1

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

DUCT DESIGN
Equal friction method
The equal friction method of sizing ducts is often preferred because it is quite easy to use. The method can be summarized to 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Compute the necessary air flow volume (m3/h, cfm) in every room and branch of the system Use 1) to compute the total air volume (m3/h, cfm) in the main system Determine the maximum acceptable airflow velocity in the main duct Determine the static pressure drop in the main duct Use the static pressure drop for the main duct as a constant to determine the duct sizes throughout the distribution system Determine the total resistance in the duct system by multiplying the static resistance with the equivalent length of the longest run Compute balancing dampers

1. Compute the air volume in every room and branch Use the actual heat, cooling or air quality requirements for the rooms and calculate the necessary air volume - q. Summarize for each branch and accumulate. 2. Compute the total volume in the system Use 1) to summarize and accumulate the total volume - qtotal - in the system. Note! Be aware that maximum load conditions almost never occurs in all rooms at the same time. Avoid over-sizing the main system by multiplying the accumulated volume with a factor less than one (This is probably the hard part and for larger systems sophisticated computer-assisted indoor climate calculations are required).

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

3. Determine the maximum acceptable airflow velocity in the main ducts Select the maximum velocity in the main duct on basis of the application environment. To avoid disturbing noise levels - keep maximum velocities within experienced limits:

comfort systems - air velocity 4 to 7 m/s (13 to 23 ft/s) industrial systems - air velocity 8 to 12 m/s (26 to 40 ft/s) high speed systems - air velocity 10 to 18 m/s (33 to 60 ft/s)

Use the maximum velocity limits when selecting the size of the main duct. 4. Determine the static pressure drop in main duct Use a pressure drop table or similar to determine the static pressure drop in the main duct. 5. Determine the duct sizes throughout the system Use the static pressure drop determined in 4) as a constant to determine the ducts sizes throughout the system. Use the air volumes calculated in 1) for the calculation. 6. Determine the total resistance in the system Use the static pressure from 4) to calculate the pressure drop through the longest part of the duct system. Use the equivalent length which is

the actual length + additional lengths for bends, T's, inlets and outlets

7. Calculate balancing dampers Use the total resistance in 6) and the volume flow throughout the system to calculate necessary dampers and the theoretical pressure loss through the dampers. Note about the Equal Friction Method The equal friction method is straightforward and easy to use and gives an automatic reduction of the air flow velocities throughout the system. The reduced velocities are in general within the noise limits of the application environment. The method can increase the numbers of reductions compared to other methods, and often a poorer pressure balance in the system require more adjusting dampers. This may increase the system cost compared to other methods.

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

The design of the ductworks in ventilation systems are often done by using the

Velocity Method Constant Pressure Loss Method (or Equal Friction Method) Static Pressure Recovery Method

The Velocity Method Proper air flow velocities for the application considering the environment are selected. Sizes of ducts are then given by the continuity equation like: A = q / v (1) where A = duct cross sectional area (m2) q = air flow rate (m3/s) v= air speed (m/s) A proper velocity will depend on the application and the environment. The table below indicate commonly used velocity limits: Type of Duct Comfort Systems 4 - 7 m/s 3 - 5 m/s Industrial Systems 8 - 12 m/s 5 - 8 m/s High Speed Systems 10 - 18 m/s 6 - 12 m/s

Main ducts Main branch ducts Branch ducts

1 - 3 m/s

3 - 5 m/s

5 - 8 m/s

Be aware that high velocities close to outlets and inlets may generate unacceptable noise. The Constant Pressure Loss Method (or Equal Friction Loss Method) A proper speed is selected in the main duct close to the fan. The pressure loss in the main duct are then used as a template for the rest of the system. The pressure (or friction) loss is kept at a constant level throughout the system. The method gives an automatic velocity reduction through the system. The method

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

4 ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY may add more duct cross sectional changes and can increase the number of components in the system compared to other methods.

The Static Pressure Recovery Method With the static pressure recovery method the secondary and branch ducts are selected to achieve more or less the same static pressure in front of all outlets or inlets. The major advantage of the method are more common conditions for outlets and inlets. Unfortunate the method is complicated to use and therefore seldom used Air velocities in ducts should not exceed certain limits to avoid high pressure losses and unacceptable noise generation. The values below are common guidelines for some typical applications. Air Velocity Air Ducts m/s Combustion air ducts Air inlet to boiler room Warm air for house heating The major loss, or friction loss, in a circular duct in galvanized steel with turbulent flow can for imperial units be expressed p = (0.109136 q1.9) / de5.02 (1) where p = friction (head or pressure loss) (inches water gauge/100 ft of duct) de = equivalent duct diameter (inches) q = air volume flow - (cfm - cubic feet per minute) 12 - 20 1-3 ft/s 40 - 66 3.3 - 9.8

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

Equivalent diameter is the diameter of a circular duct

The equivalent diameter is the diameter of a circular duct or pipe that gives the same pressure loss as an equivalent rectangular duct or pipe.

