Gulf University

College of Engineering
Department of Architectural and Interior Design Engineering
Bachelor in interior design engineering

Thermal Comfort
and
Indoor Air Quality
Ibrahim Reda
dr.ibrahim.reda@gulfuniversity.edu.bh
Duct and Pipe Design
ILOs

• HVAC Systems
• Systems Components
• Duct and Pipe Design
• Air Terminals
• Duct design case study
• Pipe Design
• Pipe design case study
 Vapor Compression Refrigeration System
Refrigeration Cycles
The most frequently used refrigeration cycle is the vapor-compression
refrigeration cycle, which involves four main components: a compressor, a
condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, as shown in Figure.
The refrigerant enters the compressor as
a vapor and is compressed to the
condenser pressure. It leaves the
compressor at a relatively high
temperature and cools down and
condenses as it flows through the coils of
the condenser by rejecting heat to the
surrounding medium. It then enters a
capillary tube where its pressure and
temperature drop drastically due to the
throttling effect. The low-temperature
refrigerant then enters the evaporator,
where it evaporates by absorbing heat
from the refrigerated space. The cycle is Basic components of a refrigeration system
completed as the refrigerant leaves the and typical operating conditions.
evaporator and reenters the compressor.
Vapor Compression Refrigeration System

CONDENSER

EXPANSION COMPRESSOR
VALVE

EVAPORATOR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=141&v=dQVTT9fWiHU
Chilled water systems

In a chilled-water system, the chilled-water loop

transports heat energy between the airside loop and the
refrigeration loop.
It is comprised primarily of a cooling coil, a circulating
pump, an evaporator, a control valve, and interconnecting
piping.
Condenser Types

Air-Cooled Condenser Water-Cooled Condenser

BASIC SYSTEM TYPES
There are three basic zoned system types from which all air conditioning systems flow.
The basic three are:
1- All-Air (Zoned Air)
2- All-Water ( Zoned Water)
3- Direct Refrigerant ( Zoned Refrigerant)
The basic system names are derived from the type of cooling fluid that is circulated around the building to the
various control zones - air, water, or refrigerant.
 HVAC System Component

A typical all-air system consists of four major parts:

1- A central source of cooling:
This can be a rooftop unit or a central air handling unit. Both pieces
of equipment have a cooling coil to cool the air and a fan to circulate
the air.
2- A ductwork system:
This delivers the cool air from the source to the control zones.
3- Air terminals:
to modulate and control the delivery of the air to control zone.
4- Some type of control system:
To provides control in each control zone and control for the system as
a whole.
 HVAC System Component

Ceiling
Diffuser

Air Handling Units (AHU)

Air Ducts
 Example of All Air System
Mechanical Room
Return ducts Fresh outside air

Air Handling Unit

AHU

VAV Box VAV Box VAV Box VAV Box

T
T
Classroom 4 T Classroom 1
T Classroom 3 Classroom 2

Corridor
Supply ducts

SCD: Supply Ceiling Diffuser T

RCD: Return Ceiling Diffuser

 All-Water System Components:

Pump & Chilled Water Piping

Water Chiller

Chilled Water Fan Coil Unit (FCU)

 Example of All Water System

HVAC Shaft

Room 4 Room 3 Room 2 Room 1

Supply & Return

FCU FCU FCU FCU Chilled Water Risers
T
T
T T

Corridor
CHWS
CHWR

SCD: Supply Ceiling Diffuser CHWS: Chilled Water Supply (from chiller)

RCD: Return Ceiling Diffuser CHWR: Chilled Water Return (to chiller)
FCU
FCU: Fan Coil Unit (Chilled Water) : 2-Way Modulating Valve

T Thermostat
 All (Direct) Refrigerant System
Split Systems
VRF “Variable Refrigerant Flow” Systems

❑The Variable Refrigerant Flow System has the ability to

control the amount of refrigerant flowing through the system
❑Simply, each FCU unit receives only the required amount of
refrigerant in order to meet the cooling load of the conditioned
space
❑The Inverter Unit will Gradually Increases or Decreases its
Capacity based on the load by increasing or decreasing the
rotation speed of the motor.
 Example of (Direct) Refrigerant System

HVAC Shaft

Room 4 Room 3 Room 2 Room 1

Supply & Return

FCU FCU FCU FCU Refrigerant Pipes
T
T
T T

Corridor
Refrigerant Pipes

SCD: Supply Ceiling Diffuser : Electronic Expansion Valve

RCD: Return Ceiling Diffuser T Thermostat
HVAC EQUIPMENT
CHILLERS CHILLERS
Air Cooled Chiller Water Cooled Chiller

