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AMCA Online Technical Seminar: Fan and Blower Applications Engineering I
Fan and Blower Applications Engineering I: Foundations
Fan and Blower Applications Engineering I: Foundations
This seminar covers principles of fan application engineering in an online hybrid learning environment: live instructor-led courses and question-and-answer discussions complemented by self-paced online learning modules. The class size is limited to allow for plenty of one-on-one interaction with the instructors.
Why You Should Attend
The in-depth knowledge gained from this course will enable participants to design efficient and reliable fan systems and analyze existing systems to spot opportunities for improvement.
Who Should Attend
Perfect for new or junior engineers working for consulting firms and fan manufacturers, sales representatives and product managers as part of onboarding, and experienced engineers who may have picked up bits and pieces of fan application engineering along their career path and wish to fill in the gaps in a more systematic manner.
Why You Should Attend
The in-depth knowledge gained from this course will enable participants to design efficient and reliable fan systems and analyze existing systems to spot opportunities for improvement.
Who Should Attend
Perfect for new or junior engineers working for consulting firms and fan manufacturers, sales representatives and product managers as part of onboarding, and experienced engineers who may have picked up bits and pieces of fan application engineering along their career path and wish to fill in the gaps in a more systematic manner.
Schedule
Four consecutive Fridays, from 9 a.m. to noon CDT (GMT -5). If you have a scheduling conflict, let the instructors know so they can work with you to keep you caught up with the rest of the class. In addition to the scheduled times, participants need to schedule approximately 1.5 to 2 hours per week to complete the self-paced online modules.
Four consecutive Fridays, from 9 a.m. to noon CDT (GMT -5). If you have a scheduling conflict, let the instructors know so they can work with you to keep you caught up with the rest of the class. In addition to the scheduled times, participants need to schedule approximately 1.5 to 2 hours per week to complete the self-paced online modules.
Week 1 Live | Fan and System Curves, Pressure Considerations in Fan Systems
- 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. CST: Live webcast—Getting Started and Introductions
- 9:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. CST: Live webcast—Fan and System Curves
- 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CST: Live webcast—Pressure Considerations in Fan Systems
- 11:30 a.m. to noon CST: Q&A; and live introduction to online, on-demand program
Week 1 Online | Fan Affinity Laws, Motors Self-paced online module—Simplified Affinity Laws (50 minutes) | Self-paced online module—Motors (40 minutes)
Week 2 Live | Centrifugal- and Axial-Fan Types, Losses in Elbows and Ducts
- 9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. CDT: Online-course review and discussion, Q&A;
- 9:15 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. CDT: Live webcast—Centrifugal- and Axial-Fan Types
- 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT: Live webcast—Losses in Elbows and Ducts
Week 2 Online | Fan-System Controls
- Self-paced online module—Fan-System Controls (120 minutes)
Week 3 Live | Pressure Losses and Duct Systems, System Effect
- 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. CDT: Online-course review and discussion, Q&A;
- 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. CDT: Live webcast—Pressure Losses and Duct Systems
- 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. CDT: Live webcast—System Effect
Week 3 Online | Power and Efficiency of Fans, Advanced Affinity Laws |
- Self-paced online module—Power and Efficiency (45 minutes)
- Self-paced online module—Affinity Laws w/Compressibility (45 minutes)
Week 4 Live | Fan Selection, Certified Ratings, Course Review |
- 9 a.m. to 10:10 a.m. CDT: Live webcast—Fan Selection
- 10:20 a.m. to 11 a.m. CDT: Live webcast—Certified Ratings
- 11 a.m. to noon CDT: Online and overall review and discussion, Q&A;
Professional Credit
Eighteen (18) professional-development hours (PDH) will be awarded upon completion of all program requirements, which include attendance for all live online sessions, completion of all self-paced modules, and completion of a post-course survey.
Reference Information Included with Course
In addition to course-specific workbooks and notes, you will receive a digital copy of the AMCA Fan Application Manual (AMCA publications 200, Air Systems; 201, Fans and Systems; 202, Troubleshooting; and 203, Field Performance Measurement of Fan Systems).
