AIR FLOW IN DUCTS

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

Shaharin Anwar Sulaiman

Duct design objectives
• Occupant comfort
• Proper air distribution
• Economical heating and cooling system
operation
• Economical duct installation
Supply duct systems
• Supply ducts deliver air to the spaces that are
to be conditioned.
• The two most common supply duct systems
for residences are:
• The trunk and branch system and
The radial system
SUPPLY DUCT CONFIGURATIONS
 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

It’s 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
(Static pressure regain)

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.