Dual Duct Dual Fan
Dual Duct Dual Fan
Dual-Duct/Dual-Fan
Systems
System Description
Dual-duct/dual-fan systems are a variation of the more
traditional dual-duct system. There is a dedicated cooling air
handling unit and a dedicated heating air handling unit.
Both units are variable air volume (VAV). Each unit is
ducted to mixing boxes for each zone.
The cooling air handling unit provides each zone mixing
box with conditioned air at a constant temperature
(typically 55F). The amount of air is varied to match the
heat gain from equipment, lights, exterior and people loads.
At part load conditions, the mixing box only supplies the
minimum amount of conditioned air necessary to each
zone, resulting in significant fan energy savings.
In heating mode, the mixing box reduces the cold air
volume to minimum and then modulates the hot air
volume to meet the space conditions.
As the mixing boxes modulate the hot and cold air, the duct
system static pressures change. The supply fans are then
modulated to maintain duct static pressure either by
discharge dampers (FC fans only), inlet guide vanes, or
variable frequency drives (VFDs).
Heating Requirements
The heating air handling unit supplies heating to the zones
as overhead heating In most cases perimeter baseboard
heating can be avoided, offering first-cost savings. The
heating unit is usually a recirculating unit only, without any
ventilation air. It is possible, with DDC controls, to vary the
supply air temperature of the heating air handling unit from
recirculating plenum air (no heat added) to maximum heat
required for the coldest zone.
Air Handling Systems
The cooling air handling unit can incorporate either air- or
water-side economizers to take advantage of free cooling
during mild weather. It may also have a preheat coil to
provide the proper supply air temperature in cold weather.
The air handling systems can be either blow-through or
draw-through. Blow-through units add the fan heat (usually
equivalent to 2-3F) before the cooling coil. The leaving air
temperature from the cooling coil then becomes the supply
air temperature. This provides the maximum temperature
rise between the cooling air and the space design
temperature. (The least amount of supply air will be
required.) Since the air is often fully saturated and moisture
may be an issue, blow-through should not be used with
final filters downstream of the coils.
Draw-through units typically require 10% more supply air
than blow-through systems for the same temperature off the
cooling coil. This will increase duct size and fan operating
cost. The fan heat will ensure the supply air is not fully
saturated, avoiding moisture issues.
IAQ Considerations
ASHRAE Standard 62.1-1999, Ventilation for Acceptable
Indoor Air Quality, provides a procedure for calculating the
minimum outdoor air volume for a system serving multiple
zones.
Ventilation air is introduced at the cooling air handling
unit. Two issues occur with VAV systems. First, as the total
supply air to a space is reduced, the percentage ventilation
air is also reduced. The central air handling system must be
able to maintain a fixed amount of outdoor air while
varying the supply air volume. Technology such as
DesignFlow can be very helpful here.
Secondly, different zones will require different percentages
of ventilation air, but the centralized air handling unit can
provide only one outdoor air ratio.
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System Pros
Only the required amount of supply air is used, so
fan power is not wasted.
There is no simultaneous heating and cooling. Heat
in plenum air can be used as reheat.
Fixed cold air supply temperature maintains
humidity control in space.
Air- or water-side economizers can be added easily
to the design to avoid mechanical cooling during
cooler weather.
The main air handling systems can accommodate
the ventilation air, avoiding dedicated ventilation
equipment.
Energy Considerations
Since the fan systems are VAV, there is significant fan power
savings. Reheat is in the form of recirculated air, which is
also efficient. Generally, the return air fan system has better
mechanical and motor efficiency than the small fans used in
series fan-powered VAV systems. The following are some
considerations outlined in ASHRAE Std 90.1-1999. The
numbers in brackets refer to Std. 90.1-1999 sections.
Energy efficiency tables for HVAC equipment (6.2.1).
Equipment must be scheduled off automatically during
unoccupied hours (6.2.3.1).
Demand Controlled Ventilation is required for systems
with at least 3,000 cfm of outdoor air and occupant
density greater than 100 people per 1,000 ft
2
(6.2.3.9).
Air- or water-side economizers are required. There are
several exceptions to this rule, particularly when dealing
with heat recovery (6.3.1).
Where humidification is required to maintain humidity
above 35F dewpoint, water-side economizers must be
used when economizers are required. Introducing large
amounts of cool, dry air while meeting the sensible
cooling load adds significantly to the humidifier load.
Process loads, including hospitals, are exempt (6.3.2.4).
For systems under 20,000 cfm, VAV is limited to 1.7
hp/1,000 cfm. For systems over 20,000 cfm, VAV
systems are limited to 1.5 hp/1,000 cfm (6.3.3.1).
30 hp and larger fan motors must use no more than 30%
of design power at 50% airflow (6.3.3.2).
Energy recovery is required for systems with at least
5,000 cfm supply air and a minimum of 70% outdoor
air. This is specifically aimed at schools and labs
(6.3.6.1).
A thorough explanation of the Standard is beyond the scope
of this document. The designer should have access to the
Standard and a complete understanding of its contents. The
ASHRAE 90.1-1999 Users Manual is also very helpful.
ASHRAE considers Standard 90.1-1999 a high-profile
standard and continuously updates it.
Typical Applications
Dual-duct/dual-fan systems are excellent for retrofitting
traditional dual-duct systems. Dual-duct systems use a large
of amount of fan energy and have simultaneous heating
cooling. Both problems can be solved with a dual-
duct/dual-fan system.
Common applications include:
Office Buildings
Institutional
System Cons
Two ducting systems and two air handling units add
to cost.
Introducing the correct volume of outdoor air into
the building is more difficult.
Providing each zone with the correct amount of
outdoor air is more difficult.
More sophisticated controls are required.
Large duct shafts from centralized air handling
systems are required.