Since the formation of the joint venture power plants, VARIAX® fans have proved their

company between Larsen & Toubro and superior performance.

Howden to meet the requirement of variable
pitch axial fans (VARIAX®) and rotary Adapting to Indian power plant
heat exchangers in coal-based thermal power operational conditions
plants, L&T Howden Private Limited has
The presence of high ash content in domestic
emerged as a prominent player in the market.
coal, going up to maximum of 40 to 42%,
Within a short span of seven years of starting throws a challenge to design suitable fan
the business in India, L&T Howden has blade and select suitable metallurgy.
supplied over 200 VARIAX® fans, which are L&T Howden, backed by Howden design team,
operational in various power plants of unit has successfully overcome this challenge
sizes ranging from 100 MW to 1200 MW. by suitably designing the fans with lower
Around 200 fans are under various stages of rotational speed, hard coating of ID fan
execution. blades for longer operational hours and other
features.
Be it boiler application, booster application in

2
3
Serving India:
®
The VARIAX advantage
With more than 200 fans supplied in India, the VARIAX® fan is the
proven, reliable and robust choice across a wide range of applications.

Rajpura

Ghatampur

Tanda

Vindhyachal
Chhabra Lara

Khargone
Khandwa
Koradi

Kudgi

L&T Howden fans supplied

to various power plants

4
The benefits

Every fan we supply is designed and built to customer is assured of a fan engineered specification and any subsequent maintenance
unique specifications. In the initial planning of the precisely to their requirements of the individual or retrofits, to allow us to offer a guaranteed
project, in consultation with the customer, we application both now and in the future. spares and service program. We can carry out
carry out a full analysis of the duties of the regular monitoring and inspections as well as
Importantly, for every VARIAX® installation we
equipment and the performance required. Each offer a troubleshooting and emergency service.
maintain a complete, detailed record of

Partial reference list of fans supplied

Unit Total Design Capacity / Design Pressure /

Client Project / Power Plant Application
Size (MW) Nos. Flow (m³/s) Head (mmwg)

FD Fan: 284 FD Fan: 490

LMB MahaGenco - Koradi 660 FD, PA, ID 18 PA Fan: 203 PA Fan: 1474
ID Fan: 663 ID Fan: 550
FD Fan: 298 FD Fan: 420
LMB NPL, Rajpura TPP 700 FD, PA, ID 12 PA Fan: 193 PA Fan: 1470
ID Fan: 695 ID Fan: 490
FD Fan: 402 FD Fan: 579
Doosan NTPC - Kudgi Super TPP 800 FD, PA, ID 18 PA Fan: 279 PA Fan: 1501
ID Fan: 926 ID Fan: 640
FD Fan: 258 FD Fan: 380
LMB RRVUNL - Chhabra 660 FD, PA, ID 12 PA Fan: 165 PA Fan: 1400
ID Fan: 555 ID Fan: 443
FD Fan: 405 FD Fan: 520
Doosan NTPC - Lara Super TPP 800 FD, PA, ID 12 PA Fan: 245 PA Fan: 1465
ID Fan: 920 ID Fan: 581
FD Fan: 280 FD Fan: 480
LMB MPPGCL-Malwa 660 FD, PA, ID 12 PA Fan: 220 PA Fan: 1520
ID Fan: 640 ID Fan: 520
FD Fan: 300 FD Fan: 489
LMB NTPC-Tanda 660 FD, PA, ID 12 PA Fan: 193 PA Fan: 1350
ID Fan: 720 ID Fan: 555
FD Fan: 311 FD Fan: 479
LMB NTPC-Khargone 660 FD, PA, ID 12 PA Fan: 203 PA Fan: 1320
ID Fan: 718 ID Fan: 543
FD Fan: 292 FD Fan: 339
LMB NUPPL - Ghatampur 660 FD, PA, ID 18 PA Fan: 228 PA Fan: 985
ID Fan: 705 ID Fan: 450

Alstom NTPC - Vindhyachal WFGD Stage V 500 FGD-Booster Fan 2 631.7 451.9

MHPS NTPC Mouda 660 FGD-Booster Fan 4 720 361.7

GE Power NTPC Solapur 660 FGD-Booster Fan 4 814 388.4

GE Power NTPC Meja 660 FGD-Booster Fan 4 774 381.7

GE Power NTPC Tanda 660 FGD-Booster Fan 4 720 390.3

GE Power NTPC Sipat 660 FGD-Booster Fan 6 762 233.7

GE Power NTPC Unchahaar 500 FGD-Booster Fan 2 607 335.3

NTPC-Vindhyachal I 210 752 380.4

LTEP NTPC-Vindhyachal II 500 FGD-Booster Fan 16 607 464.1
NTPC-Vindhyachal III & IV 500 607 462.0

