This document provides guidance on sizing plenum boxes for air handling units (AHUs) and fan coil units (FCUs) based on airflow requirements. It gives the equations to calculate the airflow rate, cross-sectional area of the plenum box based on velocity, and dimensions of the plenum box based on the calculated area and site conditions. An example is provided to show how to use the equations to size a plenum box for an 8-ton AHU with a fan blower diameter of 12 inches.
This document provides guidance on sizing plenum boxes for air handling units (AHUs) and fan coil units (FCUs) based on airflow requirements. It gives the equations to calculate the airflow rate, cross-sectional area of the plenum box based on velocity, and dimensions of the plenum box based on the calculated area and site conditions. An example is provided to show how to use the equations to size a plenum box for an 8-ton AHU with a fan blower diameter of 12 inches.
This document provides guidance on sizing plenum boxes for air handling units (AHUs) and fan coil units (FCUs) based on airflow requirements. It gives the equations to calculate the airflow rate, cross-sectional area of the plenum box based on velocity, and dimensions of the plenum box based on the calculated area and site conditions. An example is provided to show how to use the equations to size a plenum box for an 8-ton AHU with a fan blower diameter of 12 inches.
Q = V x A --------- (1) Q = flow rate (Cubic feet per minute) >> CFM V = Velocity (feet per minute) >> ft/min A = Area of plenum box (Square feet) >> ft2 As per Ashrae standard required velocity for Air handling unit (AHU) is 800 ft/min Let’s say according to our calculated heat load tonnage is = 8 TR As rule of thumb 1TR needs 400 CFM So, 8 TR needs = 8 x 400 = 3200 CFM As per equation 1: A = Q/V A = 3200/800 A = 4 ft2 Area of Plenum box = W x H --------- (2) According to site condition we have to assume height of plenum box and try to find width Let’s say H = 1.6 ft So, using values in equation 2: Width of plenum box = Area of plenum box / height of plenum box = A/H W = 4/1.6 Width of plenum box = 2.5 ft Depth of plenum can be calculated by using following equation: D = 2.5 x d --------- (3) Where d = diameter of fan blower of AHU Let’s say d = 12” Using equation 3: D = 2.5 x 12 D = 30” = 2.5 ft
Plenum box sizing for fan coil unit (FCU):
As per Ashrae standard required velocity for fan coil unit (FCU) is 500 ft/min Same procedure as discussed above except velocity i-e 500 ft/min