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DUCTWORK IN PRACTICE

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Ductwork in Practice

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Ductwork in Practice

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 Ductwork in Practice
• The ratio of the rectangular ductwork is very important
since the average velocity is different:

q If space permitted, an aspect ratio of 4:1 or less are best

q The ratio greater than 8:1 should be avoided

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 Ductwork in Practice
• The air distribution includes various components:

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 Ductwork in Practice
• Use separate design for return and supply

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 Ductwork in Practice
• Change of diameter

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 Ductwork in Practice
• Outdoor air intake

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 Ductwork in Practice
• Installation of supply and return outlets

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DUCT DESIGN METHODS

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 Duct Design Methods
• Codes & standards
• Airflow rates
• Single line ductwork
• Size ductwork
• Calculate pressure drop
• Establish system total pressure

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 Duct Design Methods
• There are different duct design methods:
q Equal friction: Size based on chosen friction loss rate (per
100 ft) for each duct section to balance the pressure gradient
(commonly used)

q Equal velocity: Size based on maintaining a constant

velocity for duct sections (applicable for simple or industrial
systems to carry particles out)

q Balanced capacity: Equal pressure drops from fan to outlets

of each branch (e.g., VAV systems)

q Static regain: Duct size at the fan is selected using the

friction chart to get the starting velocity. Other main ducts are
sized to achieve static regain from section to section,
meaning keep static pressure same throughout a system 15
 Duct Design Methods
• The velocity classifications are important:

Method Velocity Velocity Range Pressure Drop

Equal friction Less than 0.15
Equal velocity in./100 ft
Less than 2500 fpm (1 Pa/m)
Low Velocity
(13 m/s)
Balanced capacity [0.1 in./100 ft is a
common value]
Less than 0.7
Up to 4500 fpm
Static regain High Velocity in./100 ft
(23 m/s)
(4.7 Pa/m)

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 Duct Design Methods
• When do we use high velocity design?

q When the heating or cooling loads are large (e.g.,

commercial buildings) - Why?

q Setback is the high friction and fan energy use

q Special considerations are required (e.g., balancing and

leakage control)

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 Duct Design Methods
• When do we use low velocity design?

q When the low flow rate is adequate, and it is is possible to

to run large ductwork

q Can achieve low fan energy use

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EQUAL FRICTION METHOD

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 Equal Friction Method
• The design friction rate per unit length (in. w.c per 100 ft)
is maintained

• The aim is to design a well-balanced system

• If the layout is symmetrical will all runs from fan to diffuser

approximately the same length this method works well

• However, in most duct systems, there are variety of duct

runs from long to short.

• Therefore, short runs will have to be dampered in order to

balance the flow rate to each space, which can cause
considerable noise
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 Equal Friction Method
• The design friction rate depends upon the velocity
allowable in the system

• Start from usually know flow rates adjacent to the fan to

establish the lost pressure per unit of length

• After sizing the designer need to compute the total

pressure loss of the longest run with the consideration of all
fittings

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 Equal Friction Method
• Example:
q Loss for each outlet is 0.05 in. w.c.
q Maximum velocity mains = 1,300 fpm, branches = 900 fpm
q Uniform pressure loss/100 ft and for elbows r/W = 1.0
1000 cfm

50 ft

40 ft 30 ft 80 ft
Plenum
Balancing Damper

40 ft 40 ft

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1500 cfm 500 cfm
 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Add labels for different branches and fittings
2
1000 cfm

F9

50 ft

A B C F8
40 ft F1 30 ft 80 ft F4
Plenum
F6 Balancing Damper F2 F3

40 ft 40 ft

F7 F5

1500 cfm 500 cfm

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Estimate the equal friction method

𝑄!"#$ = 500 𝑐𝑓𝑚 + 1500 𝑐𝑓𝑚 + 1000 𝑐𝑓𝑚 = 3000 𝑐𝑓𝑚 𝑉!"% = 1300 𝑓𝑝𝑚

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Construct a tabular air flow

Section Air Flow Rate Duct Size (in) Duct (in Velocity (fpm)
(cfm) Rectangular)
AB 3,000
BC 1,500
B1 1,500
C2 1,000
C3 500

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Find round diameters and velocities

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Add the duct sizes and velocity rates

