DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MEng 139 - Mechanical Engineering Laboratory I

Laboratory Report No.
Second Semester, A.Y. 2020 - 2021

Name: Jeremy B. Dadula Course & Year: BSME III

Laboratory Exercise No. 8:

Method Factor of a Duct

Introduction

The air ducting from AC systems is delivered at the appropriate place within
houses and buildings by all heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. Ducts
also carry out certain ventilation and air transport activities as needed. The airflow of
the duct is related to the necessary air speed and the transverse area of the ducting
system. This is why the airflow rises as the pipeline size grows.
The air velocity varies from point to point over a cross section of a duct. The
velocity profile of air flow in a duct depends upon Reynolds Number, surface
roughness of the duct. Typically for laminar flow, velocity profile resembles to
parabolic shape and for turbulent flow, it takes ‘D’ shaped profile. Hence, to estimate
average flow velocity, traversing is usually carried out at a cross section of the duct.
There are two types of traversing conducted to measure average velocity: continuous
traversing and precise traversing. However, traversing is more time consuming. In
order to obtain very rapid estimate of average air velocity, the point measurement of
velocity may be obtained, which then be multiplied by a method factor to obtain
average velocity. Hence, to do this the method factor of the duct is to be known in
prior. The value of method factor decreases with decrease in Reynolds Number. For
high Reynolds Number (in the order of 50,000 and above) the method factor can be
taken to be constant. To determine method factor of a duct, both central velocity and
average velocity may be taken, and then it can be calculated by the following
expression.
Method Factor = Average Velocity (𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒) / Central Velocity (𝑉𝑐 )
 The central velocity can be measured with the help of a pitot tube by placing
it at the center of the duct, and the average velocity can be measured with
anemometer traversing. The average velocity can be estimated within ± 5% of
accuracy by this method.

Experimental Procedure

The laboratory exercise will be executed using the simulation tool (Virtual Labs)
preferred by the instructor since the following materials and apparatus needed for hands on
laboratory is not around the household. We will simulate it 3 times. The following process
are the simulation procedure in getting the method factor of the duct:

1. First is to open the Virtual Labs simulation tool link provided by the
instructor in the learning material.

2. Click on simulator, then input the diameter of the duct value (0.5m) and
click ok.
3. Click the flow control device to start the experiment.

Flow Control
Device
4. After that, click on “Animometer Traversing” then click 3 times the
“Velocity Reading” to start measuring the average velocity of the duct then
click “Measure” and lastly click “Calculate”
5. Make 4 observations data by just repeating the step 4.
6. After that, using the observation table which composed of 4 observations
data and make a graph
Laws and Theories

The air velocity changes across points across a cross-section of a pipeline.

The velocity profile of a duct air flow relies on the number of Reynolds, the surface
roughness of the duct. The velocity profile, which is typical for laminar flow,
resembles parabolic form and for turbulent flow. Therefore, the traverse is typically
done at a cross section of the canal to calculate the average velocity of flow. The
average velocity is measured by two kinds of crossings: continuous crossing and
exact crossing. Crossing, however, takes more time. The point measurement of
speeder may be acquired, which can be multiplied by a technique factor to get
average velocity, in order to provide extremely fast estimates of the average air
velocity. Therefore, it is necessary in advance to know the technique factor of the
duct. With reduction in the Reynolds number, the value of the method factor drops.
In order to determine a method factor in a conduct, it is possible to take both the
center velocity and the average velocity: Method Factor = Average Velocity /
Central Velocity. The central velocity may be determined by putting it at the center
of the pitot tube and the average velocity with anemometer crossing can be
measured.
Results and Discussion

Observation 1.

Manual Computing of Method Factor:

Method Factor = Average Velocity / Central Velocity

= 2.61 / 4.09
Method Factor = 0.64
Observation 2.

Manual Computing of Method Factor:

Method Factor = Average Velocity / Central Velocity

= 3.66 / 6.34
Method Factor = 0.58
Observation 3.

Manual Computing of Method Factor:

Method Factor = Average Velocity / Central Velocity

= 4.53 / 8.29
Method Factor = 0.55
Observation 4.

Manual Computing of Method Factor:

Method Factor = Average Velocity / Central Velocity

= 5.47 / 9.48
Method Factor = 0.58
 Result

GRAPH

Simulation Results
10 9.38

9 8.29
8
7 6.34
6 5.47

5 4.53
4.09
3.66
4
2.61
3
2
0.64 0.58 0.55 0.58
1
0
1 2 3 4

Average Velocity Central Velocity Method Factor

As observed in result based on the observation table and graph, the average velocity
and the central velocity increases in every observation and shaded white part in the
left side of the figure expands in every next observation the average and central
velocity varies on the number of observations while the Method Factor decreases.
As the number of observations is increasing the average and central velocity will also
increasing, and as the average and central velocity increases the method factor will
decreases.
Conclusions

In conclusion, the student was able to discuss the result of method factor of the duct,
where, the average and central velocity varies the number of observations, and if the
average and central velocity increases the method factor will decrease. This
laboratory exercise is ideal for undergraduate engineering students. Furthermore, we
will improve our understanding of method factor.

References
• Virtual Labs || Mine Automation & Virtual Reality (iitkgp.ac.in)