Kirkuk Technical College

Refrigeration and Air conditioning Department

4Th Year
Air Conditioning Systems
Compiled by: Aumid Abdulrahim, Assistant Lecturer

HVAC August 9
2012
Lectures
Air duct system, design Week TWO

Reference: Chapter 8 of the recommended book

Air-conditioning Principles and Systems, Fourth edition by Edward G Pitta

1. DUCT SYSTEM PRESSURE LOSS
The duct pressure losses must be found in order to determine fan capacity, check equipment
performance, and balance air quantities. The system total pressure loss is defined as the
total pressure loss through the duct path that has the largest pressure losses. This path is
often the longest one, but it may be a shorter path that contains an unusual number of fittings or
devices with large pressure losses. It is better to work with total pressure loss rather than
static pressure loss when analyzing duct pressure losses. This gives a better understanding of
the total pressure available at any point in case problems exist. To find the system total pressure
loss, the losses are summed up for each section of straight duct and each fitting in the path
chosen. Pressure losses through any equipment (coils, filters,diffusers) must be included.
The manufacturer will furnish this data.
Example:

For the duct system shown in below, determine the system total pressure loss and fan
requirements. The fan inlet and outlet connections are not shown, but it has been found that the
system effect inlet loss is 0.20 in. w. and the outlet loss is 0.08 in. w. The total pressure required
at each air outlet for proper distribution is 0.1 in. w.g.
Solution

From inspection of the duct layout, path XABCDEF is the longest. It is also the path with the
greatest pressure loss, because none of the shorter paths have unusual pressure losses.The
pressure losses for the straight ducts and fittings are read from the appropriate tables given in
previos lecture last week. The results are listed in tables:Use tables from previous lecture
notes. V (FPM) is calculated by using emperical equation (V=CFM/A).

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2. DUCT DESIGN METHODS
In the previous section, we explained how to find the pressure losses in ducts after their sizes
were known. In designing a new system, however, the duct sizes must be determined first. Two
methods of sizing ducts will be explained here, the equal friction method and the static regain
method.

2.1 Equal Friction Method

With this method, the same value friction loss rate per length of duct is used to size each section
of duct in the system. The friction loss rate is chosen to result in an economical balance between
duct cost and energy cost. A higher friction loss results in smaller ducts but higher fan operating
costs.
Duct systems for HVAC installations may be loosely classified into low velocity and high
velocity groups, although these are not strictly separate categories. Typical ranges of design
equal friction loss rates used for low velocity systems are from 0.08 to 0.15 in.w/l00 ft of duct.
Maximum velocities in the main duct at the fan outlet are limited where noise
generation is a problem. However, sound attenuation devices and duct sound lining
can be used if needed. High velocity duct systems are designed with
initial velocities from about 2500 FPM to as high as about 4000 FPM. The corresponding
friction loss rates may be as high as 0.6 in. W /l00 ft. High velocity duct systems are primarily
used to reduce overall duct sizes. In many large installations, space limitations (above hung
ceilings, in shafts) make it impossible to use the larger ducts resulting from low velocity systems.
The higher pressures result in certain special features of these systems. The ducts and fans
must be constructed to withstand the higher pressures. The noise produced at the high
velocities requires special sound attenuation. The following example illustrates duct sizing by
the equal friction method.

Example Find the size of each duct section for the system shown in Figure below, using the
equal friction design method. Use rectangular ducts. The system serves a public building.

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Solution
1. Sum up the CFMs backward from the last outlet, to find the CFM in each duct section. The
results are shown in Table below

2. Select a design velocity for the main from the fan, using Table above . A velocity of 1400
Ft/min. will be chosen, which should be reasonably quiet for the application.
3. From Chart , the friction loss rate for the main section AB is read as 0.13 in. w./100 ft.
The equivalent round duct diameter is read as 20.5 in.
4. The equivalent round duct diameter for each duct section is read from Figure chart at the
intersection of the design friction loss rate (0.13 in. W /100 ft) and the CFM for the section.
5. The rectangular duct sizes are read from Figure. In the actual installation, the duct
proportions chosen would depend on space available.
6. The pressure loss in the system can be calculated as shown previously.

With systems that use package air conditioning units, the available pressure to overcome
the friction loss is limited to the external pressure that the fan in the unit can develop.
In this case, the appropriate procedure would be to find the total equivalent length of the system.
Dividing the external fan pressure by the length will establish the maximum friction loss that can
be used. In reality, this limitation seldom occurs, since package units are mostly used with
systems of relatively short duct length.
Return air ducts can be sized by the equal friction method in the same manner as supply air
units. Return air ducts are usually in the low velocity category, even if the supply ducts are
of the high velocity type. The equal friction method of designing ducts is quite simple and is
probably the most popular one used. For systems that do not have great distances between
the first and the last outlets, it works quite satisfactorily. If there are long distances between the
outlets at the beginning and the end of the system, however, those near the fan will be over-
pressured.The result may cause difficulties in balancing the flow rates and possibly excess
noise. If the outlets closest to the fan are on long separate branches, this problem may be
overcome by modifying the equal friction design method. The longest run is sized by the design
friction loss rate, but some branches are chosen at a higher friction loss rate thus using up the
excess pressure. To reduce extreme pressure differences throughout the system, the static
regain method of duct design may also be used.

