Equipment Core Role Application Scenario Blower To force fresh air or process gas into the system - To provide oxygen for plating tanks (e.g. acid copper plating requires air agitation) - Maintains positive pressure in the workshop and prevents the entry of external contaminants Induced draft fan Extracts exhaust gases, acid mist or harmful gases from the system - Removes acid mist from plating ba
Difference between blower and induced draft fan in electroplating production
Author: Robby
In electroplating production, the blower (supply fan) and induced draft fan (exhaust fan) are the core equipment of the ventilation system, but there is a significant difference between their roles, installation locations and working characteristics. The following is a detailed comparison of them:
1. Functional difference
Equipment Core Role Application Scenario
Blower To force fresh air or process gas into the system - To provide oxygen for plating tanks (e.g. acid copper plating requires air agitation)
- Maintains positive pressure in the workshop and prevents the entry of external contaminants
Induced draft fan Extracts exhaust gases, acid mist or harmful gases from the system - Removes acid mist from plating baths (e.g. chromic acid mist, cyanide exhaust)
- Maintain negative pressure in the workshop to prevent leakage of exhaust gases
2. Installation location and airflow direction
Typical Installation Location Airflow Direction
Airflow direction Air blower Workshop air inlet or bottom of plating tank Clean air is transported from outside to inside.
Induced draft fan Exhaust gas collection hood, end of exhaust duct Polluted gas is extracted from the inside to the outside.
3. Design and performance differences
Parameters Blowers Induced draft fan
Pressure characteristics Medium-low pressure (focus on air volume) Medium-high pressure (piping resistance to be overcome)
Corrosion protection requirements Low (exposure to air) Very high (exposure to acid mist, chemical vapours)
Sealability Ordinary Leak-proof (especially when handling toxic gases)
Common types Centrifugal, Roots fans Corrosion-resistant centrifugal, fibreglass fans
4. synergies in electroplating production
Balanced ventilation system:
Blowers and induced draught fans need to be matched in airflow to avoid over-pressurisation of the workshop (exhaust gas spillage) or negative pressure (external dust inhalation).
Example:
Chromium plating tank area: induced draft fan strongly extracts chromic acid mist (with tank side suction hood), blower supplements fresh air to dilute residual exhaust air.
Air mixing plating tank: air is drawn in from the bottom by the blower, and volatile gases are extracted from the top by the induced draft fan.
5. Key factors for selection
Equipment Selection Key Points
Blower - air volume should meet the process requirements (e.g. 0.5~1.5m³/min-m2 tank area for air agitation).
- Noise control
Induced draft fan - air volume > exhaust gas generation (usually 1.2 ~ 1.5 times the safety factor)
- Corrosion-resistant materials (e.g. PP/FRP)
- Explosion-proof design (when handling flammable exhaust gases)
6. Common problems and solutions
Problem 1: Insufficient pumping power of induced draft fan leads to acid mist diffusion
Countermeasures: Check for pipe blockage, blower impeller corrosion, or increase blower power.
Problem 2: Blower air supply disturbs induced air flow
Countermeasure: Optimise the position of the air inlet and outlet to avoid short-circuiting the airflow.
Summary
Blower is the ‘lungs of electroplating workshop’, responsible for inputting clean air;
The induced draft fan is the ‘kidney of the workshop’, responsible for discharging toxic waste gas.
The two need to be designed together to ensure compliance with environmental standards (e.g. GB 21900-2008 ‘Electroplating Pollutant Emission Standards’). In practice, the exhaust gas treatment equipment (e.g. spray tower, activated carbon adsorption) may be required to further purify the exhaust gas from the induced draft fan.