What Students Have Said About "Fan and Blower Applications Engineering"
“Thanks, Ron. You have a natural gift for teaching. I’ve gained so much valuable knowledge from your courses.”—Barry, consulting engineer, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 30 years’ experience
“Although I have been working for a fan manufacturer for many years, this course helped me see things from a fresh perspective and filled in gaps in my knowledge. This stuff makes a lot more sense now.”—Andrew, fan manufacturing engineer, Ontario, Canada, 10 years’ experience
“As a new engineer with a fan company, I have learned so much from this course. Thank you.”—Brian, fan manufacturing engineer, Ontario, Canada, new hire
"I would definitely recommend this course to anybody who works in the fan industry at all.”—Macallister Dale, Loren Cook Co.
“I would tell everybody in our sales department and our engineers that they need to attend this course.”—Graeme Melville, Northern Blower
“My product knowledge certainly just went through the roof.”—Graeme Melville, Northern Blower
About AMCA International
As the world’s leading authority on fan systems, AMCA International has issued dozens of publications and standards concerning all aspects of fan design, as well as standards and guidelines for in-situ and laboratory testing of fan systems. Specifying a fan with an AMCA certified rating ensures that your client gets the necessary airflow and pressure without exceeding allowable noise and power specifications.
For more information about this course or to arrange a private course for your organization, contact ron@productiveenergy.com.
Course Information
Eighteen (18) professional-development hours (PDH) will be awarded upon completion of all program requirements, which include attendance for all live online sessions, completion of all self-paced modules, and completion of a post-course survey.
Reference Information Included with Course
In addition to course-specific workbooks and notes, you will receive a digital copy of the AMCA Fan Application Manual (AMCA publications 200, Air Systems; 201, Fans and Systems; 202, Troubleshooting; and 203, Field Performance Measurement of Fan Systems).
What Students Have Said About "Fan and Blower Applications Engineering"
“Thanks, Ron. You have a natural gift for teaching. I’ve gained so much valuable knowledge from your courses.”—Barry, consulting engineer, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 30 years’ experience
“Although I have been working for a fan manufacturer for many years, this course helped me see things from a fresh perspective and filled in gaps in my knowledge. This stuff makes a lot more sense now.”—Andrew, fan manufacturing engineer, Ontario, Canada, 10 years’ experience
“As a new engineer with a fan company, I have learned so much from this course. Thank you.”—Brian, fan manufacturing engineer, Ontario, Canada, new hire
"I would definitely recommend this course to anybody who works in the fan industry at all.”—Macallister Dale, Loren Cook Co.
“I would tell everybody in our sales department and our engineers that they need to attend this course.”—Graeme Melville, Northern Blower
“My product knowledge certainly just went through the roof.”—Graeme Melville, Northern Blower
About AMCA International
As the world’s leading authority on fan systems, AMCA International has issued dozens of publications and standards concerning all aspects of fan design, as well as standards and guidelines for in-situ and laboratory testing of fan systems. Specifying a fan with an AMCA certified rating ensures that your client gets the necessary airflow and pressure without exceeding allowable noise and power specifications.
For more information about this course or to arrange a private course for your organization, contact ron@productiveenergy.com.
Course Information
Module 1: Fan and System Curves
Fan and system curves are graphical tools used to analyze performance and understand a fan’s response in a particular system. This webinar defines the common language used to explain and discuss all aspects of fan performance. Also, it introduces the U.S. Department of Energy's MEASUR software tool and explains how it can be used to analyze fan systems. 70-minute webinar
Module 2: Pressure Considerations in Fan Systems
This session provides valuable insights into standard air calculations, the role of pressure in fan systems, identification of pressure sources and losses, and techniques for calculating velocity pressure. Whether you are involved in fan manufacturing, fan-system design, operation, or maintenance, this webinar will enhance your understanding of pressure dynamics and help you optimize the performance and efficiency of your fan systems. 30-minute webinar
Module 3: Fan Affinity Laws Simplified
The performance of a fan is defined by the flow, pressure, and power draw of the fan. The fan affinity laws (also called the fan laws, for short) are a set of interrelated equations that predict the performance of a fan under varying designs and conditions. In this self-guided course, you will apply a simplified set of affinity laws to predict fan-performance changes attributed to changes in rotational speed and changes in density compared with catalog conditions and predict changes in fan performance attributed to speed and density changes. Allow at least 45 minutes for completing this course.
