Date Available

10-29-2012

Year of Publication

2012

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (MSBiosyAgE)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Agriculture; Engineering

Department/School/Program

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Douglas G. Overhults

Second Advisor

Dr. George B. Day

Abstract

The Fan Assessment Numeration System (FANS) is an improved air velocity traverse method for measuring in situ fan performance. The FANS has been widely used, but variations of its test procedure are commonly employed to accommodate physical or operational barriers encountered in the field. This laboratory study evaluated the use of transitions to connect a 1.37m FANS unit to two smaller fans (1.22m and 0.91m diameter) and one 1.37m diameter fan. Tests were conducted with the FANS unit positioned on both intake and discharge sides of the fans. Three different transition angles (30o, 45o and 60o) and the use of no transition were evaluated. Discharge tests were also performed with no enclosed connection between FANS and fan housings. A different experiment was conducted for each fan size. Data was analyzed by comparing test results to the control with Dunnett’s procedure. Results showed significant differences as much as 5.3% ± 1.20% for intake treatments, 17.2% ± 3.04% for sealed discharge treatments and 37.1% ± 12.24% for discharge treatments with no enclosed connection. All transition angles produced similar fan test results. Differences between test results from the discharge and control treatments increased as differences between FANS and fan dimensions increased.

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