At AirPro, we take pride in designing and manufacturing custom fans tailored to our customers’ specific needs. The fan pictured in the video is still in production: but this gives us an opportunity to highlight some of the specialized features we integrate into our custom fan designs. AirPro designed this particular fan for an API 673 application.
Some of the design elements are driven by API specifications, while others we customized based on the customer’s requirements. Let’s examine some of this fan’s features:
The Wheel & Seal
First, it will house a 37.5-inch diameter pressure blower wheel, designed to move gas at temperatures as high as 925 °F. Due to the extreme heat, our engineers designed a center-supported housing to isolate the fan’s housing from the pedestal, preventing heat transfer. By supporting the fan at the center, we mitigate the risk of heat causing vertical expansion, which could otherwise lead to misalignment at the shaft seal. Misalignment could cause hot gas leakage, which could overheat the bearings—an undesirable situation we want to avoid.
We also equipped this fan with a custom shaft seal featuring a purge port that allows the injection of purge gas, such as nitrogen or plant air. This creates a positive pressure that helps contain the hot gas inside the fan while keeping cooler gases out.
The Insulation
Second, we’ve designed an insulation panel to shield the bearings. To the housing we will apply four-inch-thick thermal insulation. We designed the extended access door to accommodate this insulation, ensuring that personnel can safely access the internals of the fan without contacting the high-temperature housing. We will also insulate the access door itself from the inside.
The Pedestal
Moving to the pedestal, we’ve designed a cutout to accommodate a cooling wheel, which helps dissipate heat from the bearings. The bearings will rest on machined bearing blocks, while the motor will sit on precision-machined motor blocks. In line with API specifications, we’ve also included machined mounting pads underneath the fan for secure installation on the unitary base.
Split Housing Design
Lastly, this fan features a split housing design. A split runs across the housing, allowing field removal of a section without disrupting the inlet or outlet connections. The ANSI 150-pound flanges, required for this API application, will maintain integrity, preventing warping under high temperatures.
The unique features of this fan illustrate our passion for building custom fans. We will eagerly collaborate with customers to craft solutions that meet their specific needs. Give us a call today! 715.365.3267
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