World Journal of Engineering Research and Technology

S. O. Odey* and O. O. Okon

ABSTRACT

Gmalina arborea, Zebrawood and Plywood were utilized in the design, fabrication, replacement of component parts and testing of fan. Plywood, Gmalina arborea and Zebrawood were used for the construction of the blades, fan’s root plate cover, stand and base respectively. The four blade sizes of diameters, 240 mm, 242.5 mm, 247.5 mm, and 282.5 mm were each coupled to the fan Hub and then mounted on the rotating shaft and tested. The various fabricated parts of the fan were coupled. The fan was tested for velocity, airflow and efficiency. Digital Anemometer was used in taking readings. Correlation and regression analysis were carried out on the data. Results showed that blades with the diameters of 240 mm, 242.5 mm, 247.5 mm, and 282.5 mm produced an average airflow of 3.65 cms, 3.24 cms, 3.94 cms and 4.41 cms respectively. Comparing the wooden fan blade of 282.5 mm diameter with conventional plastic/metal fan blade of same size showed that the velocities were 4.30 m/s and 4.64 m/s respectively, with airflow of 4.41 cms and 4.77 cms respectively, with efficiencies of 89% and 90% respectively. Fan velocity and airflow had positive correlation with blade area and negative correlation with density of blade. Velocity and airflow of 0.748 and 0.815 respectively resulted when the density was 0.560. While velocity and airflow of -0.710 and -0.750 respectively were realized when the density was -0.372. Regression equation with coefficient of linearity, R2 of 0.999 was obtained, showing effectiveness of wood as engineering material in fans production.

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