Welcome

Green HVAC Ductwork Done Right!

John Reints, PE
Eugene Smithart, PE
High Velocity Duct Design Tips:
Fundamentals of High Velocity,
Static Regain, Duct Design
Key Advantages
Dos
Donts
Biggest Misconceptions
Best Rooftop Acoustics Idea
Real World Examples
In Summary
Duct Layout
1
0

9
8 7 6 5 4
2
3
1
4 5
18 17 16
13 ft
14 15 19
11 ft 18 ft 13 ft 7 ft
504
279 279 279 312 684
397
397
468
397
1085
691
691 691
691
904
286
307
1
1

1
2

1
3

1
1

F
T

1
3

F
T

5

F
T

15 FT 8 ft 15 ft 15 ft
17 ft 20
1:36
1074
Trunk Ducts
Fundamentals of Static Regain
VP
SP
h
f
Tp = Vp + Sp - h
f
A B C D
1000-1300
600-900
600-700
Main ducts
b

Branch ducts
b

Branch risers
b

700-900
600
500
1200-1800
800-1000
800
Designation Residences Schools, theaters,
public buildings
Industrial
buildings
Recommended velocities, fpm
Table 6 ASHRAE Handbook, 1972, page 481
Recommended and Maximum Duct
Velocities for Low Velocity Systems
(rectangular duct)
Vp = (fpm/4005)
2
6,000
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
CFM carried by the duct Maximum FPM
Recommended maximum duct velocities
for high-velocity systems
60,000

40,000
25,000
15,000
10,000
6,000
3,000
40,000

25,000
15,000
10,000
6,000
3,000
1,000
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
Table 7 ASHRAE Handbook, 1972, page 481
Recommended and Maximum Duct
Velocities for High Velocity Systems
(round duct)
Key Advantages:
Lower cost
Lower duct heat pick up
Less duct leakage
Less space
$0.25-$1.00/sq.ft. Installed Cost
Savings
Rectangular Duct 0.5#/sq.ft.
Rectangular Duct $3.00 - $3.50/sq.ft.
High Velocity Static Regain Round
Duct 0.25#/sq.ft. (50% less)
Round Duct $2.00 - $2.50/sq.ft.
Saving of at least $0.25 to $1.00/sq.ft.
($100 to $400/ton)
Relative Installed Cost vs. Aspect Ratio
200
190
180
170
160
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1 7:1
rectangular duct
round duct
(%)
aspect ratio
Duct Heat Gain vs. Aspect Ratio
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1 7:1 8:1
rectangular duct
round duct
9:1 10:1
(%)
aspect ratio
Duct Heat Pickup
Duct Leakage:
Leakage:
Rectangular Duct
traditionally hard to get below 10 percent
today its hard to get below 3%.
Round Duct can get below 1 percent
Fan BHP:
(CFM
2
/CFM
1
)
3
= BHP
2
/BHP
1

(110/101)
3
= 29% increase in fan brake horsepower
(103/101)
3
= 6% increase in fan brake horsepower
drive connection
slip connection
D U C T M A T E
Coupling
Gasketing
Why is leakage so important?
*Source: Study Done by Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory for the Department of Energy
*
Less Space
Biggest Misconception
I cant use round duct
because it wont fit!
Relative Installed Cost vs. Aspect Ratio
200
190
180
170
160
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1 6:1 7:1
rectangular duct
round duct
(%)
aspect ratio
U.S. Market
Rectangular
remains the
primary ductwork
Bellmouth Fitting
Attenuated Duct
Go the Distance
4-6 duct diameter
33% upstream flow
Fitting Efficiency
Reducer Fitting
Y Fitting
Well-Rounded, 90-Degree Tee
45 - 90
90
branch
tap
smooth entrance
Donts
top
branch
sharp edge
VAV Box Too Close to the Fan
Capped Cross Fitting
Divided Flow Fittings
Fitting
Y-2 plus 45 elbows
Capped cross with
conical tabs
Capped cross
Capped cross with
1 cushion head
Capped cross with
2 cushion head
Capped cross with
3 cushion head
Loss Coefficient (2)
0.22
5.4
5.0
5.0
6.0
6.4
Sound transmission below 250 Hz via duct breakout is
often a major acoustical limitation for many rooftop
installations. Excessive low-frequency noise associated
with fan noise and air turbulence in the region of the
discharge section of the fan and the first duct elbow results
in duct rumble, which is difficult to attenuate. This
problem is often worsened by the presence of a high-
aspect-ratio duct at the discharge section of the fan.
Rectangular ducts with duct lagging are often ineffective in
reducing duct breakout noise. Using either a single- or
dual-wall round duct with a radiused elbow coming off the
discharge section of the fan can reduce duct breakout. If
space does not allow for the use of a single duct, the duct
can be split into several parallel round ducts.
2003 ASHRAE Applications Manual, p. 47.7
Rooftop Sound Attenuation
Lower air leakage 210+%
Shorter installation hours 30+%
Lower fan energy use 6-30+%
Lower weight 25+%
In Summary...
SPIDA
Experience
Air to every box quietly
Plus $0.25 to $1.00/sq.ft. ($100
to $400/ton) savings
JOHN V REINTS, PE
817 DORKEN LANE, DEKALB, ILLINOIS, 60115
630-327-5425 or jvrpellc@msn.com
30 Years of Designing High Velocity, Static Regain, Round Duct Systems
Thank You
Green HVAC Duct Design
Done Right!
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6 Real World Examples