Mechanical Ventilation Part - I

Conditioning plant Ducts at ceiling level

Motor & fan unit

Roof

Second floor

First floor

Ground floor

Dr. Monindra Nath Patra

Senior-most Faculty, Civil Engineering Department
Baruipur Govt. Polytechnic, 24 pgs (S), W.B.
 Contents
A. Fans: Propeller, Centrifugal etc. B. Installation of Fans: Local &
Central C. Systems of Ventilation: Exhaust, Plenum (Positive Ventilation) &
Combined
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):
At the end of the module, students will be able to:
1.Understand definition of Mechanical Ventilation;
2.Feel the importance/benefits of Mechanical Ventilation;
3.Explain methods of this Ventilation using different types of Fans;
4.Know about (i) Propeller Fan (ii) Axial Flow Fan, (iii) Centrifugal
Fan.
5.Interpret types of Fan Wheels: (a) Forward curved, (b) Backward
curved, (c) Radial Blades.
6.Explain different methods of Mechanical Ventilation.
7. Gather Concept on Salient Features & Working of :
I.Exhaust System.
II.Supply or Plenum System &
III.Combination of Both or Balanced System.
 What is Mechanical Ventilation?
• A building ventilation system that uses powered fans or
blowers to provide fresh air to rooms when the natural
forces of air pressure and gravity are not enough to
circulate air through a building.
• Mechanical ventilation is used to control indoor air quality,
excess humidity, odours, and contaminants can often be
controlled via dilution or replacement with outside air.
• However, in humid climates, specialised ventilation
systems can remove excess moisture from the air.
Where needed specifically?
• Privacy or security requirements prevent windows being opened.
• Internal partitions block air paths.
• Found in buildings where large numbers of people congregate in a
relatively small area
• Also found in commercial premises where occupants require protection
from harmful fumes or dust created by the production process.
 System of Mechanical Ventilation &
Benefits
 Definition - Mechanical Ventilation systems circulate fresh
air using ducts and fans rather than relying on airflow
through small holes or crack’s in a home’s wall, roof or
windows. Homeowners can breath easier knowing their
home has a good ventilation.
 Benefits of using mechanical ventilation:-
1. Better indoor air quality – can remove pollutants, allergens,
and moisture that can cause mold problems
2. More control – provide proper fresh air flow along with
appropriate locations for intake and exhaust
3. Improved comfort – allow a constant flow of outside air into the
home and can also provide filtration, dehumidification, and
conditioning of the incoming outside air.
 CEILING FANS, TABLE OR FLOOR
 Used to circulate air FANS
within a room for the purpose of
reducing the perceived temperature,
 because of evaporation of perspiration from the skin of
occupants.
 Do not introduce outside air inside the room.
 Air-coolers are used in hot & dry conditions.
 They comprise of a chamber whose walls are made of
straw, which is kept cool by pouring water & evaporation
of water.
 A cool environment is thus created inside the chamber
and a fan blows cool air inside the room.
 • Indoor / outdoor exchange of air to
Introduction replenish oxygen & to remove pollutants
to Use of generated by breathing, indoor activities
and emissions from building materials
Mechanical and furnishings.
• Poor indoor air quality causes or irritate 50% of all
Ventilation illnesses and can lead to a host of health problems
for people of all ages.
• For ages, most buildings relied on openings
through the building envelope to provide
indoor/outdoor air exchange. Nowadays,
mechanical ventilation can make it safe to seal
unwanted air leaks and install as much
insulation as needed.
• Ventilation in modern buildings (enclosed
space and without natural ventilation)
requires additional equipment to create
air movement.
Methods of Ventilation System

• Mechanical/Forced
 Fans
 Cooling
 Dilution
 Exhaust
 Circulation
• Filtration
 Scrubbers
• Exhaust Systems
 Chemical

7
 FANS
A fan is a kind of pump which is used for pumping or circulating the
air through the entire duct system and the conditioned space.
A fan, essentially consists of a rotating wheel (called impeller) which is
surrounded by a stationary member known as housing. The energy is
transmitted to the air by the power driven wheel and a pressure difference is
created to provide flow of air. The air may be moved by either creating an
above atmospheric pressure (i.e., positive pressure) or a below atmospheric
pressure (i.e., negative pressure)
Fans

Centrifugal
Propeller Fan Axial Flow Fan
or
Radial Flow Fan
Axial Flow Fan — A fan having a casing in which the air enters and leaves the impeller
in a direction substantially parallel to its axis.
Propeller Fan — A fan in which the air leaves the impeller in a direction substantially
parallel to its axis designed to operate normally under free inlet and outlet conditions.
 TYPES OF
FAN
Propeller Fan
 does not create much air
pressure and has limited effect in
ductwork. Ideal for use at air
openings in windows and walls.
 Propeller fans are suitable for situations
where no great resistance to airflow has
to be overcome.
 The free intake and discharge condition
of ventilation fans situated in wall
openings giving direct in/out and out/in
movement are eminently suited to this
type of fan, which under these
conditions can move large volumes of
air economically and with very low
installation costs.
 Efficiency 60-65%
 TYPES OF FAN
Axial Flow Fan
can develop high pressure and is used
for moving air through long sections
of ductwork. The fan is integral with
the run of ducting and does not require
a base.

This type of fan is becoming popular.

Efficiency is high to 75%, simple

installation and appearance neat,
particularly in a line of ducting.
 TYPES OF
Centrifugal Fans FAN
Centrifugal fans can generate high-pressure
rises in the gas stream 760Pa. Accordingly,
they are well-suited for industrial processes
and air pollution control systems. Efficiency
80%, high cost, silence, big size and need
more space.