LTEP NTPC-Lara 800 FGD-Booster Fan 4 872 578.1

LTEP NTPC-Khargone 660 FGD-Booster Fan 4 720 599.9

*LMB: L&T-MHI Power Boilers Private Limited

*Doosan: Doosan Power Systems India
*Alstom: Alstom India Limited (GE Power)
*MHPS: Mitsubishi Power Ltd
*LTEP: L&T Energy-Power 5
Built on experience
The principle of adjusting the pitch of the blade to govern aerodynamic performance is the
proven route to optimum efficiency, enabling the fan performance to be accurately matched
to its duties in real time while allowing the drive motor to run constantly at its recommended
speed and power consumption.

VARIAX® fans in a typical power plant arrangement

The right choice for all applications PA fan FD fan ID fan A-position booster fan C-position booster fan
VARIAX® fans are found in a wide spectrum of
situations where high volumes, high pressures
and precise flow control are required, and where
reliability and continuous running for months on
end are demanded. They are the fans of choice
in critical applications within the power industry,
where they are used in both primary air, forced
draft and induced draft positions including boiler
draft and FGD and SCR booster applications.

Custom-built technology Lifetime commitment

Every fan we supply is designed and built to installations, and will offer advice and proposals Importantly, for every VARIAX® installation we
unique specifications. In the initial planning of based on our wide-ranging expertise. Each maintain a complete, detailed record of specification
the project, in consultation with the customer, customer is thus assured of a fan engineered and any subsequent maintenance or retrofits, to
we carry out a full analysis of the duties of the precisely to their requirements of the individual allow us to offer a guaranteed spares and service
equipment and the performance required. We application both now and in the future. program. We can carry out regular monitoring and
have comprehensive knowledge of power plant inspections as well as offer a troubleshooting and
design covering both new and revamped emergency service.

6 7
Key features and benefits
All VARIAX® fans are designed to work within an operational
temperature range up to 200ºC/392ºF. They are available in single and
two-stage versions to suit a wide range of pressures and volumes.

Blades Hub Guide vanes

Design adaptability: VARIAX® fan blades The VARIAX® hub has a spherical surface Guide vanes before and after the impeller are
can be supplied in a wide range of lengths, designed to minimise the gaps between custom designed for the unique combination
profiles and materials including aluminium, the blade root and hub surface throughout of fan size and blade profile. The vanes smooth
nodular cast iron and steel. the whole range of blade movement. This the air flow, reduce vibration and noise and
offers the best aerodynamic performance raise overall efficiency.
Blade attachment: The blade is attached
and contributes to the exceptional overall
to its pivot by a single threaded connection
efficiency of the VARIAX® fan. Diffuser
with a key, and the fit between blade and
hub is superbly designed and engineered
to the most exacting standards. In addition Hydraulic cylinder
to facilitating blade replacement, the design
reduces the risk of corrosion. The use of
a single pawl into the blade root also helps
to keep the airstream smooth and brings
a measurable increase in efficiency. In both single and two-stage VARIAX® fans,
Tip clearance: The clearance between the the whole diffuser assembly is mounted on
blade tip and the fan casing has a dramatic The unique VARIAX® hydraulic cylinder uses a roller merchanism. It can be slid away for
effect on performance and efficiency, and a continual flow of oil through the system maintenance, allowing full access to the
the clearance at normal running temperature even when the blade position is constant, rotor without the need for removing it from
in a VARIAX® fan approaches just 1% of the operating like a servo and transmitting charges its casing. All maintenance can thus be
total diameter of the rotor. instantaneously. The large volume of oil carried out easily on site.
circulating through the system moderates
the temperature of the hub both while the
Blade bearings
fan is operating and at standstill.

The oil lubricated blade bearings, designed

especially for VARIAX® fans, incorporate
oversized balls for increased contact
area and greater load bearing capacity.

Our possible combinations of blade profile, impeller diameter and material, hub design and size produce a choice
of many thousands of configurations. In addition, we can design VARIAX® fans for vertical as well as horizontal
alignments, and turn the inlet box to suit particular installations. Specific challenges, such as the complex C-position
fans required for flue gases with temperatures close to the acid dew point, are well within our experience.

8
Single stage Two stage
Designed for pressures of 300Pa/1 InWG Designed for pressures of 1500Pa/6 InWG to
to 15,000Pa/60 InWG at volumes between 30,000Pa/120 InWG at volumes between
25m³ and 1600m³ per second/50,000 ACFM 15m³ and 1600m³ per second/32,000 ACFM
and 34,00,000 ACFM. and 34,00,000 ACFM. In two-stage VARIAX®
fans, the inlet box is also mounted on rollers
and tracks to allow access to the first stage
impeller unit while the moving diffuser gives
access to the second stage.

