Duct Design - Equal Friction Method
Duct Design - Equal Friction Method
Duct Design - Equal Friction Method
Salem
progressively in the direction of the return intakes. With the ducts sized
and the fittings known, the total pressure losses can be calculated, the
pressure gradients plotted, and the minimum pressure loss or critical path
of the system established.
A refinement of this method involves sizing the branch ducts to
dissipate the pressure available at the entrance to each. The pressure loss
of the ductwork between the fan and first branch take-off is subtracted
from the total fan pressure to obtain the available pressure at the first
junction. Through trial, a branch velocity is found that results in the
branch pressure loss being equal to or less than the pressure available.
The procedure is repeated for each branch.
2.
3.
The sized of the main duct and friction loss are determined.
4.
Example:
The system shown below, find the size of the main duct and branches.
Qt Q1 Q2 Q2
Qt 4 3 1 8 m 3 / s
We assume the velocity in the main duct A B and size the duct
V 8 m/s
Qt
d 2V
4
48
d
1.128 m
8
fL V 2
P
d 2
Assume the roughness of the surface from the table and calculate the
value,
0.00015
0.000133
1.128
We can calculate the Reynolds number for air in the main duct after
finding the viscosity and density of the air from the table.
The properties of the air is at 25 oC.
Re
Vd 1.184 8 1.128
5.80 10 5
6
18.413 10
f 0.0145
0.0145 30 8 2
P 1.184
14.61 Pa
1.128
2
P
0.487 Pa / m
L
The branch B-E.
Q AV
4Q
V2
8Q 2
V
,
2 4
2
d 2
d
P
f 8Q 2
L
d 2d 4
8 fQ 2 5 8 1.184 0.0145 1
d
0.491 m
2
5
0.487
2 P
L
4Q
V 2 5.281 m / s
d
By using the value of d and V, we can calculate the Reynolds number
again and modify the value of d and V if possible as follows,
The first modification of d and V gives,
Re
1.66 105
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.000305
0.491
f 0.016
d 0.501 m
V 5.073 m / s
The second modification of d and V gives,
Re
1.63 10 5
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.000299
d
0.513
f 0.016
The same fraction factor, so the value of d and V does not change.
d 0.501 m
V 5.073 m / s
We can check the volume flow rate is less or higher the design value,
Qcal AV
d 2V
8 fQ 2 5 8 1.184 0.016 7 2
d
1.091 m
2
5
0.487
2 P
L
4Q
47
V 2
7.489 m / s
d
1.0912
The first modification of d and V gives,
Re
5.25 105
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.000137
1.091
f 0.0146
The same fraction factor we used, so the value of d and V does not
change.
d 1.071 m
V 7.768 m / s
The second modification of d and V gives,
Re
5.35 10 5
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.00014
d
1.071
f 0.0146
The same fraction factor we used, so the value of d and V does not
change.
d 1.071 m
V 7.768 m / s
We can check the volume flow rate is less or higher the design value,
Qcal AV
d 2V
8 fQ 2 5 8 1.184 0.0146 3 2
d
0.7632 m
2
5
0.487
2 P
L
4Q
43
V 2
6.557 m / s
d
0.76212
The first modification of d and V gives,
Re
3.22 10 5
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.000197
d
0.7632
f 0.0163
10
d 0.780 m
V 6.275 m / s
The second modification of d and V gives,
Re
3.15 10 5
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.000192
d
0.780
f 0.0164
The same fraction factor we used, so the value of d and V does not
change.
d 0.780 m
V 6.275 m / s
We can check the volume flow rate is less or higher the design value,
Qcal AV
d 2V
8 fQ 2 5 8 1.184 0.0164 4 2
d
0.8764 m
2
5
0
.
487
2
L
4Q
4 4
V 2
6.630 m / s
d
0.85512
The first modification of d and V gives,
11
Re
3.74 10 5
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.000171
d
0.8764
f 0.0157
d 0.869 m
V 6.747 m / s
The second modification of d and V gives,
Re
3.77 10 5
6
18.413 10
0.00015
0.000173
d
0.869
f 0.0159
d 0.869 m
V 6.747 m / s
The difference between second and first modification is not so much, so
the value of d and V does not change.
We can check the volume flow rate is less or higher the design value,
Qcal AV
d 2V
12
Results
Section L (m) Q (m3/s) V (m/s d (m) Qcal
A-B
30
8.00
1.128 8.000
B-C
15
7.77
1.071 6.998
C-D
75
6.75
0.869 4.002
B-E
30
5.07
0.501 1.000
C-F
15
6.275
0.780 2.998
For galvanized steel air duct and air properties at 20 oC, the following
charts could be used for estimate the duct size and velocity at a given
pressure drop per meter and volume flow rate.
