Sand Scavenge Fans

Q: Why are mixed flow fans used for sand scavenge applications?

Their short, broad aerofoil blades are far less sensitive to particle erosion than the long, thin blades of an axial fan, and their non-stall characteristic means they keep working reliably even as upstream filters block over time both critical in sand and dust environments.

Q: Can sand scavenge fans be supplied as part of a complete filtration system?

Yes. Beyond individual fan units, we design and supply full sand scavenge systems that incorporate two or more fans together with cyclonic filtration or inertial separators.

Q: What platforms use AMETEK Airtechnology's sand scavenge fans?

Helicopters and armoured fighting vehicles operating in desert and off-road environments, where sand ingestion threatens engines, avionics bays, and CBRN filters.

Q: How do I choose the right sand scavenge fan or system for my platform?

Contact our Business Development team early with your intake geometry, contamination profile, and duty point we'll align the fan or system configuration to your environment and qualification needs.

Sand scavenge fans and systems evacuate sand- and dust-laden air from helicopters and armoured vehicles, protecting engines, avionics bays, and CBRN filters from ingestion damage. Built on our Mixed Flow Fan technology, they resist wear by eroding at the blade's leading edge rather than the tip and keep generating stable airflow even as upstream filters gradually block. Available as a single fan or as a complete system with cyclonic filtration or inertial separators.

Product Details

Overview

AMETEK Airtechnology designs sand scavenge fans and systems that evacuate sand- and dust-laden air from helicopters and armoured fighting vehicles, protecting engines, avionics bays, and CBRN filters from ingestion damage.

For this application we typically specify a Mixed Flow Fan. Its thicker blade chord absorbs more wear, and its aerodynamic profile means the blade wears at the leading edge rather than the tip so performance holds up as the blade ages. Its non-stall characteristic matters just as much: a mixed flow fan keeps generating stable airflow even as upstream filters gradually block over time, which is exactly the failure mode a scavenge system has to tolerate.

Beyond individual fan units, we design and supply complete sand scavenge systems incorporating two or more fans together with cyclonic filtration or inertial separators engineered around your platform's intake geometry and contamination levels.

Specifications

Why Choose AMETEK Airtechnology

Wear-Resistant Design: Blade wear occurs at the leading edge rather than the tip, helping maintain airflow performance over time.
Non-Stall Performance: Continues delivering airflow even as upstream filters become progressively blocked.
Fan or Full System: Available as a standalone fan or as a complete solution with integrated cyclonic filtration.
Mission-Critical Protection: Protects engines, avionics bays, and CBRN filtration systems from sand and dust ingestion.
Battlefield Proven: Successfully deployed on helicopters and armored vehicles operating in desert and off-road environments.
Robust Construction: Lightweight yet durable design built for sustained operation in abrasive, dust-laden conditions.
Platform-Specific Design: Custom engineered to match your intake geometry and contamination profile.
Full Lifecycle Support: Comprehensive in-house capabilities covering design, qualification testing, and manufacturing.

Tailored Solutions for Every Platform

We partner with customers to define requirements and deliver tailored, fully integrated solutions

Wheeled and Tracked Vehicles

Sand Scavenge Fans for tracked and wheeled military vehicles

Overview