Lubrication system Main bearings Inlet box

We recommend that separate oil systems

are used for lubrication and hydraulic control.
We do, however, offer a combined system
as an alternative.
Roller bearing Sleeve bearing
Separately balanced impeller units ®
In VARIAX fans, we can supply either roller The enlarged inlet box leads to lower flow
In all VARIAX® fans, not only is the whole bearings or sleeve bearings as standard. velocity and thus brings a significant
impeller unit precisely balanced, the hub The bearings are chosen to suit each documented reduction in inlet losses
and the blades that make up the unit are individual project. and a marked increase in efficiency.
separately balanced before the unit is
assembled. This means that replacement
blades of a different material or profile
can be fitted to the fan without removing
and rebalancing the impeller unit.

9
Continual improvement
®
The VARIAX fan is the subject of continual research and
development, and the interchangeability of parts makes it
possible to retrofit, adapt and upgrade with ease.

The recent super high pressure blade profile brought a pressure increase of up to 30% while
raising the flow by up to 15% and allowing a smaller hub. In 2009, we introduced a new hub
design which makes it possible to design smaller primary air fans and forced draft fans,
and to upgrade existing fans to cope with higher pressure.

Fabricated hubs for better strength

B-type for heavy duty fans (ID/Booster fans) C-type for clean air applications (PA fans and FD fans)

Blade profiles and pivot connection

Variety of different blade profiles Single threaded connection Stress analysis by finite
element method

Field services Spares & retrofits

xxxxx

Picture awaited

Our field engineers are well trained to offer complete L&T Howden ensures supply of right quality, fully
supervisory service during erection, commissioning, during interchangeable spares to our customers on time.
planned outages and troubleshooting. They will help
We can retrofit the present operational fans also to satisfy
customers in ensuring maximum availability of equipment.
the new performance requirements of flow, pressure
In addition, field engineers help our customers in planning which may arise because of change in plant operational
the procurement of spares so that power plant conditions due to addition of FGD (flue gas desulphurisation),
always has critical spares in stock. SCR or change in fuel, etc.

10
 Quality assurance
VARIAX® fans meet all major industry
standards, and all of the equipment we supply
are backed by an absolute commitment to
customer satisfaction. Our quality assurance
procedures are underpinned by ISO 9001
accreditation, our environmental standards are
certified to ISO 14001, and we have a health
and safety program certified to OHSAS 18001
criteria covering all L&T Howden staff.

Full scale fan testing facility at Hazira

The facility is one of its kind in the industry. Set up in the
year 2013, it is equipped with 3.5 MW/1450 RPM test motor.

The test is conducted as per ISO 5801:2007 (Part-I)

standard. The test bed is suitable for testing all FD, PA, ID booster
and combined ID fans (CID) of 1200 MW also.

The testing helps in ensuring that the fan delivers guaranteed

performance parameters. Any deficiency in fan performance
can be identified during testing and necessary rectification can be
done before the fan is put into operation at site.

Fan testing control room at L&T Howden’s Hazira facility

Localisation of manufacturing

In line with our endeavour to provide cost effective solutions,

L&T Howden and Howden have localised manufacturing facilities
covering nearly all fan parts in India. Howden’s facility at Hosur is a
modern machining facility to manufacture critical rotating parts,
including hubs and blades, and is available to cater to the Indian
power market.

Full scale fan testing at L&T Howden’s Hazira facility

Regulating test bed at Howden’s Hosur facility Main bearing assembly test bed at L&T Howden’s Hazira facility

Hub manufacturing at Howden’s Hosur facility Blade manufacturing at Howden’s Hosur facility

11
 L&T Howden people live to improve our products and services and our world
has revolved around our customers. This dedication means our air and gas
handling equipment add maximum value to your operations. We have
innovation in our hearts and every day we focus on providing you with the
best solutions for your vital operations.

Head Office Works

L&T Howden Pvt. Ltd. L&T Howden Pvt. Ltd.

L&T Faridabad Campus, 5th Floor A. M. Naik Heavy Engineering Complex
12/4, Delhi Mathura Road Gate No. 14, Survey No. 498/1, Suvali
Faridabad - 121003, Haryana P.O. Bhatha, Surat - 394510, Gujarat

Direct: +91 129 429 1207 Website: www.Lnthowden.com

Mobile: +91 9560336595
Email: [email protected]

CIN: U31401MH2010PTC204403