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Fan Base and Isolation Selector

Run the Fan Base and Isolation Selector MicroSim Fullscreen

This sketch is built on the FanPedia MicroSim kit. To run it in the p5.js editor, first add the kit files fanpedia-sim.css, fanpedia-core.js and fanpedia-p5.js from ../shared-libs/ (or their published URLs under https://moroshek.github.io/FanTASTIC-textbook/sims/shared-libs/) to the editor's index.html, then paste ch22-fan-base-isolation-selector.js as the sketch.

About This MicroSim

Bases, isolators and mounting methods come down to one decision taken in order: does this fan need isolation, and what does the arrangement allow underneath it? The selector gives seven illustrative installations. For each one you choose one of five recommendations and then one of three justifications. A scenario is correct only when both match, so a lucky guess with the wrong reason does not count.

The five recommendations are Unitary base, Isolation base, Inertia base, Isolators directly under the fan and No added base or isolation.

Scenario Correct recommendation Rule (FanPedia)
Arrangement 7SI fan, slab on grade in a plant, no isolation requested Unitary base 7SI ships on a unitary base as standard; unitary bases are designed for use without isolators (pp. 131, 165)
Arrangement 1 belt-driven SWSI fan with motor, on a mezzanine above offices; isolation required Isolation base Common support for fan, motor and drive, usually on spring or RIS isolators (p. 131); neoprene pads are possible but uncommon (Twin City Fan engineering)
Spec reads "Arrangement 9F with springs under the fan" Isolation base 9F is not suitable for isolators directly under the fan; use Arrangement 1 with a separate isolation base (p. 166)
Long direct-drive Arrangement 8 fan on springs; alignment must hold Inertia base Used on longer direct-drive fans to mitigate assembly deflection (p. 132)
Commercial roof ventilator on a roof curb No added base or isolation Internally isolated; no other isolation is required (p. 133)
Arrangement 4 fan with a 30 in impeller; isolation wanted with no separate base Isolators directly under the fan Usually limited to impellers 36.5 in or less (p. 133)
Fan and detached inlet box on one base on a plant floor; no isolation Unitary base Fan and inlet box can share one base on the same plane (p. 143); without isolators it is a unitary base

Each scenario's two distractor justifications are drawn from the other six rows. The scenario order and the distractors are fixed by seed 22, so every learner sees the same sequence, and Start over repeats it. Each scenario allows two attempts. Mastery is 6 of 7 correct on the first attempt.

How to Use

  1. Read the scenario. The prompt asks: "What should this fan sit on?"
  2. Choose a recommendation with the buttons 1 to 5 (or keys 1-5), then a justification with Reason A, B or C (or keys A-C). The justifications are written out in the drawing as cards A, B and C.
  3. Press Submit (or Enter). Feedback:
  4. both right: "Correct: ."
  5. wrong recommendation on the 9F or 30 in impeller scenarios: "Check the arrangement and impeller size against the mounting rules first."
  6. wrong recommendation otherwise: "Ask whether isolation is needed, then what the arrangement allows."
  7. right recommendation, wrong justification: "Right choice, wrong reason. Which FanPedia rule decides this case?" After a wrong first attempt you choose again. After a second wrong attempt the answer and its justification are shown and the scenario counts as missed.
  8. Press Next scenario. After scenario 7, See summary lists every scenario with your first answer and the correct one, the first-attempt score and the mastery line. On narrow screens the summary has two pages; press Scenarios 5-7 and Scenarios 1-4 to switch.
  9. Press Start over to reset all seven scenarios and the score.

Keyboard: keys 1-5 choose the recommendation and A-C the justification; once both are chosen, Submit takes focus and Enter submits; Enter again goes to the next scenario. Tab reaches every button.

Data label: "Illustrative scenarios · Rules: FanPedia pp. 131-133, 143, 165, 166", shown at the bottom left of the drawing.

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

<iframe src="https://moroshek.github.io/FanTASTIC-textbook/sims/ch22-fan-base-isolation-selector/main.html"
        height="657px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Learning Objective

The learner will recommend a base or mounting for a described fan installation and justify it with the FanPedia rule that governs the case, with at least 6 of 7 scenarios correct on the first attempt (Bloom: Evaluate, verb: recommend).

Audience

Adult professional development: new application engineers, sales staff, representatives and facilities staff.

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Unitary, isolation and inertia bases
  • Isolator mounting methods and internally isolated fans
  • Flexible connectors (Chapter 19)
  • Arrangements 1, 7SI, 8 and 9F (Chapter 11)

Defined in Chapter 22.

Activities

  1. Recommend (8 min): Work all seven scenarios without notes, committing the recommendation and the reason together.
  2. Review (3 min): In the summary, read the rule for every scenario that was not correct on the first attempt.
  3. Discuss (3 min): Why is the 9F specification answered with an isolation base and not with springs? Why does the roof ventilator need nothing added?

Common Misconceptions Addressed

  • Every fan needs isolators: the 7SI slab, roof ventilator and inlet box scenarios need none.
  • Isolators can go under any arrangement: the 9F scenario cannot take them under the fan.
  • A unitary base can be set on springs: unitary bases are designed for use without isolators.
  • An internally isolated roof ventilator needs external isolators: it needs no other isolation.

Assessment

  • Score line "n of 7 first-attempt correct"; the summary shows "First-attempt score: n of 7" with "Mastery reached (6 of 7 needed)." or "Mastery needs 6 of 7 on the first attempt."
  • Follow-up: an Arrangement 3F SWSI fan must be isolated. What do you recommend, and why?

References

  1. FanPedia: The Fan & Blower Encyclopedia - Twin City Fan. Base types and mounting methods pp. 131-133, inlet box mounting planes p. 143, Arrangement 7SI p. 165, Arrangement 9F p. 166.
  2. FanPedia (PDF edition) - Twin City Fan, the printable edition with the same page numbers.
  3. Chapter 22: Fan Bases and Vibration Isolation - the chapter section this sim belongs to.