What is the difference between Axial and Centrifugal fans?

Let's start by explaining what each type of fan is and then we'll cover the key differences and considerations.

What is an axial fan?

Axial fans are often referred to as propeller fans. This is because an axial fan has a motor driven shaft with mounted skewed blades to pull air in and out parallel to the shaft. Axial fans are effective and efficient at moving volumes of air to ventilate small spaces however the airflow is low pressure.

Axial fans are best suited to short duct runs for example through an external wall. The longer the duct run, the less effective the air flow will be because it is moving at a low pressure. For more information about ducting speak with your installer. 

Xpelair make several types of 4 inch and 6 inch fans as well as a couple of larger 9 and 12 inch varieties. The axial fans made by Xpelair start with:

VX100 & VX150 ranges

DX100 & DX150 ranges

C4 & C6 ranges

CV4

GX range

WX range

PX range

RX range

What is a centrifugal fan?

Centrifugal fans have a motor driven hub which contains impellers that force air into the fan housing to push out through the air outlet. The air outlet is discharged at a 90 degree angle to the air intake.

Centrifugal fans pressurize air within the housing and produce a steady, high-pressure stream of air. As a result they are more effective at moving air over longer duct distances. For more information about ducting speak with your installer.

Xpelair have made several types of centrifugal fan over the years, the ranges are:

CF20TX

DX200

CF20T

DX400

CF40

What are the differences?

There are a number of differences which need to be considered when choosing between an axial and centrifugal fans.

Applicable Models:

VX Range – VX100, VX100T, VX100P, VX120, VX120T, VX150, VX150T

VX SP Range – VX100SP, VX100T-SP, VX100P-SP

DX Range – DX100, DX100B, DX100BHPT, DX100BHT, DX100BT, DX100HTA, DX100HTAP, DX100PC, DX100PIR, DX100T, DX100TCP, DX100H

Smooth Fan – XS100S, XS100T

Ripple Fan – XR100S, XR100T

DX Simply Silent Range – DX100BHTR, DX100BHTS, DX100BPR, DX100BPS, DX100BR, DX100BTS, DX100HPTR, DX100HPTS, DX100HTR, DX100HTS, DX100PR, DX100PS, DX100R, DX100S, DX100TR, DX100TS, DX100PIRR, DX100PIRS

Contour Simply Silent –C4S, C4R, C4SR, C4TS, C4TR, C4TSR, C4HTS, C4HTR, C4HTSR, C4PS, C4PR, C4PSR

Low Voltage Range – LV100, LV100T, LV100HTA, LV100HTAP, LV100B, LV100BHPT, LV100BHT, LV100BT, LV100HTA, LV100HTAP, LV100PC, LV100PIR, LV100H, LV100BHP, LV100HP

Simply Silent Low Voltage – LV100TS, SSLV100HPTS, SSLV100HPTR, SSLV100HTR, SSLV100HTS, SSLV100PIRR, SSLV100PIRS, SSLV100PS, SSLV100R, SSLV100S, SSLV100TR, SSLV100TS, 

Simply Silent Shower Fans (Illumi) – SSSFC100, SSISFC100

Airline – AL100, AL100T, ALL100, ALL100T

Simply Silent Constant Volume – CV4S, CV4R, CV4SR

Simply Silent Constant Volume Low Voltage – LVCV4R, LVCV4S, LVCV4SR

VX Range – VX150, VX150T

DX Simply Silent Range – DX150S, DX150TS, DX150PS, DX150HTS, DX150R, DX150TR, DX150PR, DX150HTR

GX Simply Silent Range – GX150PS, GX150R, GX150S, GX6R, GX6S

Contour Simply Silent – C6S, C6TS, C6PS, C6HTS

GX Range – GX6EC, GXC6EC, GX6EC2, GX6EC3, GX6EC3R, GX6EC3RF, GX6, GX6HT, GX6HT2, GX6T, GXC6EC, GXC6EC3, GXC6, GXC6T

Current Premier Centrifugal Range – CF20TX

Current Low Voltage Premier Centrifugal Range – LVCF20TX

Obsolete Premier Centrifugal Range – DX200, DX200T, CF20, CF20T, CF20W, CF20WT, DX180, DX180H, DX180T

Obsolete Low Voltage Premier Centrifugal Range – LVDX200T, LVCF20, LVCF20T, LVCF20W, LVCF20WT

Premier High Pressure Range – DX400DC, DX400TDC, DX400PCDC, CF40DC, CF40TDDC, CF40RSTDDC, CF40DCRSTD, DX400, CF40, DX400T, CF40DC, CF40RSTD, CF40TD, CF40TDDC, DX400PC, DX400RS, DX400T, 

PX Range – PX12, PX6

RX Range – RX12, RX6, RX9

WX Range – WX6EC, WX6ECT, WX9, WX12, WX6, WX6T

GX Range – GX9, GXC9, GX12