Fans can be divided into two main categories: axial and radial fans. There are certain fan types that are hybrids of the two, but generally all fan types can be divided into one of the above-mentioned categories.
Axial fans
Axial fans move air/gas by means of profiled rotating fan blades creating an aerodynamic lifting force. According to the laws of physics, however, this lifting force only creates a load on the impeller and it is the opposite force that we are interested in, namely the force that the blades impart to the air. It is this force that causes the air/gas to be supplied with energy and moved axially in the direction of the fan.
The supplied energy creates a pressure increase in the system and a volume flow.
Radial fans
Unlike axial fans, which create an aerodynamic lifting force, radial fans create a volume flow through centrifugal force.
A fan wheel of a radial fan can look different, but all wheels pull the air around the snail-shaped cover and then throw it out further in the system.
It may sound simple, but this technology can move air very efficiently and can provide higher pressure than axial fans.
Common to both fan types is that they add energy to the air or gas and thus create a movement of both volume and mass.