Advantages Advantages
❑ Lower installed cost ❑ Higher efficiency
❑ Quicker availability ❑ Custom selection in larger sizes
❑ No cooling tower or condenser pump required ❑ Large tonnage capabilities
❑ Less maintenance ❑ Indoor Chiller location
❑ No mechanical room required ❑ Longer life
HVAC EQUIPMENT
Cooling Tower
Reject heat from warm condenser water to outdoor air using evaporation
HVAC EQUIPMENT
Air Handling Unit (AHU)
An air handler, or air handling unit (often abbreviated to AHU), is a device used to condition and circulate air as part of a heating, ventilating, and air-
conditioning (HVAC) system.
An air handler is usually a large metal box containing a blower, heating or cooling elements, filter racks or chambers, sound attenuators, and dampers.
Air handlers usually connect to a ductwork ventilation system that distributes the conditioned air through the building and returns it to the AHU.
Sometimes AHUs discharge (supply) and admit (return) air directly to and from the space served without ductwork.
HVAC EQUIPMENT

Filters
To provide clean dust-free air to the building occupants
It may be via simple , HEPA, electrostatic, or a
combination of techniques. Gas-phase and ultraviolet air
treatments may be employed as well.
Filtration is typically placed first in the AHU in order to
keep all the downstream components clean.
Bag filter
Depending upon the grade of filtration required,
typically filters will be arranged in two (or more)
successive banks with a coarse-grade panel filter
provided in front of a fine-grade bag filter.
 HVAC EQUIPMENT

Dampers
• A damper is a valve or plate that stops
or regulates the flow of air inside a
duct, chimney, VAV box, air handler, or
other air handling equipment.
• A damper may be used to cut off central
air conditioning (heating or cooling) to
an unused room, or to regulate it.
• Its operation can be manual or
automatic.
 HVAC EQUIPMENT
Fan Coil Units (FCU)

Floor or Ceiling Mounted Type Cassette type

Concealed Type Free –Stand type
HVAC EQUIPMENT

DX System: Central Packaged Unit

DX System: Rooftop Unit

DX System: Central Split Unit

HVAC EQUIPMENT

VRF System Configurations

 HVAC EQUIPMENT
Duct-free split systems
HVAC EQUIPMENT

Fans
AXIAL FAN CENTRIFUGAL FAN
 HVAC EQUIPMENT

VAV box
Duct Design
 Duct Design

• The air flow rate entering or leaving the air handling unit is the sum of the
room return air value and the outdoor fresh air.
• Of the air handling unit specifications, the unit capacity and the air flow rate
are submitted.
• The air flow delivered from the air handling unit must be homogeneously
distributed inside the air conditioned space.
• Care must be taken when selecting the locations of both the supply and the
return air grills or diffusers to prevent short air cycling or
concentration/dead air zones.
 Duct Design

Design Air flow rate

For standard system with supply and return air flow to the air handling unit,
approximately, 400 cfm of air is always delivered with each 1 T.R.
Selection of the Air conditioning machine:
One has first to select the proper air conditioning unit capacity and flow rate.

Example (2)
For the restaurant in example 1 in the previous lectures, the AHU capacity was
10 T.R, calculate its flow rate.
Solution
For a 10 T.R. capacity;
Air flow rate = 10 x 400 = 4000 cfm.
 Duct Design
Rectangular Duct:
Width (W)
Is the horizontal dimension of the rectangular duct.
Depth (D)
Is the vertical dimension of the rectangular duct.
Aspect Ratio
Is the ratio of the long side of the duct to the short side.

𝑫
𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐 =
𝑾 𝑾
𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐 =
𝑫
Duct Design
Duct Construction
Types of Air Duct
➢ Supply air duct
➢ Return air duct
➢ Outdoor air duct
➢ Exhaust air

Duct sections
➢ Header or main duct (trunk)
➢ Branch duct or Runout
Duct Design
 Duct Design
Air duct dimensions:
The velocity of air at the entrance of the main duct is assumed to be
about 900 ft/min and 600 ft/min for branches.

the accepted max air duct dimensions aspect ratio is 3 (long dimension
/ short dimension ≤ 3).

By the information, it becomes easy to expect the minimum depth of

an air duct for a specific application.

