High Pressure Blowers
Axial fans and centrifugal blowers come in low, medium and high pressures, though centrifugal fans can generate much more pressure at the same rotational speed due to their creation of a "churning" perpendicular air flow, instead of the linear axial flow. Direct driven blowers compared to belt driven fans should always be able to generate a higher pressure because no power is wasted between the motor and the blower, as there are no intermediary devices. The power is transmitted directly from the motor's drive shaft to the blower without the use of a belt and pulleys, chains, or a gearbox. These high pressure blowers can operate at between 1,000 and 12,000 rpm.
In general, centrifugal fans are synonymous with high pressure blowers, as axial fans are best at moving large amounts of air at a comparatively lower pressure. Axial fans are less expensive to produce and can offer a high rate of airflow, but they optimally function in low-pressure environments, such as cooling systems, clean room aeration, parking garage exhaust ventilation and grain aeration. The more expensive centrifugal blowers operate at about four times the pressure of axial fans, as seen and felt with blowdryers, inflators and leaf blowers.