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1 Duct Sizing Methods

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1 Duct Sizing Methods

Uploaded by

Saied Abas
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© © All Rights Reserved
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28 | Duct Systems Design Guide

Table 2-1 Duct Design Methods

Design
Duct Sizing Notes
Method
Equal A section’s duct size is based on the Feasible when done semiautomatically, using a spreadsheet such
friction chosen friction loss rate (in. of water as those referenced in Chapter 3 or the DFDB (ASHRAE 2016)
per 100 ft of duct) for all duct to get fitting loss coefficients, as the DFDB also calculates density,
sections, or the duct size at the fan is velocity, velocity pressure, and the friction loss of straight duct.
selected based on the maximum air
velocity so that aerodynamic noise is Can be used with round, flat oval, or rectangular ductwork.
not a problem. Then the friction rate It is recommended that equal friction designs be balanced. This
for that section is used to size all the requires resistance being added to non-critical paths with
other sections. dampers, smaller duct sizes, or less-efficient fittings being
selected. Calculations may be tedious and time consuming.
Systems will be easier to balance if the velocity is limited to
1500 fpm.

Can be used to design supply, return, or exhaust systems.

Static The duct size at the fan is selected For use with computer programs linked to the DFDB (ASHRAE
regain based on the maximum air velocity so 2016). An iterative solution is required to determine the duct
that aerodynamic noise is not a size of each main section.
problem. Other main ducts are sized
to achieve static regain from section Can be used with round, flat oval, or rectangular ductwork.
to section. The branches are also sized This method is self-balancing because the change in total pressure
by static regain using the entering is equal to the change in velocity pressure, which causes the
junction velocity as the starting point. change in static pressure to be zero.

A minimum static pressure is Use of this method on low-pressure systems is limited.


maintained at the terminal sections so
that sufficient energy is available for Only applicable to supply systems.
proper operation of variable-air-
volume (VAV) air terminal units or
constant-velocity (airflow) diffusers.

Constant The duct size is based upon Applications are exhaust systems conveying fumes or particulates.
velocity maintaining a constant-velocity
exhaust system upstream of particle Balance is obtained by using gate dampers in non-particulate
collectors. airstreams and increasing flow rates in particulate-conveying
systems where additional resistance is required.

When comparing duct design methods, operating costs and first costs should be compared. If
the total pressures of both designs are about equal, then whichever duct design method gives the
lower first cost is most economical.
In the comparison of the two duct design methods for supply-air systems (see Example 3-1 for
the equal friction method and Example 4-1 for the static regain method), the equal friction method
has eight duct sections with a smaller diameter than the duct in the static regain method (Table 2-2),
so all else being equal for this example, the equal friction method has a lower first cost. However,
these smaller sizes result in a larger pressure drop, so the total pressure requirement for the equal
friction method is 12% higher than that of the static regain method, leading to higher operating cost
(fan energy). Higher operating cost generally results in higher total costs (first cost plus operating
costs, as the operating costs recur). For either design approach, significant reductions in the weight
of the ductwork can be gained by using lighter gauges with round spiral lockseam construction.
In addition to first cost and operating cost, the system imbalance should be considered. Sys-
tems should be designed to have minimal excess pressure for any path so that the airflow is prop-

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