A centrifugal fan has a fan wheel composed

of a number of fan blades mounted around
a hub. The hub turns on a shaft that passes
through the fan housing. The gas enters
from the side of the fan wheel, turns 90
and accelerates as it passes over the fan
blades.

The term, centrifugal, refers to the trajectory

of the gas stream as it passes out of the fan
housing.
 Types of Fan Wheels
Forward-curved fans [Figure (a)] use blades
that curve toward the direction of rotation of
the fan wheel. These are especially sensitive
to particulate and are not used extensively in
air pollution control systems. Efficiency 50-
60%.

Backward-curved fan blades [Figure (b)] use a

straight plate, a curved plate, or a curved
airfoil. These types of fan wheels are used in
fans designed to handle gas streams with
relatively low particulate loadings because they
are prone to solids build-up. Backward-curved The fan wheel consists
fans are more energy efficient (80-85%) than of a hub and a number
radial blade fans. of fan blades. The fan
blades on the hub can
Radial blades are fan wheel blades that extend be arranged in three
straight out from the hub. A radial blade fan different ways:
wheel, as shown in [Figure (c)], is often used on Forward; Backward; &
particulate-laden gas streams because it is the Radial
least sensitive to solids build-up on the blades.
Efficiency 45-55%.
 Systems of Mechanical Ventilation
In mechanical ventilation the air is moved by motor driven fans as
discussed. The installation of these fans can be “Local”, e.g. built into a
window or a wall, or may be “Central” in which case ducts will be
necessary to deliver and distribute the air to where it is required.
The following methods of mechanical or artificial ventilation are in
common use.
1.Extract or Exhaust systems – removing the used or Vitiated air by
Fans and letting fresh air find its way (naturally entering) in through
grilles and openings (room under reduced pressure).
2.Supply or Plenum systems – Fresh Air forced in by Fans;
supplying air into the space and forcing out used/vitiated air through
grilles, windows, doors, etc. (slight overpressure in room)
3.Combination of exhaust and supply systems or Extraction
Plenum System (also known as Balanced System) – both supplying
and removing air. The most dependable, but most expensive, system
used when combined with warm air heating, as it permits partial
recirculation.
4.Air conditioning
 (1) Exhaust System

An exhaust system may consist of a single fan that is centrally

located in a hallway or at the top of the stairs, or it can be an
upgraded bathroom fan that has a motor built to run for
longer periods of time and is sized to ventilate the whole
house.
 Exhaust System
Natural air supply with mechanical air
exhaust
 popular form of ventilation in residential and
offices.
 The mechanical air exhaust system creates an
under pressure in the building, the system is
less dependent on the weather. The under
pressure creates a pressure difference over the
ventilation openings encourage the air to suck
in.
 To prevent draught the air supply openings have
to be placed as high as possible and the air inlet
grid must have a possibility to be regulated.
 Ventilation capacity (air out) controlled by an
exhaust ventilator.
 In residential buildings suction takes place from
at least the kitchen, the bathroom [shown
beside] and the toilet. (need for suction ducts)
 In non-residential buildings suction mostly takes
place from the corridor.
Exhaust Fresh-up
Raising exhaust air decreases room pressure to prevent the
leaking of odors or floating bacteria into other rooms
 (2) Supply or Plenum System
• Plenum is the space that can
facilitate air circulation for heating
and air conditioning systems, by
providing pathways for either
heated/ conditioned or return
airflows.
• Space between the structural
ceiling and the dropped ceiling
or under a raised floor is
typically considered plenum.
• Air pressure in plenum is higher
than outside.
• For buildings, plenum is an
enclosed space that are not for
human occupancy, but are often
used for heating, ventilating &/or
air conditioning equipment &
airflow, and are for equipment
such as cables, piping, &
luminaries
 Supply System
In a supply system, a fan pulls
outside air into the house,
creating positive pressure.

Ductwork brings the air into

the living spaces that need it
most typically, the bedrooms
and living room.
Spot exhaust fans are still
needed in high-pollutant areas
such as the kitchen, bathroom,
and laundry room.
Used along with air-
conditioners, to supply
air inside the building
such that fresh air is
circulated to leave out
the odours and
pollutants.
Supply rich mode: Raising the air supply maintains proper room
pressure to prevent back-flow to toilet or kitchen odours or moisture inflow.

FRESH-UP operation: Both the excessive supply mode and the excessive
exhaust mode are selectable. This function allows for a more comfortable
air environment whether the occupied space is required to be pressurized
or de-pressurized.
 (3) Balanced System
A balanced central system uses two
fans (supply and exhaust fans working
in cooperation) and creates a neutral,
or balanced pressure.

One fan exhausts air out of the house,

while the other brings the same
amount of outside air into the house.

These systems are more complex

than supply-only or exhaust-only
ventilation systems, but provide
better fresh air distribution.
They may be two wall-mounted fans of
equal capacity--one for supply and
one for exhaust--in two different In a balanced system, air is supplied
rooms. to some rooms and exhausted from
others. An optional heat- or energy-recovery
Alternatively, they may be ducted to unit transfers heat or humidity from one air
supply air to the common living areas, stream to the other. Spot exhaust is included
such as living rooms and bedrooms, where necessary.
and to exhaust air from the rooms
where pollution is high, such as the
Balanced System (benefits)
Balanced ventilation
systems can provide
many benefits
including:

•Improved indoor air

quality
•Improved comfort
•Improved health
•Lower utility bills
THE END