13
14
The above two charts recommended only for air and the duct which
made from galvanized steel with = 0.00015 m and rounded section. But
if another duct material it should be use correction factor.
We now recalculate the given example by using the duct chart.
The main duct A-B.
The total flow rate is,
Qt Q1 Q2 Q2
Qt 4 3 1 8 m 3 / s
We assume the velocity in the main duct A B and size the duct
V 8 m/ s
From chart at Q = 8 m3/s and V = 8 m/s, the equivalent diameter and
pressure loss are,
d 1.135 m
P 0.5 Pa / m
We use the value of P=0.5 Pa/m is constant through all branches and
determine the velocity and diameter from chart and tabulated the results
as follows,
Resluts
Section L (m) Q (m3/s) V (m/s d (m) Qcal
A-B
30
8.00
16
1.135 8.094
B-C
15
7.8
1.080 7.145
C-D
75
6.9
0.875 4.149
B-E
30
4.80
0.515 0.999
C-F
15
6.30
0.780 3.010
Qt Q1 Q2 Q2
Qt 4 3 1 8 m 3 / s
We assume the velocity in the main duct A B and size the duct
V 8 m/ s
From chart at Q = 8 m3/s and V = 8 m/s, the equivalent diameter and
pressure loss are,
d 1.135 m
P 0.5 Pa / m
17
30
8.00
1.135 8.094
B-C
15
7.00
1.130 7.020
C-D
75
6.00
0.925 4.032
B-E
30
7.00
0.430 1.017
C-F
15
6.00
0.800 3.016
18
V2
gZ C
2
V 2
gZ C
2
PS PV PZ PT
P
If
dZ 0,
PS PV PT ,
Where, PS : Static Pressure, PV : Velocity Pressure or Dynamic Pressure
PT : Total Pressure.
PV PT PS , where PT , PS are measuring by Pitotube.
PV
V 2
2
or V
2 PV
PS1 PV 1 PS 2 PV 2 PT
But due to friction loss
19
PS1 PV 1 PS 2 PV 2 PL
where, PL : total pressure drop or hydraulic losses between 1 and 2.
PS 1 PV 1 FTP PS 2 PV 2 PL
where, FTP is the pressure rise due to the Fan work and is called
the Fan total head pressure.
PS 2 V22
V12
hL
2
2
2
where, hL : represents the losses pressure drop in the duct.
PS 1
fL V 2
PF
, where, d : hydraulic mean diameter
d 2
Change of direction or velocity (dynamic loss)
PM K
V 2
2
, where, K : constant
20
For Enlargement.
PS1 PV 1 PS 2 PV 2
PS 2 PS1 PV 1 PV 2
Due to friction loss,
PL PT 1 PT 2 PS1 PV 1 PS 2 PV 2
21
Air
flow
through
simple
Suction-side
Friction of inlet grill, Pi :
0 PT 1 Pi
PT 1 C i PS 1 PV 1
PS1 (Pi PV 1 )
PT 2 ( PT 1 P1 2 )
PS 2 (Pi P1 2 PV 2 )
Similarly,
PT 5 ( PT 2 P25 ) (Pi P1 2 P25 )
PS 5 (Pi P1 2 P25 PV 5 )
Discharge-side.
The pressure loss at outlet in discharge grill, Pe :
22
duct
system.
PT 8 Pe PV 8
PS 8 PT 8 PV 8 Pe
PT 6 PT 8 P68 Pe P68 PV 8
PS 6 PT 6 PV 6 Pe P68 PV 8 PV 6
Fan Total Pressure, FTP
FTP PT 6 PT 5
Pe P68 PV 8 (Pi P1 2 P25 )
Pi P1 2 P25 P68 Pe PV 8
By applying the modified Bernoullis equation between 5-6,
PS 6 PS 5 V62 V52
Q W m
g ( Z 6 Z 5 )
2
56 56
Q 0, V5 V6 ,
56
Z5 Z 6 ,
Constant,
W Power
5 6
Power
If PV5=PV6,
23
Ve2
m
Power PF Pd
LV2
V 2 Ve2
m f
K
d
2
2
2
Power
P f
L1 2
1
1
V K V2 V2
d 2
2
2
2
.
L 1 V
f
K
d 2 A
.
.
1V 1 V
2 A 2 A
L1 1
1 1 1 1
P V f
2
2
d
2
A
2
A
2 A2
. 2
24
For one section of air duct, the V is the air volume flow rate.
The friction and dynamic loss can be wirtten as follows,
. 2
P R V
R
P
.
