Lecture #12
19 Flow of Air in Ducts
Figure from: [Link]
THE DUCT SYSTEM:
Ø used in air heating and air cooling , is a collection of tubes
that distributes the heated or cooled air to the various rooms;
Ø it is a branching network of round or rectangular tubes —
generally constructed of sheet metal, fiberglass board, or a
flexible plastic- and-wire composite — located within the
walls, floors, and ceilings.
Ø this system can make a big difference in both the cost and the
effectiveness of heating and cooling;
Ø the duct system can have an important effect on health of the
occupants through the distribution of indoor air pollution.
Building Energy Codes Program
[Link]
ASHRAE Standard 55-2017 uses the PMV model to set the
requirements for indoor thermal conditions.
Most people will feel comfortable at room temperature, The recommended level of indoor humidity is in
colloquially a range of temperatures around 20 to 22 °C the range of 30-60% in air conditioned buildings
(68 to 72 °F)
Center for the Built Environment, University of California Berkeley
[Link]
Typical duct systems lose 25% to
40% of the heating or cooling
energy put out by the central
furnace, heat pump, or air
conditioner.
Duct systems lose energy in two ways: by
conduction of heat from the warm surface, and
air leakage through small cracks and seams
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
Low velocity
(500ftm,
2.4m/s)
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, by Mott, 7th Ed., Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9780132558921
TABLE 19.1 Units and assumed conditions for friction
charts
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, by Mott, 7th Ed., Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9780132558921
Friction
Loss in
Ducts
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, by Mott, 7th Ed., Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9780132558921
Friction
Loss in
Ducts
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, by Mott, 7th Ed., Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9780132558921
TABLE 19.2 Circular equivalent diameters of
rectangular ducts
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, by Mott, 7th Ed., Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9780132558921
Rectangular ducts
"
1.3 (𝑎𝑏)#
𝐷! = $
(𝑎 + 𝑏)%
Flat oval ducts
1.55 𝐴&.()"
𝐷! =
𝑊𝑃&.)"
𝜋𝑎!
𝐴= + 𝑎(𝑏 − 𝑎)
4
𝑊𝑃 = 𝜋𝑎 + 2 𝑏 − 𝑎
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, by Mott, 7th Ed., Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9780132558921
TABLE 19.3 Circular equivalent diameters of flat oval
ducts
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, by Mott, 7th Ed., Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9780132558921
Good for high velocity flows
[Link]
Good for low velocity flows
[Link]
[Link]/eq
uivalent-diameter-
d_443.html
Dynamic Losses
𝐻! = 𝐶(𝐻" ) If v in ft/min &
standard air
𝛾+ 𝑣 ) 𝑣 )
“Velocity
Pressure” 𝐻* = =
2𝑔𝛾, 4005
𝛾+ 𝑣 ) 𝑣 )
𝐻* = =
2𝑔 1.289
If v in m/s &
standard air
𝑃-.-+/ = 𝐻* + 𝑃0
TABLE 19.4 Examples of loss factors for duct fittings
Duct design:
1. Equal friction method: makes the pressure loss per foot of
duct length the same.
o Used for all types of systems
o If the layout is symmetrical with all runs from fan to
diffuser about the same length will produce a good
balanced design
o Gradual reduction of air velocity from fan to outlet will
reduce the noise issues
o For low velocity systems, the loss is between 0.08inH2O
and 0.16inH2O (0.8Pa/m to 1.5Pa/m)
[Link]
2. Static regain method: same static pressure at all junctions
o Used for high-velocity, constant flow systems having long
runs of duct with many takeoffs
o Method reduces the air velocity in the direction of flow
such that the increase in static pressure in each transition
just balances the pressure losses over the transition and
the following section
[Link]
3. Balanced capacity / “balanced pressure loss method”
o Good for constant flow systems where balance of air to
each space is critical
o Makes the loss in total pressure equal for all ducts runs
from fan to outlet when the required amount of air is
flowing through each run
o Usually each run have a different length
o Limitation: the use of equivalent lengths for fittings
[Link]
Equal friction method :
1. Generate a proposed layout:
a. Determine the air flow desired into each space
b. Specify the location of the fan
c. Specify the location of the outside air supply
d. Propose the layout of the ductwork for the intake duct
e. Propose the layout of the air delivery system to each space, including fittings (tees,
elbows, dampers, etc)
2. Find the total air flow for the intake duct and fan outlet
3. Specify the nominal friction loss
4. Specify the nominal flow velocity for each part of the system
a. For the intake duct and final runs to occupy spaces, use approximately 600ft/min
(3m/s) to 800ft/min
b. For main ducts away from occupy spaces, use approximately 1000 ft/min (5m/s) to
1200ft/min
5. Specify the size and shape of each part of the duct system
6. Compute the energy losses in the intake duct and in each
section of the delivery duct
7. Compute the total energy loss for each path from the fan
outlet to each delivery grille
8. Determine if the energy losses for all paths are reasonable
balanced (pressure drop from the fan to each outlet is
approximately equal)
9. If unbalanced, redesign the ductwork by reducing the
velocity in those ducts with high pressure drops
10. Find the pressure at fan inlet & outlet, and the total pressure
rise across fan
11. Specify the fan that will deliver the total air flow at this
pressure rise
12. Plot of chart performance in the duct for each path and
inspect for any unusual performance
- end -