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2.2Static Regain Method
The static regain method of sizing ducts is most often used for high velocity systems with long
duct runs, especially in large installations.With this method, an initial velocity in the main
duct leaving the fan is selected, in the range of 2500-4000 FPM. After the initial velocity is
chosen, the velocities in each successive section of duct in the main run are reduced so that the
resulting static pressure gain is enough to overcome the frictional losses in the next duct section.
The result is that the static pressure is the same at each junction in the main run. Because of
this, there generally will not be extreme differences in the pressures among the branch outlets,
so balancing is simplified. We will solve problems in the tutorial class to demonstrate the method.
Example at the end of lecture.

CONVERSION OF VELOCITY PRESSURE TO STATIC PRESSURE (STATIC REGAIN)

One of the remarkable things that can occur in flow in a duct or pipe is that the static pressure
can increase in the direction of flow if the velocity decreases. This is caused by a conyersion of
velocity energy to static energy, called sraric regain. It is a phenomenon that we have all
experienced. If we hold a hand in front of the stream of water from a hose, we feel the pressure
that is a result of reducing the velocity energy and converting it to pressure.
Consider the diverging air duct section in Figure

The difference in velocity between 1 and 2

If we now apply the flow energy Equation 8.2a, assuming there is no friction loss Hf and the
change in elevation is negligible, then

Equation above shows that ifrhe velocity decreases in the direction of flow (because the pipe or
duct size has increased) then the staric pressure increases. Velocity energy has been converted
to pressure energy. This effect is called static pressure regain. Because there is always some
friction loss. The actual static pressure regain is never as high as that shown in Equation above.
The proportion of static regain that can be recovered, called the recovery factor R. depends on
the shape of the transition that changes velocity. The actual static pressure regain (SPR) is
therefore

Recovery factors of 0.7 to 0.9 can be achieved with reasonably gradual transitions, thereby
keeping friction losses low. Example to be solved

Find the increase in static pressure (regain) from point I to 2 in the duct system shown in Figure
below , if the recovery factor is 0.7.

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Solution
Using Equation with R = 0.7

The opposite event to a static pressure regain, a conversion of static pressure to velocity
pressure, will occur in a converging transition, resulting in a decrease in static pressure (Figure).
This effect occurs in a nozzle, where the velocity increases

3. PRESSU RE LOSS IN DUCT FITTINGS

In addition to the pressure loss in straight lengths of duct, there is a pressure loss when the air
flo\\'s through duct fittings (elbows, tees, transitions). These pressure losses, called dynamic
losses. Are due to the turbulence and change in direction. They can be expressed in either of
two ways. One is the equivalent lel1g1h method, exphl i ned : (! ScctlC'!1 :3 . 8 . where it was
used for pipe fittings. Another procedure is called the loss coefficient method. With this method,
the pressure lc'ss through a duct (or pipe) fitting is expressed as follows:
where

Hf = total pressure loss through fitting, in. w.

C = a loss coefficient
Hv = velocity pressure at fitting, in. w.
V = velocity, ft/min
Some values of C for various duct fittings are shown in Tables

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Example:
A 900 smooth radius elbow without vanes has the dimensions shown in Figure·8.25. It has 1500
CFM flowing through it. Find the pressure loss through the fitting.

The pressure loss in transition pieces is calculated in the same manner. With converging
transitions, the downstream velocity is used, and with diverging transitions, the upstream velocity
is used.

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Determine the duct sizes for the system shown in Figure below, using the static regain method.
Round duct will be used.

Solution
The results of the work are summarized in Table below. The steps are as follows:

I . A velocity in the initial section is selected. (This system is a high velocity system, so the noise
level will not determine the maximum velocity. Sound attenuating devices must be used.) An
initial velocity of 3200 ftlmin will be chosen.

2. From Figure 8.21, the duct size and static pressure loss due to friction in section A B is
determined. The friction loss per 100 ft is 0.56 in. w. and therefore the friction loss in the section
is 0.56 x 5MOO = 0.28 in. w.

3 . The velocity must be reduced in Section BC so that the static pressure gain will be equal to
the friction loss in Be. There will not be a complete regain, due to dynamic losses in the transition
at B. We will assume a 75% regain factor for the fittings. A trial-and-error procedure is necessary
to balance the regain against the friction loss. Let us try a velocity of 2400 ft/min. in section Be.
The friction loss is

The static pressure regain available to overcome this loss, using Equation, is

This is too large a regain. Try a velocity of 2600 ft/min.

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This trial is satisfactory. The regain at B is precisely enough to overcome the loss in section
Be The duct size of BC is 21 in.

4. Continue the same procedure at transition e Let us try a velocity of 2200 ft/min. in CD. The
results are

This first guess is satisfactory. No further trial is needed. The duct size is 18 in.

5. The trial-and-error process at D results in a duct size of 15 in. for section DE. The reader
should check this. The result of this method is that the static pressure in the duct at outlets B, C,
D, and E will be the same. Assuming that these outlets all required the same static pressure for
proper air distribution, the static regain procedure provided duct sizes that will reduce air balanc·
ing difficulties. On the other hand, if the equal friction method had been used, the static pressure
at B would be considerably higher than at E, causing air outlet balancing problems.

One disadvantage of the static regain method of duct design is that it usually results in a system
with some of the duct sections larger than those found by the equal friction method. For systems
at high velocities, however, this method is recommended. For return air duct systems, the equal
friction duct sizing method is generally used. Computer software is available for all popular
duct sizing methods. These programs can save considerable time, especially if the static regain
method is used.

Useful Websites The following sites have software programs that calculate pipe or duct pressure
drops and sizes:

www.elitesoft.com

www.wrightsoft.com

www.carrier.com

www.trane.com

www.carmelsoft.com