Section Air Flow Duct Size Duct (in Area (ft2) Velocity
Rate (cfm) (in) Rectangular) (fpm)
AB 3,000 21 1,059
BC 1,500 16 1,000
B1 1,500 16 1,000
C2 1,000 14.5 750
C3 500 11 600

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Find square duct sizes

C-3

C-2
B-C

A-B 28
 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Add the rectangular values to the table

Section Air Flow Duct Size Duct (in Area (ft2) Velocity
Rate (cfm) (in) Rectangular) (fpm)
AB 3,000 21 34 / 12 2.83 1,059
BC 1,500 16 18 /12 1.50 1,000
B1 1,500 16 18 / 12 1.50 1,000
C2 1,000 14.5 16 / 12 1.33 750
C3 500 11 10 / 12 0.83 600

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Add the calculated ductwork sizes to the diagram
2
1000 cfm

F9

50 ft 16’’x12’’

A 34’’x12’’ B 18’’x12’’ C F8 10’’x12’’

40 ft F1 30 ft 80 ft F4
Plenum
F6 Balancing Damper F2 F3

40 ft 18’’x12’’ 40 ft

F7 F5

1500 cfm 500 cfm

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Find the friction loss (in/100 ft)

Section Air Flow Duct (in De Friction Loss Length Section Loss
Rate (cfm) Rectangular) (in) (in/100 ft) (ft) (in. w.c.)

AB 3,000 34 / 12 21.4 40 0.035

BC 1,500 18 /12 16 30 0.03
B1 1,500 18 / 12 16 40 0.04
C2 1,000 16 / 12 15.1 50 0.033
C3 500 10 / 12 12 120 0.067

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Friction losses (in/100 ft)

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution:
q Find the friction losses (in/100 ft)

Section Air Flow Duct (in De Friction Length Section Loss (in. w.c.)
Rate Rectangular) (in) Loss (ft)
(cfm) (in/100 ft)
AB 3,000 34 / 12 21.4 0.088 40 40
0.088× = 0.035
100
BC 1,500 18 /12 16 0.1 30 30
0.1× = 0.03
100
B1 1,500 18 / 12 16 0.1 40 40
0.1× = 0.04
100
C2 1,000 16 / 12 15.1 0.065 50 50
0.065× = 0.0325
100
C3 500 10 / 12 12 0.056 120 120
0.056× = 0.067
100

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution: Compute fittings
Section Fitting Fitting ASHRAE Parameters Loss Velocity Pv (in. Pt (in.
No Type Fitting Coefficient (fpm) w.c.) w.c.)
No.
AB F1b Tee SR5-13 𝐴! 1.5 𝑄! 1500 0.82 1,000 0.062 0.051
= = 0.53 = = 0.5
Branch 𝐴" 2.83 𝑄" 3000
F1s Tee SR5-13 𝐴! 1.5 𝑄! 1500 0.06 1,000 0.062 0.004
= = 0.53 = = 0.5
Straight 𝐴" 2.83 𝑄" 3000
BC F2 Tee SR5-13 𝐴! 1.33 𝑄! 1000 1.33 752 0.035 0.047
= = 0.9 = = 0.67
Branch 𝐴" 1.50 𝑄" 1500
F2 Tee SR5-13 𝐴! 0.83 𝑄! 500 0.58 602 0.023 0.013
= = 0.55 = = 0.3
Straight 𝐴" 1.5 𝑄" 1500
B1 F3 Damper CR9-1 𝑞 = 0# 0.19 600 0.022 0.004

F4 Elbow CR3-1 𝑟 𝐻 0.20 600 0.022 0.004

=1 = 1.2
𝑊 𝑊
F5 Outlet ---- ---- --- --- 0.050

C2 F7 Damper CR9-1 𝑞 = 0# 0.19 1,000 0.062 0.012

F8 Outlet ---- ---- --- --- 0.050

C3 F6 Damper CR9-1 𝑞 = 0# 0.19 750 0.035 0.007

F9 Outlet ---- ---- --- --- 34

0.050
 Equal Friction Method
• Solution: Pressure loss summary

𝚫𝐏 (in. w.c.)
Path Note Duct Tee Duct T𝐞𝐞 Damper Duct Outlet Total Differe
ntial

ABC Path/Fitting AB F1S BC F2S F3 C3 Value Path ΔP

3 Duct
0.035 0.004 0.03 0.013 0.004 0.067 0.05 0.204 0.000
ABC Path/Fitting AB F1 BC F2 F6 C2 Value Path ΔP
2 Duct
0.035 0.004 0.03 0.013 0.007 0.033 0.05 0.171 0.032
AB1 Path/Fitting AB F1 --- --- F7 B1 Value Path ΔP
Duct
0.035 0.051 --- --- 0.012 0.04 0.05 0.188 0.015