The equivalent diameter of a rectangular tube or duct can be calculated as (Huebscher) de = 1.30 x ((a x b)0.625) / (a + b)0.25) (1) where de = equivalent diameter (mm, inches) a = length of major or minor side (mm, inches) b = length of minor or major side (mm, inches) Rectangular to Equivalent Circulate Duct Calculator The calculator below is based on formula (1). The formula is generic and any unit can be used.
100

Length side a - (mm, inches) Length side - b - (mm, inches)

100

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

Equivalent diameters for some common mm rectangular dimensions are shown in the table below:

Circular equivalent diameter - de (mm) Duct Duct side - b (mm) side -a mm 100 150 200 250 300 400 500 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 100 109 133 152 168 183 207 227 150 133 164 189 210 229 261 287 310 200 152 189 219 244 266 305 337 365 250 168 210 246 273 299 343 381 414 470 300 183 229 266 299 328 378 420 457 520 574 400 207 260 305 343 378 437 488 531 609 674 731 500 227 287 337 381 420 488 547 598 687 762 827 886 600 800 1000 1200 310 365 414 457 531 598 656 755 840 914 980 1041 414 470 520 609 687 755 875 976 1066 1146 1219 1286 517 574 674 762 840 976 1093 1196 1289 1373 1451 1523 620 731 827 914 1066 1196 1312 1416 1511 1598 1680

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

7 1400 1600 1800 2000

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY 781 886 980 1146 1289 1416 1530 1635 1732 1822 939 1041 1219 1373 1511 1635 1749 1854 1952 1096 1286 1451 1598 1732 1854 1968 2073 1523 1680 1822 1952 2073 2186

Equivalent diameters of some common inches rectangular ducts are shown in the table below: Equivalent diameter (inches) Length - b - (inches) 4 5 6 8 10 12 16

Length - a - (inches)

10

12

16

4.4 4.9 5.3 6.1

4.9 5.5 6 6.9 7.6

5.3 6 6.6 7.6 8.4 9.1

6.1 6.9 7.6 8.6 9.8 10.7 12.2 7.6 8.4 9.8 10.9 12 13.7 9.1 10.7 12 13.1 15.1 12.2 13.7 15.1 17.5

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

Oval Equivalent Diameter The equivalent diameter of a oval duct or tube can be calculated as (Heyt & Diaz) de = 1.55 A 0.625/P0.2 (2) where A = cross-sectional area oval duct (m2, in2) P = perimeter oval duct (m, inches)

The cross-sectional area of an oval duct can be expressed as A = ( b2/4) + b(a - b) (2a) where a = major dimension of the flat oval duct (m, in) b = minor dimension of the flat oval duct (m, in) The perimeter of an oval duct can be expressed as P = b + 2(a - b) (2b)

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

Hydraulic Diameter Note! Equivalent diameter is not the same as hydraulic diameter. The hydraulic diameter express the rate between the area section of the duct or tube, and the wetted perimeter of the duct or tube. Hydraulic diameter is used to determine if the flow is laminar or turbulent and to calculate the pressure loss. Ventilation system may be designed more or less according the following procedure: 1. Calculate heat or cooling load, including sensible and latent heat 2. Calculate necessary air shifts according the number of occupants and their activity or any other special process in the rooms 3. Calculate air supply temperature 4. Calculate circulated mass of air 5. Calculate temperature loss in ducts 6. Calculate the outputs of components - heaters, coolers, washers, humidifiers 7. Calculate boiler or heater size 8. Design and calculate the duct system 1. Calculate Heat and Cooling Loads Calculate heat and cooling loads by

Calculating indoor heat or cooling loads Calculating surrounding heat or cooling loads

2. Calculate Air Shifts according the Occupants or any Processes Calculate the pollution created by persons and their activity and processes. 3. Calculate Air Supply Temperature Calculate air supply temperature. Common guidelines:

For heating, 38 - 50oC (100-120oF) may be suitable For cooling where the inlets are near occupied zones 6 - 8oC (10-15oF) below room temperature For cooling where high velocity diffusing jets are used 17oC (30 oF) below room temperature

