Basics Definitions of Rotating Equipment

Fan is a gas pump with relatively low pressure rise and high flow rate. Examples include ceiling fans, house fans, and propellers.

Blower is a gas pump with relatively moderate to high pressure rise and moderate to high flow rate. Examples include centrifugal blowers and squirrel cage blowers in automobile ventilation systems, furnaces, and leaf blowers.

Compressor is a gas pump designed to deliver a very high pressure rise, typically at low to moderate flow rates. Examples include air compressors that run pneumatic tools and inflate tires at automobile service stations, and refrigerant compressors used in heat pumps, refrigerators, and air conditioners.

Pump is a device which adds energy to a fluid, resulting in an increase in fluid pressure, not necessarily an increase of fluid speed across the pump.

Turbine is a device which extracts energy from a fluid, resulting in a decrease of fluid pressure, not necessarily a decrease of fluid speed across the turbine.