Air Flow formulas

CFM = Duct area sq ft x Velocity Standard Air= 70F @ 29.92 HG

(Mercury)

1 cubic foot of standard air = 0.075 pounds 13.3 cubic feet of standard air =
1 pound

FAN LAWS:
Remember RPM is interchangeable for CFM
Note: new is the same as 1 and old is the same as 2

Fan Law #1
CFMnew RPMnew
=
CFMold RPMold
Formulas for problem solving
RPMnew CFMnew
CFM new = CFM old X RPM new = RPM old X
RPMold CFMold

Fan Law #2
2
CFMnew SPnew CFMnew SPnew
= Or =
CFMold SPold CFMold SPold
Formulas for problem solving
2
SPnew CFMnew
CFM new = CFM old x SP new =
SPold CFMold

Fan Law #3
3
CFMnew BHPnew CFMnew BHPnew
= or = 3
CFMold BHPold CFMold BHPold
Formulas for problem solving
3
BHPnew CFMnew
CFM new = CFM old X 3 BHP new = BHP old x
BHPold CFMold

Volume calculations:

CFMx60 AirChangesperhour
Air Changes Per Hour = CFM = Room Volume x
Cubicfeet 60

Calculating Outside Air quantities:

OAT =
(MATx100) (% RAxRAT ) O=Outside A=Air R=Return M=Mixed
%OA
T=Temperature

%OA =
(RAT MAT ) x 100
(RAT OAT )

MAT =
(%OAxOAT ) + (% RAxRAT )
100

RAT =
(MATx100) (%OAxOAT )
% RA

Velocity and Velocity with density correction:

For Standard Air (70F @ 29.92"): For Other Than Standard Air:

V
2
VP
VP = V = 1096.7
V = 4005 VP 4005 Den
530 BAR
Den = 0.075
460 + T 29.92

Airflow stations flow:

CFM
Cv = 2
CFM = CV P(inches) H 2o P(inches) H 2o
2
CFM
P(inches)H 2o =
Cv

Air Thermal calculations:

sp.ht = 0.24
13.3 cu.ft. = 1 lb.
0.075 lbs. = 1 cu.ft.
.075 lbs. x 60 min. = 4.5 lbs per hour
4.5 x 0.24 = 1.08

BTUH = M sp. ht . T
M = Mass Flow Rate in Lbs. per Hour. sp.ht. = Specific Heat in BTU/Lb. per Degree
F.

BTUH ( Sensible) Den

CFM = BTUH = CFM 108
. T
. T ( DryBulb)
108 0.075
BTUH
T =
. CFM
108

Den
BTUH (Total ) = CFM h 4.5
0.075 h = Enthalpy in BTU per Lb.
BTUH
= MBH
1000

Fan calculations:

CFM SP
FanBHP =
Static fan efficiency: 6356 SE

Circ.(in.) Ts( FPM ) 12

FanTipSpeedFPM = RPM Circ.(in.) =
12 RPM
Ts( FPM ) 12
RPM =
Circ.(in.)

( D d)2 d
BL = 2C + ( 157
. ( D + d )) + FanRPM = MotorRPM
4C D
D
MotorRPM = FanRPM
d

BL = Belt Length (in.) C = Distance between shaft centers (in.) D = Fan sheave dia.
(in.)
d = Motor Sheave dia. (in.)

ExsistingFanSheaveDia.
Max. (min.) Fan sheave Dia. =
Max.BHP
3
ExsistingEstimatedBHP

Max.BHP
Max. Motor sheave = Existing Motor sheave Dia. X 3
ExsistingEstimatedBHP
 RPMnew
New Motor Sheave size Diameter new = Dia.old x
RPMold
RPMold
New Fan Sheave size Diameter new = Dia.old x
RPMnew

2005, National Energy Management Institute Committee. All rights reserved.