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

10

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

4. Calculate Air Quantity Air Heating If air is used for heating, the needed air flow rate may be expressed as qh = Hh / cp (ts - tr) (1) where qh = volume of air for heating (m3/s) Hh =heat load (W) cp = specific heat capacity of air (J/kgK) ts = supply temperature (oC) tr = room temperature (oC) = density of air (kg/m3) Air Cooling If air is used for cooling, the needed air flow rate may be expressed as qc = Hc / cp (to - tr) (2) where qc = volume of airfor cooling (m3/s) Hc =cooling load (W) to = outlet temperature (oC) where to = tr if the air in the room is mixed Example - heating load: If the heat load is Hh = 0.400 kW, supply temperature ts = 30 oC and the room temperature tr = 22 oC, the air flow rate can be calculated as: qh = 0.4 (kW) / 1.2 (kg/m3) 1 (kJ/kg) (30 - 22)(oC) = 0.042 m3/s = 150 m3/h

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

11

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

Moisture If it is necessary to humidify the indoor air, the amount of supply air needed may be calculated as: qmh = Qh / (x2 - x1) (3) where qm = volume of air for humidifying (m3/s) Qh = moisture to be supplied (kg/s) = density of air (kg/m3) x2 = humidity of room air (kg/kg) x1 = humidity of supply air (kg/kg) Dehumidifying If it is necessary to dehumidify the indoor air, the amount of supply air needed may be calculated as: qmd = Qd / (x1 - x2) (4) where qmd = volume of air for dehumidifying (m3/s) Qd = moisture to be dehumified (kg/s) Example - humidifying If added moisture Qh = 0.003 kg/s, room humidity x1 = 0.001 kg/kg and supply air humidity x2 = 0.008 kg/kg, the amount of air can expressed as: qmh = 0.003 (kg/s) / 1.2 (kg/m3) (0.008 - 0.001) (kg/kg) = 0.36 m3/s Alternatively the air quantity is determined by the requirements of occupants or processes.

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

12

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

5. Temperature loss in ducts The heat loss from a duct can be expressed as: H = A k ( (t1 + t2) / (2 - tr) ) (5) where H = heat loss (W) A = area of duct walls(m2) t1 = initial temperature in duct (oC) t2 = final temperature in duct (oC) k = heat loss coefficient of duct walls (kW/m2 K) (5.68 10-3 for sheet metal ducts, 2.3 10-3 for insulated ducts) tr = surrounding room temperature (oC) The heat loss in the air flow can be expressed as: H = q c p (t1 - t2) (5b) where q = mass of air flowing (kg/s) cp = specific heat capacity of air (kJ/kg K) (5) and (5b) can be combined to H = A k ((t1 + t2) / 2 - tr)) = q c p (t1 - t2) (5c) For large temperature drops should logarithmic mean temperatures be used. 6. Selecting Heaters, Washers, Humidifiers and Coolers Units as heaters, filters etc. must on basis of of air quantity and capacity be selected from manufactures catalogues.

7. Boiler The boiler rating can be expressed as: B = H (1 + x) (6) where B = boiler rating (kW) H = total heat load of all heater units in system (kW) x = margin for heating up the system, it is common to use values 0.1 to 0.2 Boiler with correct rating must be selected from manufacturer catalogues.

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

13

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

8. Sizing Ducts Air speed in a duct can be expressed as: v = Q / A (7) where v = air velocity (m/s) Q = air volume (m3/s) A = cross section of duct (m2) Overall pressure loss in ducts can be expressed as: dpt = dpf + dps + dpc (8) where dpt = total pressure loss in system (Pa, N/m2) dpf = major pressure loss in ducts due to friction (Pa, N/m2) dps = minor pressure loss in fittings, bends etc. (Pa, N/m2) dpc = minor pressure loss in components as filters, heaters etc. (Pa, N/m2) Major pressure loss in ducts due to friction can be expressed as dpf = R l (9) where R = duct friction resistance per unit length (Pa, N/m2 per m duct) l = lengthof duct (m) Duct friction resistance per unit length can be expressed as R = / dh ( v2 / 2) (10) where R = pressure loss (Pa, N/m2) = friction coefficient dh = hydraulic diameter (m) The table below can be used to compare equivalent diameters for rectangular and round circular ducts. The table is based on the ducts friction loss formula.

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

14

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

The rectangular dimensions and the air flow volume are adapted to the equal friction loss method of sizing ventilation duct systems. An approximate friction loss of 0.8 inches water gauge per 100 ft duct (6.6 Pa/m) is used.