It should be remembered that, for calculating the minimum drop of the

false ceiling from the true ceiling, at least 4" must be added to each
side of the duct cross section as a space for insulation and supports.
 Duct Design
Example (3)
For the restaurant in examples (1&2), What is the minimum drop of the false ceiling from the true
ceiling.
Air flow rate
Solution cfm = ft3/min
1 cfm =1.7 m3/h
𝑨𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 Length
Duct cross sectional area 𝑨𝒄 =
𝑨𝒊𝒓 𝑽𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 1 ft = 12 inch
𝟒𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒄𝒇𝒎
Duct cross sectional area 𝑨𝒄 = = 𝟒. 𝟒𝟒𝟒 𝒇𝒕𝟐 1 ft2= 144 inch2
𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝒇𝒕Τ𝒎𝒊𝒏
1 m = 3.28 ft =40 inch
Duct cross sectional area 𝑾 × 𝑫 = 𝟒. 𝟒𝟒𝟒 × 𝟏𝟒𝟒 = 𝟔𝟒𝟎 𝒊𝒏𝟐
1 inch=2.5 cm
Let maximum aspect ratio = 3 , W = 3D
𝟑𝑫𝟐 = 𝟔𝟒𝟎 𝒊𝒏𝟐
𝑫𝟐 = 𝟔𝟒𝟎Τ𝟑 = 𝟐𝟏𝟑. 𝟑 𝒊𝒏𝟐
𝑫 = 𝟏𝟒. 𝟔 𝒊𝒏 (use even numbers, therefore D = 16 in)

𝟔𝟒𝟎 𝟔𝟒𝟎
𝑾= = = 𝟒𝟎 𝒊𝒏 ≡ 𝟒𝟎 𝒊𝒏
𝑫 𝟏𝟔
Thus; the suitable dimensions 𝑾 × 𝑫 for minimum depth is 40" x 16".
❑The drop of the false ceiling from the true ceiling:
is not less than (16" +4") 20" or 50 Cm.
Duct Design using McQuay software
 Air Terminals
Ceiling Diffusers

4 Way Diffusers 3 Way Diffusers 2 Way Diffuser

Disc Valve Round Diffusers 1 Way Diffuser

 Air Terminals

Jet diffuser Perforated Ceiling Diffuser

Access door Return / Exhaust Grilles

 Air Terminals

Linear Slot diffuser

Linear slot diffusers are always considered as the most attractive air distribution devices. They are
specially designed for ceiling mounting in a wide range of applications in heating, ventilation and air
conditioning systems.
At a perfect setting, linear slot diffusers provide a stable pattern of diffusion to produce an optimum
performance for both supply and return air in addition to their pleasant appearance.
To satisfy both architectural and engineering needs, curved slot diffusers have been also developed and
designed.

Flexible Duct
Duct Design – case study

4-Way Ceiling Diffuser

Duct Design – case study

Side air Grille

Duct Design – case study

Linear Slot diffuser

Pipe Design
 Pipe Design
For standard 2-pipes system with supply and return chilled water,
approximately, 2.4 gpm of water is always delivered with each 1 T.R.
Note 𝒈𝒑𝒎 is 𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆 [𝟏 𝐠𝐩𝐦 ≅ 𝟑. 𝟖 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫/𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞]

Example (4)
For the restaurant in example 1 in the previous lectures, the AHU capacity
was 10 T.R, calculate its chilled water flow rate.
Solution
For a 10 T.R. capacity;
Chilled water flow rate = 10 TR x 2.4 gpm/TR = 24 gpm.
To select the AHU inlet and outlet pipe diameters, use the following table
 Piping Design
Table: Design of Closed System Piping (Chilled Water)
Pipe Size Flow Range Pressure Drop
(inch) (GPM) (ft /100 ft) For that reason
𝟏ൗ 0 - 2 0.00 - 4.00
𝟐 The AHU, each of the inlet and
𝟑ൗ 3 - 4 2.50 - 4.00 ′′
𝟒
𝟏 5 - 7.5 2.00 - 4.00
outlet pipe diameter is equal 𝟏 𝟏Τ𝟐
𝟏
𝟏 ൗ𝟒 8 - 16 1.25 - 4.00
𝟏 𝟏ൗ𝟐 17 - 24 2.00 - 4.00
𝟐 25 - 48 1.25 - 4.00
𝟐 𝟏ൗ𝟐 49 - 77 2.00 - 4.00
𝟑 78 - 140 1.50 - 4.00
𝟒 141 - 280 1.25 - 4.00
𝟓 281 - 500 1.50 - 4.00
𝟔 501 - 800 1.75 - 4.00
𝟖 801 - 1700 1.00 - 4.00
𝟏𝟎 1701 - 2500 1.25 - 2.75
𝟏𝟐 2501 - 3600 1.25 - 2.25
𝟏𝟒 3601 - 4200 1.25 - 2.00
𝟏𝟔 4201 - 5500 1.00 - 1.75
𝟏𝟖 5501 - 7000 0.90 - 1.25
𝟐𝟎 7001 - 9000 0.80 - 1.25
𝟐𝟒 9001 - 13000 0.60 - 1.00
 Pipe Design case study
Use the same table to determine the diameter of each section of the chilled water pipe network as follows:
Thank You!
Q&A