This paper reviews modelling and interpretation advances of industrial fan stall phenomena, related stall detection methods, and control technologies. Competing theories have helped engineers refine fan stability and control technology. With the development of these theories, three major issues have emerged. In this paper, we first consider the interplay between aerodynamic perturbations and instability inception. An understanding of the key physical phenomena that occurs with stall inception is critical to alleviate stall by design or through active or passive control methods. We then review the use of passive and active control strategies to improve fan stability. Whilst historically compressor design engineers have used passive control techniques, recent technologies have prompted them to install high-response stall detection and control systems that provide industrial fan designers with new insight into how they may detect and control stall. Finally, the paper reviews the methods and prospects for early stall detection to complement control systems with a warning capability. Engineers may use an effective real-time stall warning system to extend a fan’s operating range by allowing it to operate safely at a reduced stall margin. This may also enable the fan to operate in service at a more efficient point on its characteristic. 1. Introduction When a single fan operates in isolation the unstable aerodynamic condition, which we refer to as “stall” occurs at low flow rates. This type of stall varies according to fan type but is most severe in axial fans, forward-curved centrifugal fans, and backward-inclined centrifugal fans [1]. Fan stall occurs as the fan reaches its stable operating range limit. This happens when the pressure rise across a fan increases to the fan’s pressure developing limit and the flow velocity though the fan reduces to the point at which it first falls to zero and then reverses. As the flow through a fan reverses, it separates from the fan blades with the turbulence that occurs with the separated flow buffeting the fan blades. This aerodynamic buffeting induces an increase in unsteady stress within the blades that can result in mechanical failure. As a fan approaches stall, the separated flow initially occurs with one blade passage. Stall in one blade passage increases the aerodynamic blade loading on the adjacent blade passage, with a consequence that the “stall cell” moves to the next blade passage. This results in a cascading effect as a stall cell jumps from blade passage to blade passage. The shape of and distance between fan
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