2/16/2024

Air-Duct Design

FIGURE: Schematic layout of an air-duct system.

1
 2/16/2024

DUCT SYSTEM TYPES

The supply and return duct systems may be categorized with respect to the
velocity and pressure of the air within the duct.
Conventional or low velocity systems would have main duct velocities up
to about 10 m/s (2000 ft/min).
The use of a high-velocity flow system, in which the main duct velocities
are as high as 30 m/s (6,000 ft/min), permits the use of a smaller duct for a
given air flow.
High velocities in ducts result not only in greater pressure losses in
systems but also in greater noise levels.
A low-velocity duct system will generally have a pressure loss of less than
1.23 Pa/m (0.15 in. water gauge per 100 ft), where as high-velocity
systems may have pressure losses up to about 5.7 Pa/m (0.7 in. water
gauge per 100 ft).
3

Individual duct system

central fan discharges into a plenum chamber from which individual ducts lead to each zone.
ADV:
Permits centralization of individual zone reheat coils

2
 2/16/2024

Trunk and branch duct system

main trunk carries total air supply which is split up & taken by individual branch ducts to each zone.
1. less duct work
2. less fan power

Duct system with no recirculation

all air drawn though ir conditioning system is outside air
hospital, operation theatre

3
 2/16/2024

Duct system with recirculation with zone damper:

some conditioned air that would otherwise be exhausted is recirculated.
Air is passed through some return ductts & mixed with some outside air which is drawn in for
ventilation purpose. Mixed air is then passed though air treatment plant AHU.

Recirculation of maximum quantity of air consistant with ventilation requirement is economical,

it is most common in comfort conditioning app.

System with zone reheaters, recirculation and bypass

Central bypass of recirculated air round AC plant is a useful method of
controlling the air conditions leaving the central system.

4
 2/16/2024

Losses in duct systems

Conditioned air supplied by the AHU travels the entire system
it encounters pressure losses at every component of the air-
conditioning system-duct length and duct fittings.
Figure gives an example of the losses in such a system due to
the components and duct length.
Computing the losses is necessary for proper selection and
sizing of the fan.

10

5
 2/16/2024

11

Losses in fttings
In addition to the duct sections, a duct system comprises various
fittings such as tees, elbows, bends, transition pieces, etc. as shown
in Figure.

12

6
 2/16/2024

Figure shows air flow through typical duct fittings like tee and
transition pieces.

13

DUCT DESIGN METHODS

There are a number of duct design methods for air-
conditioning systems as listed below
 Equal-friction method
 Static-regain method
 T-method
 Velocity reduction method
 Balanced-pressure method

14

7
 2/16/2024

Equal-friction method

This design method is widely used for low-velocity duct

systems.
In this method the ducts are sized so as to cause equal pressure
losses per unit length of duct.
After the ducts are sized and the pressure losses of the ducts and
fittings are calculated, the total losses in each duct run are
determined.
The differences in pressure losses between duct runs must be
compensated by damping those runs with lower losses.
15

EXAMPLE
An air conditioner supplies air to three rooms in a small office
premises. The schematic layout of the duct system and the volume
flow rate to each room is shown in Figure. The length of each duct-
segment is tabulated in Table.

16

8
 2/16/2024

a)Size the duct system shown in Figure using the equal- friction
method recommended for low-pressure duct network. The ducts
shall be of standard round sections with diameters in increments of
25 mm. The air velocity in the first section is not to exceed 8 m/s.

b) Estimate the static pressure in the index run of the duct network
and indicate the amount of dampering in the other branches to
balance the flow. Consider a pressure drop of 25 Pa at each of the
outlet grilles at D, E and F. In the calculation, consider the
resistance due to the elbow and Tee as 10 Pa and 15 Pa respectively.

17

Duct Losses at various Section

18

9
 2/16/2024

The index run is A-B-C-D-E with loss of 91.45 Pa.

Dampering to be added to in the branch C-G=(91.45-

84.15) = 7.30 Pa and in D-H = (91.45- 83.40)= 8.05pa

19

20

10
 2/16/2024

EXAMPLE
A packaged air conditioner serves four rooms in an apartment. The
schematic layout of the duct system, together with the volume flow
rate to each room, is shown in Figures.
The lengths of the duct sections are listed in Table.
(a) Size the duct system using the equal-friction method. The duct
shall be of standard round sections with diameters in increments of
25 mm. The air velocity in the first section is not to exceed 8 m,/s.
(b) Estimate the static pressure in the index run of the duct network.
There is a pressure drop of 25 Pa at each of the outlet grilles at E, F,
G and H. Assume the resistance due to the fittings as one-fourth that
of the duct length. 21

22

11
 2/16/2024

23

Solution
Plotting the initial velocity of 8 m/s and flow rate of 3000
liters/s the point O is located-on the friction loss chart.

At O a horizontal line is drawn that represents the duct

friction loss of 0.9 Pa/m which will remain constant for air
flow in all the sections.

The corresponding duct size of 675 mm is obtained from

the same chart.

24

12
 2/16/2024

Duct Losses at various Section

25

26

13
 2/16/2024

The index run is A-B-G-D-E.

The total friction loss due to duct length is 16.2 Pa and
that for the fittings is 16.2/4 = 4.05 Pa.
Total friction loss is, therefore, 16.2 + 4.05 = 20.25 Pa

Considering the pressure drop at the grille as 25 Pa the

total loss is 20.25 + 25.0 = 45.25 Pa

27

The circular equivalent of a rectangular duct is obtained as

Where a and b are the rectangular duct dimensions in any consistent

units. The circular equivalents of rectangular ducts for equal pressure
drops are shown in Table.
For aspect ratios ranging from 2 to 4, the frictional pressure loss for
oval ducts may treated in the same manner as rectangular ducts using
the circular equivalent of the oval duct defined by

28

14
 2/16/2024

29

30

15
 2/16/2024

In the flow through ducts, whenever the direction or velocity

changes the pressure loss is greater than that in the case of
uninterrupted flow.

The additional loss, in excess of the straight duct friction loss, is the
dynamic loss. The dynamic losses in duct systems may be caused
(a) by changes in direction due to elbows, bends, etc. or
(b) by changes in area or velocity due to Enlargement
contraction, suction or discharge openings, dampers, etc.

Dynamic losses in fittings are typically expressed in terms of the

velocity pressure since the losses vary as the square of the velocity,
i.e.

31

For loss coefficients for common fittings under different categories,

ASHRAE has compiled a database and the ASHRAE Handbook of
Fundamentals, 1989 is recommended to be referred to.

In the case of entries, discharges, elbows, diffusers, transitions, and

obstructions, the cross section at which the velocity pressure is
referenced can be upstream or downstream.

The total losses through the main and branch sections for converging
and diverging flow tees are:

where
Pv,c is the velocity pressure at the common section
Cc,s is the loss through the straight (main) path
32
Cc,b is the loss through the branch flow path

16
 2/16/2024

33

34

17