DESIGN COURSE

DUCT DESIGN
PART 1
WHAT IS DUCT ???

 Ducts are conduits or passages used in heating,

ventilation, and air conditioning to deliver and remove
air.
 The needed airflows include, for example, supply air,
return air, and exhaust air.
 Ducts commonly also deliver ventilation air as part of the
supply air.
OBJECTIVE OF WELL DESIGNED DUCT

1.Deliver maximum comfort

2.Lowest operating cost
3.Preserve indoor air quality
MAIN REQUIREMENT OF AIRCOND
DUCT
 Deliver specific rates of air flow to certain location
 Should be economical in combine initial cost, fan operating cost, cost of
building space.
 Should not transmit/generate noise

Example : larger duct require large initial investment but lower fan energy
costs over the life of the system
DUCT DESIGN PRINCIPLE

 CFM ( ft3/m) : volume of air flow

 FPM (ft/m) : velocity or speed of air flow
 AREA (ft2) : Duct Size / Cross sectional area
 DUCT SIZE : Round duct , 2” , 4” , 6”
Square / Rectangular Duct , 4” x 4” , 8” x 8”, 14” x 8”, 20” x 12”

CFM = FPM X AREA

Flow rate = Duct Velocity x Area of Duct
DUCT PRESSURE

 STATIC PRESSURE :
- air pressure in the duct, used for fan selection
 VELOCITY PRESSURE :
- pressure generated by velocity & weight of the air
 TOTAL PRESSURE :
- STATIC PRESSURE + VELOCITY PRESSURE

Pressure in ductwork measured in = in.wg / in.wc / PA

 Air flow through the duct system course 3 types of pressure
1. Static
2. Dynamic (Velocity)
3. Total pressure

STATIC PRESSURE
- Cause the air in the duct to flow
- Static pressure is outward push of air against duct surface
- A measure of resistance when air moves through an object liked ductwork
- Measured in in.wg
- Act equally in all directions
- Independent of velocity
VELOCITY PRESSURE
- Pressure caused by air in motion
- Equal to the product of air density and velocity
VP = 0.5 x ρ x V2
- For standard air , VP = (V/4005) 2
- VP will only be exerted in the direction of air flow and always positive

TOTAL PRESSURE
TP = VP + SP
VP = Velocity Pressure
SP = Static pressure
PRESSURE CHANGES AFFECTED IN
DUCTS
 CONSTANT CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA ( SAIZ DUCT SAMA )
- Total & Static Losses are equal
 Diverging section (increase in duct size )
- VP decrease, TP decrease, SP increase
 Converging section (decrease in duct size)
- VP Increase in direction of flow
- TP & SP decrease

TP generally drops along the air flow because of frictional and turbulence loss
Duct compenent & materials
 SAD (Supply Air Duct) : supply conditioned air from AHU to conditioned
area
 RAD (Return Air Duct) : Removes air from conditioned building spaces &
return to AHU which recondition the air.
 FAD (Fresh Air Duct) : Supply outdoor air to AHU
Outdoor air used for ventilating the occupied building
space.
 EAD (Exhaust Air Duct): carry and discharge air to outdoors
taken from toilets, kitchen, lab & areas require
ventilation
 MXD (Mixed Air Duct) : mixes air from outdoor & return air then supply the
mixed air to AHU.
Duct compenent
 DUCT

 SUPPLY AIR GRILL

 RETURN AIR GRILL
 DAMPER
- VCD
- FD
- NRD
- MVCD
 FLEXIBLE DUCT
SUPPLY AIR DIFFURSER (SAD)
SUPPLY AIR GRILL (SAG)
RETURN AIR GRILL (RAG)
DAMPER
MVCD
FLEXIBLE DUCT
DUCT MATERIAL
 GALVANIZED STEEL (G.I)
 ALUMINIUM
 STAINLESS STEEL
 CARBON STEEL
 COPPER
- Thickness of the material depends on the dimension of the duct, length of
individual sections, and cross sectional area of duct
DUCT MATERIAL
NON METALLIC DUCT

 FRP – mainly for chemical exhaust, scrubbers

- resistance to corrosion, self insulation, high quality sealing
Also can use PP
 PVC – chemical fumes
- resistance to corrosion, lightweight, ease of modification
 FABRIC – special permeable polyester material
- not concealed in ceiling
 DUCT CLASSIFICATION
 VELOCITY
 PRESSURE

 VELOCITY CLASSIFICATION
1. LOW VELOCITY : 2000 FPM
2. MEDIUM VELOCITY : 2000 – 2500 FPM
3. HIGH VELOCITY : > 2500 FPM

Low velocity system : used in most air cond installation because it is quieter,
lower friction loss, lower fan power, lower air leakage.
High duct velocity : increased fan static pressure
not suitable for comfort applications.
Main duct : 1000 – 1500 fpm
Branch duct/ take off : 700 – 1000 fpm
 PRESSURE CLASSIFICATION
1. Low pressure : fan static pressure < 3 in.wg
duct velocity < 1500 fpm
2. Medium pressure : fan static pressure 3<SP< 6 in.wg
duct velocity ≤ 2500 fpm
3. High pressure : fan static pressure 6 <SP< 10 in.wg
duct velocity ≤ 4000 fpm

Velocity vs Pressure
1. Duct pressure – influences duct strength, deflection, air leakage
2. Duct velocity – noise, vibration, friction loss, fan power
DUCT SHAPE
 SQUARE/ RECTANGULAR DUCT
 ROUND DUCT
 OVAL DUCT

ROUND DUCT
- Most efficient (least resistance)
- Lower pressure drop, less fan HP, smaller equipment
- Less surface area, less insulation
Disadvantages
- Required more clear height for installation
RECTANGULAR DUCT
- Fit above ceilings & into walls – fits better to building construction
- If have space limitations, keep width to height ration low
Most efficient : 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4
Less efficient : > 1:4

Disadvantages
• Create higher pressure drop
• More pounds of metal for same air flow rate
• Joint length is limited to the sheet width
• Joint are difficult to seal
Duct sizing method

 Equal Friction Method

 Velocity Reduction
 Static Regain
Equal friction method

 Sizes the duct for a constant “friction rate”

 Describes the average pressure drop per 100ft of duct in system
 Common friction rate : 0.1”wg / 100ft duct length

If we use 0.05” w.g / 100ft what happen ????

- Increase the duct size and costs by 15%
- Cuts the portion of total pressure drop in ductwork by 50%
- Fan energy savings of 15% - 20%
 Procedure
1. Determine the friction loss (in.wg/100ft)
2. Enter the CFM required (CFM)
3. Determine the size of duct diameter (Round Duct)
4. To find total friction loss:
- Multiply by the friction loss per 100ft length to the equivalent length of the
most critical path of ductwork having max resistance

Can use below tools:

• Friction chart
• Ductulator
• Software
Velocity Reduction Method
 Varying the velocity in the main & branch ducts

Procedure
1. Select suitable velocity in the main & branch ducts
2. Find the diameters of the main & branch ducts from air flow rates and
velocities
A = Q/V
A = area (ft2)
Q = flow rate (cfm)
V = velocity (fpm)
3. From velocity & duct dimension obtained, find friction pressure drop for the
main & branch duct using friction chart