Module 4: Motors
The motor is a key part of any fan system. This short self-guided course examines critical characteristics of NEMA motors to give you a foundation of knowledge for applying motors in fan, pump, and blower systems. Allow at least 45 minutes for completing this course.
Module 5: Centrifugal- and Axial-Fan Characteristics
Different styles and types of fans are designed to serve different purposes and different end uses. This webinar explains the major types of fans and common applications for which they are best suited. 60-minute webinar
Module 6: Losses in Elbows and Ducts
Understanding the dynamics of airflow is crucial for the design of efficient duct systems. This session will explore velocity-pressure calculation, loss coefficients, equivalent duct diameter, and turbulent flow. Learn practical techniques for calculating duct pressure loss and identifying efficient elbow design based on radius-to-diameter ratio and the impact of multiple elbows on pressure loss. Join us to enhance your understanding and optimize duct-system performance. 30-minute webinar
Module 7: Fan-System Controls
At a given rotational speed and fan pressure, centrifugal fans develop a constant volume of airflow. Because of uncertainties in the final layout and construction of ductwork, combined with the prospect of critical or changing process needs, many fans are selected to deliver more pressure and flow than what an industrial process or air-conditioning system requires. Some sort of control must then be employed to reduce the airflow to the desired level. In this self-guided course, you will explore common methods used to vary the flow capacity of a fan, such as speed control, outlet dampers, inlet dampers, and inlet vane control. Your knowledge of these methods will allow you to accurately estimate and compare the power among the different methods. With this skill, you can accurately predict the possible savings of changing to a more efficient method. Allow at least two hours for completing this course.
Module 8: Pressure Losses and Duct Systems
Losses in ductwork are only one aspect of the pressure a fan must overcome to perform successfully. In this webinar, the instructors will estimate losses in ductwork, introduce special considerations for estimating losses across filters and cooling coils, and demonstrate the ASHRAE tool for estimating losses in duct fittings. Losses for an entire system, including acceleration losses and hood losses, will be introduced. 60-minute webinar
Module 9: System Effect in Fan Systems
Sometimes, good fans end up being installed poorly, resulting in deficient fan performance. In this webinar, the instructors will describe system effect, explore situations that can cause system effect, and look at some analytical tools to quantify the impact on fan performance. 90-minute webinar
Module 10: Power and Compressibility of Fans
The fan-power law defines the fundamental engineering relationship between four key indicators of fan performance: fan flow rate, fan static (or total) pressure, fan power, and fan static (or total) efficiency. In this self-guided course, you will work with the elements of the fan-power-law equation and explore how they interact. You also will practice calculating compressibility factor and fan electrical and mechanical power. Allow at least 75 minutes for completing this course.
Module 11: Fan Affinity Laws Advanced
Building off the simplified affinity-laws course, this module explores the subtleties of analyzing the affinity laws with high-pressure (over 3000 Pa or 12 in. w.g.) systems. In high-pressure systems, compressibility factor must be calculated. Usually, when rotational speed or density changes, compressibility factor also changes. In this course, changes to compressibility factor are considered and a method from ANSI/AMCA Standard 210/ASHRAE Standard 51, Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for Certified Aerodynamic Performance Rating, for calculating compressibility factor is presented. Allow at least 50 minutes for completing this course.
Module 12: Certified Ratings and Fan Selection
In this session, the instructors discuss tips for selecting proper fan size, giving examples from manufacturers' selection programs. To achieve desired airflow and pressure rating without exceeding a power specification or allowable noise, the session goes over the importance of specifying an AMCA-rated fan and what it means when a fan is AMCA-rated. 90-minute webinar.
Fan and system curves are graphical tools used to analyze performance and understand a fan’s response in a particular system. This webinar defines the common language used to explain and discuss all aspects of fan performance. Also, it introduces the U.S. Department of Energy's MEASUR software tool and explains how it can be used to analyze fan systems. 70-minute webinar
Module 2: Pressure Considerations in Fan Systems
This session provides valuable insights into standard air calculations, the role of pressure in fan systems, identification of pressure sources and losses, and techniques for calculating velocity pressure. Whether you are involved in fan manufacturing, fan-system design, operation, or maintenance, this webinar will enhance your understanding of pressure dynamics and help you optimize the performance and efficiency of your fan systems. 30-minute webinar
Module 3: Fan Affinity Laws Simplified
The performance of a fan is defined by the flow, pressure, and power draw of the fan. The fan affinity laws (also called the fan laws, for short) are a set of interrelated equations that predict the performance of a fan under varying designs and conditions. In this self-guided course, you will apply a simplified set of affinity laws to predict fan-performance changes attributed to changes in rotational speed and changes in density compared with catalog conditions and predict changes in fan performance attributed to speed and density changes. Allow at least 45 minutes for completing this course.