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 Equal Friction Method
• Solution (summary):

2
1000 cfm

F9

50 ft 16’’x12’’

A 34’’x12’’ B 18’’x12’’ C F8 10’’x12’’

40 ft F1 30 ft 80 ft F4
Plenum
F6 Balancing Damper F2 F3

40 ft 18’’x12’’ 40 ft

F7 May not be needed F5

1500 cfm 500 cfm

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 Equal Friction Method
• Another example is presented in this reference:

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 Equal Friction Method
• See Chapter 21 – Page 21.24 of the Fundamentals for
another example:

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BALANCED CAPACITY METHOD

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 Balanced Capacity Method
• The balanced design method uses the duct network
principle

• For all network problems, it satisfies the continuity and the

work-energy principles throughout the network

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 Balanced Capacity Method
• Based on the continuity equation, the summation of air
flow rate into any junction is zero

Σ±𝑄 =0

• Based on the network-energy equation, the total pressure

loss around any single loop of the network is zero

Σ±𝑃 =0

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 Balanced Capacity Method
• Satisfy all the possible pressure drops

𝑃!"!#$ = Δ𝑝% + Δ𝑝& + Δ𝑝' + Δ𝑝( + Δ𝑝) + Δ𝑝*

𝑃!"!#$ = Δ𝑝% + Δ𝑝& + Δ𝑝' + Δ𝑝( + Δ𝑝) + Δ𝑝+

𝑃!"!#$ = Δ𝑝% + Δ𝑝& + Δ𝑝' + Δ𝑝( + Δ𝑝,

𝑃!"!#$ = Δ𝑝- + Δ𝑝' + Δ𝑝( + Δ𝑝) + Δ𝑝*

𝑃!"!#$ = Δ𝑝- + Δ𝑝' + Δ𝑝( + Δ𝑝) + Δ𝑝+

𝑃!"!#$ = Δ𝑝- + Δ𝑝' + Δ𝑝( + Δ𝑝, 42

 Balanced Capacity Method
• Satisfy all the possible pressure drops

2
1000 cfm

F9

𝑄% = 1500 𝑐𝑓𝑚
50 ft

B C F8 𝑄- = 1000 𝑐𝑓𝑚
A
40 ft F1 30 ft 80 ft F4 𝑄& = 500 𝑐𝑓𝑚
Plenum
F2
Balancing Damper F3
F6 Σ𝑄 = 3000 𝑐𝑓𝑚
40 ft 40 ft

F7 F5

1500 cfm 500 cfm

ΔP.% = ΔP.-
1 3 ΔP.% = ΔP.&

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SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS CURVE

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 System Characteristics Curve
• There are a couple of components required for the design
of an air distribution

Load Calc

Thermal
Comfort

Psychromet Terminal Ducts Fan

Diffusers
rics Units

Determine air Deliver air to Control air speed Direct air to the Move air through
flow rate the space and temperature terminal units or the duct system
diffusers 45
 System Characteristics Curve
• Overall system resistance can be written as:

∆𝑃/0/12 = $ ∆𝑃345/6078 + $ ∆𝑃9://:;<= =

> ?@ ! ?@ !
= ∑𝑓 +∑𝐾
3 A<" A<"

∆𝑃/0/12 = 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 ×𝑄̇ 3

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 System Characteristics Curve
• Flow through any resistance (i.e., duct and fittings) is
proportional to the square root of the pressure causing the
flow

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 System Characteristics Curve
• This relationship defines the flow versus pressure
characteristics of a system

Going left what

does it mean?

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FAN PERFORMANCE CURVE

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 Fan Performance Curve
• An example of a fan curve:

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 Fan Performance Curve
• An example of a fan curve:

51
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 Fan Performance Curve
• An example of a fan curve:

52
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HALLWAY VENTILATION

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 Hallway Ventilation

54
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 Hallway Ventilation

55
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/62313.pdf
 Hallway Ventilation

40% x 20% = 8%

56
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 Hallway Ventilation

57
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/62313.pdf