6. Axial vs. Centrifugal: Choosing the Right Fan for Pressure and Flow The world of industrial air movement is dominated by two primary fan technologies: axial fan oem and centrifugal (or radial)[3]. The fundamental difference lies in the direction of airflow: axial fans move air parallel to the shaft, while centrifugal fans ventilation move air radially, exhausting it at a 90-degree angle to the intake[3][6]. This directional difference is the key to their performance profiles[6]. Axial fans are designed to be high-volume, low-pressure devices[2][6]. They excel at moving massive amounts of air against low system resistance, making them compact and highly energy-efficient for applications like general ventilation and direct cooling[12][19]. Their efficiency, however, drops sharply when static pressure requirements increase[6]. Centrifugal fans, on the other hand, are high-pressure devices[20].