Module 4: Motors
The motor is a key part of any fan system. This short self-guided course examines critical characteristics of NEMA motors to give you a foundation of knowledge for applying motors in fan, pump, and blower systems. Allow at least 45 minutes for completing this course.
Module 5: Centrifugal- and Axial-Fan Characteristics
Different styles and types of fans are designed to serve different purposes and different end uses. This webinar explains the major types of fans and common applications for which they are best suited. 60-minute webinar
Module 6: Losses in Elbows and Ducts
Understanding the dynamics of airflow is crucial for the design of efficient duct systems. This session will explore velocity-pressure calculation, loss coefficients, equivalent duct diameter, and turbulent flow. Learn practical techniques for calculating duct pressure loss and identifying efficient elbow design based on radius-to-diameter ratio and the impact of multiple elbows on pressure loss. Join us to enhance your understanding and optimize duct-system performance. 30-minute webinar
Module 7: Fan-System Controls
At a given rotational speed and fan pressure, centrifugal fans develop a constant volume of airflow. Because of uncertainties in the final layout and construction of ductwork, combined with the prospect of critical or changing process needs, many fans are selected to deliver more pressure and flow than what an industrial process or air-conditioning system requires. Some sort of control must then be employed to reduce the airflow to the desired level. In this self-guided course, you will explore common methods used to vary the flow capacity of a fan, such as speed control, outlet dampers, inlet dampers, and inlet vane control. Your knowledge of these methods will allow you to accurately estimate and compare the power among the different methods. With this skill, you can accurately predict the possible savings of changing to a more efficient method. Allow at least two hours for completing this course.
Module 8: Pressure Losses and Duct Systems
Losses in ductwork are only one aspect of the pressure a fan must overcome to perform successfully. In this webinar, the instructors will estimate losses in ductwork, introduce special considerations for estimating losses across filters and cooling coils, and demonstrate the ASHRAE tool for estimating losses in duct fittings. Losses for an entire system, including acceleration losses and hood losses, will be introduced. 60-minute webinar
Module 9: System Effect in Fan Systems
Sometimes, good fans end up being installed poorly, resulting in deficient fan performance. In this webinar, the instructors will describe system effect, explore situations that can cause system effect, and look at some analytical tools to quantify the impact on fan performance. 90-minute webinar
Module 10: Power and Compressibility of Fans
The fan-power law defines the fundamental engineering relationship between four key indicators of fan performance: fan flow rate, fan static (or total) pressure, fan power, and fan static (or total) efficiency. In this self-guided course, you will work with the elements of the fan-power-law equation and explore how they interact. You also will practice calculating compressibility factor and fan electrical and mechanical power. Allow at least 75 minutes for completing this course.
Module 11: Fan Affinity Laws Advanced
Building off the simplified affinity-laws course, this module explores the subtleties of analyzing the affinity laws with high-pressure (over 3000 Pa or 12 in. w.g.) systems. In high-pressure systems, compressibility factor must be calculated. Usually, when rotational speed or density changes, compressibility factor also changes. In this course, changes to compressibility factor are considered and a method from ANSI/AMCA Standard 210/ASHRAE Standard 51, Laboratory Methods of Testing Fans for Certified Aerodynamic Performance Rating, for calculating compressibility factor is presented. Allow at least 50 minutes for completing this course.
Module 12: Certified Ratings and Fan Selection
In this session, the instructors discuss tips for selecting proper fan size, giving examples from manufacturers' selection programs. To achieve desired airflow and pressure rating without exceeding a power specification or allowable noise, the session goes over the importance of specifying an AMCA-rated fan and what it means when a fan is AMCA-rated. 90-minute webinar.