Abstract: An inline fan wheel is disposed within a conduit for accelerating a flow in the conduit. The fan wheel has a backplate assembly. The backplate assembly has a backplate, presenting a substantially circular outer margin, and has a centrally disposed hub that is operably coupled to the backplate. The hub has a central bore defined therein. The bore is for sliding engagement with the axial shaft. A plurality of fan blades are radially equiangularly disposed with respect to the hub and are fixedly coupled to the backplate of the backplate assembly. Each of the plurality of fan blades has a generally rectangular planform and presents a leading edge, an opposed trailing edge and first and second side margins extending between the leading edge and the opposed trailing edge, the leading edge of each of the plurality of fan blades defining an acute included angle with the longitudinal axis of the conduit. A shroud defines a flow inlet that is operably coupled to and supported by the plurality of fan blades.