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AIR FLOW IN DUCTS

Now that you can size equipment, the next task would be to design the air distribution system.

Shaharin Anwar Sulaiman


Content

Friction losses in:


round ducts
rectangular ducts (aspect ratio)
inlet / outlet of fans
fittings

Duct sizing methods:


Equal Friction Method
Static Regain Method
FRICTION LOSSES FROM AIR
FLOW IN DUCTS
Like piping, for convenience pressure
loss due to friction for air flow is
available in a chart (Fig. 8.21).
Chart is however meant for straight
round duct.
The chart assumes clean galvanised
steel material with about 40 joints per
100 ft, with air at standard conditions.
FRICTION LOSSES FROM AIR
FLOW IN DUCTS

See Fig. 8.21

Its quite similar to


Fig. 8.13, 8.14, 8.15
used for piping
EQUIVALENT
ROUND
DUCT SIZES

For rectangular duct, need to do a conversion by referring to the chart for equivalent round duct
sizes.
EQUIVALENT
ROUND
DUCT SIZES

For rectangular duct,


need to do a conversion
by referring to the chart
for equivalent round
duct sizes.

Can also use ductulator.


FRICTION LOSSES FROM AIR
FLOW IN DUCTS
Example-1:
A 10 diameter round galvanised duct 200 long has
150 cfm of air flowing through it. What is the pressure
loss due to friction? What is the air velocity in the
duct?

Refer to Fig. 8.21:


At 150 cfm and 10 in diameter, the friction loss is 0.015
ft. w per 100 feet. Therefore for 200 ft pipe:
Hf = 0.015/100 x 200 = 0.03 ft.w

Velocity = ?
FRICTION LOSSES FROM AIR
FLOW IN DUCTS
Example-2:
If the previous duct were to be replaced with a
rectangular type, what would be the size if the
maximum duct height is limited to 8 ?

Refer to Fig. 8.23:


Let the vertical scale at 8, then the horizontal ones
read 10.8. Square CS cannot be obtained.

Therefore size is 8 x 10.8


ASPECT RATIO

It may be thought that equivalent round duct will have the


same cross-sectional area as the rectangular duct for the
same friction loss.
However, actually for same friction loss, rectangular duct
will have greater cross-sectional area.

Because of the rectangle shape that has greater ratio of


surface to cross-section, the flow experiences more friction.
This is related to Aspect Ratio (AR).
Aspect Ratio (AR) is the ratio of the two adjacent sides -
height over width or vice versa.
ASPECT RATIO

The higher the aspect ratio, the worse the friction loss.
As a general rule, the AR of rectangular ducts should be
kept as low as possible to minimise friction losses and
save energy.
Higher AR also means more
material for ducting.
The best option is to have
square duct.
But that is not always possible
due to limited ceiling space.
DUCT FITTINGS

Like in pipes, pressure loss also occurs


in duct fittings.
Duct fittings could be elbow, tee,
transition, and dampers.
Similar to piping system, the equivalent
length could be used.
Another option is the use of loss
coefficient method.
DUCT FITTINGS

For loss coefficient method, the


following equation is used:
2
V
H f C Hv C
4000
The values for loss coefficients can be
found in Table 8.4 - 8.8.
DUCT FITTINGS

Example 8.22 & 8.23:


own reading
Notice that answers are not accurately
written. Hf = 0.035 in both examples.
DUCT FITTINGS

Example 8.23
also shows the SPR

SPR: When velocity decrease, due to change in


ducting size, there will be an increase in the
static pressure
PRESSURE LOSS AT
FAN INLET & OUTLET

System Effect Loss.

Own reading
(Sec. 8.14)
DUCT SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS

In piping system, the pressure loss


must be calculated to properly size
the pump.

Likewise, in duct, the duct pressure


losses must be determined to
identify the proper fan capacity.
DUCT SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS

System total pressure loss

the total pressure loss through


the duct path that has the
largest pressure losses.700cfm 300
cfm

Fan

500
cfm
DUCT SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS

In analysing duct pressure losses, total pressure


loss is preferred to static pressure loss.
It gives clearer picture of the total pressure
available at any point in the duct.

Identification of total pressure loss is quite similar


to the piping system (fluid mechs); i.e. everything
must be included, including the filter.
Go through examples 8.25 & 8.26.
DUCT DESIGN METHOD

If ceiling space is very limited, an


option is to use small ducts with high
air velocity. But this leads to high
friction and fan operating costs.
DUCT DESIGN METHOD

Duct design can be classified


into two groups:

Low Velocity
High Velocity
Relate this with Q = VA
DUCT DESIGN METHOD

Low Velocity Ducting


The air velocity in this group is low.
Typical range of design equal
friction loss rates are from 0.08 to
0.15 in.w per 100 ft of duct
Refer Table 8.11 for suggested velocities.
DUCT DESIGN METHOD
Recommendations within Low Velocity System
DUCT DESIGN METHOD

High Velocity Ducting


The air velocity in this group is high.
Normally intended to reduce the
duct size, due to space limitation.
This type is generally costly.
DUCT DESIGN METHOD

High Velocity Ducting


High velocity ducting is related to
noise, which must be treated by using
thicker or internal insulation or special
sound attenuation system (silencer).
The duct must also be able to
withstand high pressure.
DUCT DESIGN METHOD

Two available methods:


Equal Friction Method
Static Regain Method
EQUAL FRICTION METHOD

The same value friction loss


rate per length of duct is
used to size each section of
duct in the system.
This method is the simplest and the most popular.
EQUAL FRICTION METHOD

A problem with equal friction


method is that the outlet
nearest to the fan may be
over-pressured or too much
draft. Need balancing using
damper quite difficult.
EQUAL FRICTION METHOD

Refer to Example 8.27


STATIC REGAIN METHOD

This method is widely used for high


velocity systems.
The concept is to have friction loss
equals to SPR in each section.
An initial velocity in the main duct
leaving the fan is selected, in the range
of 2500 to 4000 fpm.
STATIC REGAIN METHOD

The velocities in each successive duct


section is reduced to result in SPR that
is enough to overcome the friction loss.

When, SPR = friction loss,


the static pressure in each section will
be the same, thus pressure is almost
balanced everywhere.
REFER EXAMPLE 8.28
STATIC REGAIN METHOD
DISADVANTAGES

Usually ducting using static


regain method is bigger than if
using equal friction method.
Static regain method is tedious
to calculate manually.
END

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