressure
• Brake Horsepower
 Fan Curve
(Pressure to CFM relationship)
0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4
Pressure

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

CFM x 100
Brake Horsepower Curve
(CFM to BHP relationship)
0.7

0.3
0.6

0.25
0.5

Brake Horse Power

0.2
0.4

0.15
0.3

0.2 0.1

0.1 0.05

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

CFM x 100
Typical Fan Performance Curve
0.7

0.3
0.6

0.25
0.5

Brake Horse Power

0.2
0.4
Pressure

0.15
0.3

0.2 0.1

0.1 0.05

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

CFM x 100
Constant Horsepower Curve
0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5
Pressure

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

CFM x 100
 Typical System Resistance Curve
0.7
Sum of all system
0.6 components:
• Ductwork
• Elbows
0.5
• Transitions
• Filters
0.4 • Coils
P re s s u re

• Dampers
0.3 • Louvers
• Building pressure
0.2
Ps = k * CFM2
0.1
System Resistance Pressure Increases
Curve
with the Square
0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 of CFM!
CFM x 100
Varying System Resistance Curve
1.4

1.2

1
Going from curve
A to curve B is an
In
c

example of a
Static Pressure

re

0.8
as

Curve B
system that a
in
g
R

0.6
damper closes or
es

Curve A
is
ta

filters get dirty.

nc

0.4
e
to
flo

0.2
w

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
CFM x 100
 Operating Point
0.7
Fan Performance Curve
0.3
0.6
Operating Point
0.25
0.5

Brake Horse Power

0.2
0.4
Pressure

0.15
0.3

Brake Horsepower Curve

0.2 0.1

0.1 0.05

System Resistance Curve

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

CFM x 100
 Reading BHp Curve
0.7
Fan Performance Curve
0.3
0.6
Operating Point

0.25
0.5

Brake Horse Power

0.2
0.4
Pressure

0.15
0.3
Brake Horsepower Curve
0.2 0.1

0.1 0.05
System Resistance Curve

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

CFM x 100
 Varying Operating Points
3.5

2.5 700 RPM

2
Pressure

Operating Point
1.5 at 700 RPM

1
350 RPM Operating Point
at 350 RPM
0.5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
CFM x 100
 Selecting Point of Operation

Small change in Ps
Large change in CFM

Ps
Large change in Ps
Small change in CFM

CFM
Selecting Point of Operation
Unstable
Operating
Point

Optimum
Ps Range

CFM