Air flow Equivalent -qDiameter Rectangular (Cubic Feet Round Duct Duct Sizes per Minute, Sizes (Inches) cfm) - de (m3/s) (Inches) 200 (0.09) 300 (0.14) 3x7 4x5 4x7 5x6 4x9 5x7 6x6 4.9 4.9 5.7 6.0 6.4 6.4 6.6

Velocity -v(ft/min) (m/s)

Friction Loss (inches water gauge per 100 ft duct)

1527 (7.8) 1635 (8.3)

0.88

0.82

400 (0.19)

1736 (8.8)

0.80

500 (0.24)

6x7

7.1

1819 (9.2)

0.78

750 (0.35)

5 x 12 6 x 10 7x8 7 x 10 8x9 8 x 10 9x9

8.3 8.4 8.2 9.1 9.3 9.8 9.8

1996 (10.1)

0.77

1000 (0.47) 1250 (0.59)

2166 (11) 2386 (12.1)

0.79

0.88

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

15 1500 (0.71) 8 x 12 10 x 10 8 x 14 9 x 12 10 x 11 8 x 15 10 x 12 10 x 14 12 x 12 10.7 10.9 11.5 11.3 11.5 11.8 12.0 12.9 13.1

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY 2358 (11.9) 0.77

1750 (0.83)

2469 (12.5)

0.78

2000 (0.94) 2500 (1.2) 3000 (1.4) 3500 (1.7) 4000 (1.9) 4500 (2.1)

2589 (13.2) 2712 (13.8) 2767 (14.1) 3010 (15.3) 2938 (14.9) 3068 (15.6)

0.81

0.8

12 x 14

14.1

0.75

12 x 15

14.6

0.84

10 x 22 14 x 15 12 x 19 14 x 16 10 x 25 12 x 20 15 x 16 14 x 20 15 x 18 12 x 26 16 x 20 12 x 30 14 x 25

15.9 15.8 16.4 16.4 16.9 16.8 16.9 18.2 17.9 19.0 19.5 20.2 20.2

0.73

0.76

5000 (2.4)

3248 (16.5)

0.82

6000 (2.8) 7000 (3.3) 8000 (3.8)

3358 (17.1) 3482 (17.7) 3595 (18.3)

0.8

0.8

0.8

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

16 9000 (4.3) 12 x 34 15 x 25 12 x 36 16 x 25 20 x 20 12 x 45 16 x 30 20 x 24 16 x 36 18 x 30 23 x 25 16 x 40 20 x 32 25 x 25 20 x 35 25 x 28 16 x 55 20 x 43 25 x 38 20 x 50 30 x 32 20 x 55 30 x 35 25 x 48 30 x 40 21.4 21.0 21.9 21.7 21.9 24.1 23.7 23.9 24.7 25.2 26.2 27.0 27.5 27.3 28.6 28.9 31.0 31.5 33.5 33.7 33.9 35.2 35.4 37.4 37.8

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY 3671 (18.6) 0.78

10000 (4.7)

3858 (19.6)

0.83

12500 (5.9)

4012 (20.4)

0.8

15000 (7.1)

4331 (22)

0.87

17500 (8.3)

4337 (22)

0.79

20000 (9.4)

4483 (22.8)

0.79

25000 (11.8)

4709 (23.9)

0.78

30000 (14.2) 35000 (16.5) 40000 (18.9) 45000 (21.2) 50000

4815 (24.5) 5179 (26.3) 5243 (26.6) 5397 (27.4) 5222

0.74

0.81

0.77

32 x 40

39.1

0.77

32 x 45

41.3

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

17 (23.6) 35 x 40 40.9

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY (26

Imperial Units The velocity of air in a ventilation duct can be expressed in imperial units like vi = qi / Ai = 576 qi / ( di2) = 144 qi / (ai bi) (1) where vi = air velocity (ft/min) qi = air flow (cfm) Ai = area of duct (square feet) di = diameter of duct (inches) ai = width of duct (inches) bi = width of duct (inches)

Imperial Units Air Flow Velocity Calculator Air velocity can be calculated with the calculator below. Add air volume - q - and diameter - d - (or length a and b).
1000

Air volume - qi - (cfm) Diameter - di - (inches) - or alternatively Length side - ai - (inches) Length side - bi - (inches)

12

SI - Units Air velocity in a duct can alternatively be expressed in SI units like vm = qm / A m = 4 qm / ( dm2) = qm / (am bm) (2) where vm = air velocity (m/s) qm = air flow (m3/s) Am = area of duct (m2) dm = diameter of duct (m) am = width of duct (m)

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com

18 bm = width of duct (m)

ENG . KHALED AL- OSSAILY

SI Units Air Flow Velocity Calculator Air velocity can be calculated with the calculator below. Add air volume - q - and diameter - d - (or length a and b).
1

Air volume - qm - (m3/s) Diameter - dm - (m) - or alternatively Length side - am - (m) Length side - bm - (m)

0.5

e-mail: khaledossaily@yahoo.com