The article is devoted to the development of a special simulation bench installation for studying the quality of the centrifugal fan used in the suction -blower pneumatic transport system of modern vertical -spindle cotton pickers. The principle of operation of a production structure of a pneumatic transport system with a lateral elliptical inlet of the fan casing is described based on a known technical solution. In order to determine the optimal location of the lateral elliptical suction channel of the fan casing, a stand was created that includes a centrifugal fan mounted on a frame and receiving movement by means of a belt drive from an electric motor. Four different positions of the ellipsoidal inlet and one central side connection of the air intake to the fan casing were tested on the bench. Based on the experiments carried out using a given amount of transported cotton, the performance of the fan was determined with the least damage to the seeds.