Tube-axial fans are widely used in industrial applications because of their compactness, simplicity, and low cost. However, the achievable fan pressure rise is generally penalised by the absence of a straightener and diffuser, and the consequent waste of tangential and axial dynamic pressures at the fan outlet. The corresponding fan efficiency drop might not comply with stringent regulations like the European Directive for energy-related products. Thus, operation ranges of high efficiency need to be clearly defined in the preliminary design phase, especially when constraints on maximum size and/or rotational speed are imposed.

This paper proposes analytical formulas and charts to evaluate the efficiency of the tube-axial fan configuration (with or without tail-cone diffuser) when constraints on fan size and/or speed are additional design requirements. The analytical formulas and charts have been validated against experimental data.

On this basis, a preliminary design criterion is suggested for high-efficiency tube-axial fans featuring arbitrary vortex design blades of constant swirl type. The criterion is used to design a 315 mm low-to-medium pressure tube-axial fan that is able to operate at a constant aeraulic efficiency peak of approximately 0.6 for blade positioning angles in the range 20° to 30°.