V
where,
L1 1
1 1 1 1
R f
K
2 A2 2 A2
d 2 A2
Where, R is the air duct flow resistance. So, by analogy with electricity,
we can derive the concept of resistance R of the duct system.
P P1 P2 P3
25
V V1 V2 V3
P
Rt
1
Rt
P
P
P
R1
R2
R3
1
R1
1
R2
1
R3
After could calculate the friction and dynamic loss in air duct system in
series or in parallel and calculate the equivalent resistance, we will tray to
calculate the power required in the last example.
Damper
: 050 Pa
Filter
: 100 Pa
Cooling coil
: 150 Pa
Eliminators
: 050 Pa
Heating Coil
: 150 pa
26
27
28
PAH
464.527
R1
PAH
. 2
1.184
m / s 2
464.527
7.2581 1 / m 4
2
8
Section A-B, R2 :
1 1
L1 1
f
2 A2
d 2 A2
1 1
30
R2
(0.3 0.0209
) 0.4285 1 / m 4
2 0.9986
1.128
R2 K
Section B-C, R3 :
1 1
L1 1
f
2 A2
d 2 A2
1 1
15
R3
(0.05 0.0208
) 0.2112 1 / m 4
2 0.8086
1.07
R3 K
Section C-D, R4 :
1 1
L1 1
f
2 A2
d 2 A2
1 1
75
R4
(0.05 0.75 0.50 0.0225
1)
2 0.3502
0.868
R4 6.0596 1 / m 4
R4 K
Section B-E, R5 :
29
1 1
L1 1
f
2 A2
d 2 A2
1 1
30
R5
(0.75 0.50 0.026
1)
2 0.0427
0.513
R5 44.151 1 / m 4
R5 K
Section C-F, R6 :
1 1
L1 1
f
2
2A
d 2 A2
1 1
15
R6
(0.75 0.50 0.0232
1)
2 0.2259
0.778
R6 5.970 1 / m 4
R6 K
1
Rt1
1
R4
1
R6
6.0596
1
5.970
Rt1 1.5149 1 / m 4
R3 , Rt1 in series shape, Rt2 :
1
Rt 3
1
R5
1
Rt 2
1
44.151
1
1.7261
Rt 3 1.20324 1 / m 4
R1 , R2 , Rt3 in series shape, Rt :
PF Pd
. 2
Rt V 8.8895 8 2 568.930
Fan Power.
30
m / s 2
P Pd
Power m F
.
. 2
V Rt V
. 3
V2
L V 2 Ve2
Power W m K
f
2
d
2
2
0.3
1
.
184
1
.
184
2 A B
A/C
15
0
.
702
7
.
79
Power 1.184 8
0.05
1.184
2 B C
75 0.702
6.78 2
C D
31
1.184
2 A B
A / C 1.184
15 0.702
7.79 2
1.184 7
0.05
2 B C
1.184
75 0.702
6.78 2
1.184 4
0.05 0.75 0.5 1
2
2 C D
30 0.702
4.84 2
1.184 1
(0.75 0.5 1)
1
.
184
2
BE
15 0.702
6.312
1.184 3
(0.75 0.5 1)
2
2
C F
Power 4659.41 86.234 375.037 52.263 177.806 5350.750 W
Power 5.4 KW
1- For air conditioning system shown below, calculate the duct size and
air velocity in each branch by using equal friction and velocity
reduction method. For the longest branch A-E and by using modified
Bernoull equation, estimate the power required for the electric air fan.
Assume that = 0.13.
32
2
2
2
2
Q W m P2 P1 V2 V1 g ( z 2 z1 ) fL V K V
t
2
d 2
2
3- In the duct layout shown below, the outlets are deliver 25 m3/min at 1,
15 m3/min at 2 and 30 m3/min at 3. Also, select air velocity of 8 m/s in
the section A. Determine the size of duct system using equal friction
method and determine the static pressure requirement for the air fan.
33
4- Size the duct in the problem 3 by using Velocity reduction method and
find the power required for the air fan.
5- For a system shown below, size the ducts on a rate of friction pressure
drop of 0.7536 Pa/m and the air flow rate from the fan is 4 m3/s. The
two outlets delivers equal masses of air.
a) Modify the diameter of branch duct to outlet 1 so that no
damper is required at the outlet.
b) Calculate the fan total and static pressure, also the power
required.
The pressure drops in each equipment are as follows:
Damper 50 Pa.
34
Condition
Inlet
1.4
Expander AB
0.35
Reducer BC
0.02
0.02
Reducer
GH
at
fan 0.3
discharge
Straight through duct 0.25
suction.
Elbow
0.23
Grille
0.5
35