Which type of fan discharges air perpendicularly to its inlet?

The type of fan that discharges air perpendicularly to its inlet is a centrifugal fan. Centrifugal fans utilize a rotating impeller to increase the velocity of the airflow. As the air enters the fan's inlet, it is directed toward the center of the impeller and then forced outward through a discharge that is perpendicular to the direction of the intake. This design allows centrifugal fans to achieve high static pressures, making them suitable for applications that require significant airflow resistance, such as ventilation systems or air conditioning units.

In contrast, axial fans primarily move air parallel to the direction of the inlet. Blower fans can refer to various types of fans, but they generally do not discharge air perpendicularly either. Exhaust fans are typically designed to expel air or exhaust gases from an area but do not specifically denote a perpendicular discharge characteristic as centrifugal fans do.