The process
Reheating furnaces for rolling mills burn gas or oil with preheated combustion air from a recuperator. The combustion air blower is sized for the burner pressure at the hot air temperature, and the flue fan or stack damper controls furnace pressure.
The gas at the fan
Clean air that has passed through an air heater or recuperator. Density is lower than ambient, so the fan is selected at the hot condition and checked for motor load at cold start.
Selection for this duty
| Blade form | Backward curved or aerofoil for the best efficiency on clean gas |
| Material of construction | Mild steel |
| Drive and bearings | Direct coupled or belt driven with a shaft cooling disc and bearings outside the casing |
| Density at the fan | At about 180°C the gas density is close to 0.78 kg/m³, 65% of standard air. Pressure developed and power drawn fall in the same ratio, so the selection is made at this density and the motor is checked at cold start. |
Circulates or supplies air at elevated temperature to a dryer, oven or kiln. Selected at the hot density with the shaft and bearing arrangement built for continuous hot running. Client-stated blade types for the Hot Air Fan in general: Backward curved and backward inclined.
Industries
Other fans in steel reheating furnaces
Hot Air Fan in other processes
Hot Air GeneratorsBall Mill Raw GrindingCement Grinding MillsCement Plant Coal MillsGypsum Calcining PlantsSponge Iron Rotary KilnsHeat Treatment FurnacesForge ShopsAluminium Smelters and Cast HousesHot Dip Galvanising LinesGlass Melting FurnacesGlass Forming and Annealing LehrsCeramic Tunnel and Roller KilnsCeramic Body Spray DryersBrick and Refractory KilnsEffluent Treatment and Zero Liquid Discharge PlantsSolvent Recovery PlantsFertilizer Granulation PlantsFertilizer Rotary Dryers and CoolersFood and Dairy Spray DryersRotary DryersFluid Bed Dryers and CoolersBelt and Tray DryersTea Withering Troughs
Services on this fan
Information needed to select or quote
- Duty point. Volume flow and static pressure at the fan inlet, with the gas density and temperature or the conditions to derive it.
- Operating conditions. Site altitude, normal operating temperature and continuous or intermittent duty.
- Gas stream. Dust loading and particle size, corrosive species, moisture, upset temperature and any tendency of the material to deposit on the impeller.
- Mechanical. Rotation viewed from the drive end, discharge orientation and motor power.