AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

CHAPTER 4:
PRELIMINARIES
The economic operation of Air Distribution system requires careful design of
the duct network distributing the air to the zones and the pumping system
conveying the chilled water to the AHU. The important design aspects of air
distribution systems are the following criteria (i) computation of pressure losses
across ducts and fittings, (ii) arrangement of the duct network, (iii) characteristics
of fans, (iv) interaction of fan and duct network, and (v) distribution of air within
the conditioned space.
Moreover, the design of duct–fan systems involve a number of interrelated cost
considerations, including energy cost, duct system cost, and building space cost. In
view of the somewhat tedious and iterative computations involved, duct system
design is often carried out using computer programs. In the following sections we
shall present the fundamental physical principles needed for designing duct
systems.
In this chapter, we shall concern ourselves with the distribution aspects of the
system, design of ducts and the pressure required to be developed by the fan.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of this chapter, the students should be able to:
1. Define the different procedures of ducting design intended for air
distribution and return system
2. Calculate the specific losses in each geometry as applied in air distribution
system operation
3. Design for the necessary air handling equipment applicable in air
distribution system operation

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1. ROOM AIR DISTRIBUTION

The figure shows how air is handled in a simple air-conditioning system. It

is seen that a closed loop is formed for the circulation of air. The reference point
in this loop is the room itself which can be considered at atmospheric pressure.
The air enters the return duct through the inlets from the room and continues
to drop in pressure until it reaches the fan. The fan raises the pressure.
Thereafter, the pressure starts dropping in the supply duct until the air is
released to the space. Therefore, the pressure on the suction side of the fan is
negative, and on the discharge side, positive.
At this instance, we aim to design the system so that it will met the
requirement with respect to ventilation of the conditioned space. That is by
computing the required sizes of the ducting, head losses of air flow and enough
size of fan/blower so that this amount of required air can be distributed evenly
following the design requirement.
A. DUCT SIZING METHOD
The main consideration in the design of ducting systems intended for
the supply of conditioned air in the space comes from the two main factor:
(1) Noise Control and (2) Friction Control. The former has something to do
if our system is to be designed for comfort air conditioning. Nonetheless, if

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the conditioned space requires no sound level limit (especially in most of

the process air conditioning design), a designer may use the values of
velocities for friction control (Table 21.8).

Simply, these velocities can be maintained if the supply air volume is

known (from psychrometric calculation) thru the control of ducting cross
sectional area designed from the chosen ducts geometry. That is,

Where
v = air velocity in the ducting
Q = Volume flow rate of air (Analyzed in both main and branch)
A = Cross Sectional area of the ducting based from duct geometry
Similarly, the equation presented can also be used to determine the area of
the supply air outlets (plotted values are for noise control)

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B. PRESSURE LOSSES IN DUCTING SYSTEM

To effectively deliver the required amount of air into space, we need to
consider the power of the fan/blower so that a correct pressure will be
obtain to counteract the pressure losses existing during the flow of air in the
ducting, fittings and other components in the Air distribution system that
may contributes to the pressure drop. Below are the components of
pressure loss in the air distribution system, and later in this chapter, the
theoretical sizing of fan will be discussed.
1. Pressure drop in Straight Ducts
A flowing air in a straight ducting (no cross sectional change along the
line) will have a pressure loss equivalent to Darcy’s equation as:

Where:
∆P = Pressure loss (Pa)
f = dimensionless friction factor (using Colebrook’s, Moody Chart)
L = Length of the straight duct (m)
v = velocity of supply/return air (m/s)
ρ = density (kg/m3)
Deq. = Equivalent diameter of the duct (m)
For Equivalent Diameter of the Ducting, (A= cross sectional area)

To calculate the friction factor:

 Use of Moody Chart
The Moody chart gives the rough estimate of the friction coefficient with
known Deq, absolute surface friction and flow characteristics involving the

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use of a non-dimensional value called the Reynolds number as a function of

flow velocity and viscosity of the fluid used.
Methods are as follows:
1. Determine the Reynold’s number to determine the characteristics of
flow using one of the following equations:
Re = VD/v = ρVD/μ = γρVD/μg
V – fluid velocity (m/s, ft/s) v – kinematic Viscosity (m2/s, ft2/s)
D- Deq (m, ft) ρ – Fluid Density (kg/m3, lb/ft3)
μ – Absolute Viscosity (Pa-s) γ – Specific Weight (N/m3)
2. Determine the Absolute roughness of the material surface to be used
and find r to follow the line for ε/D in the chart:
r = ε/D
3. Intersect the vertical line (Re) and curve line (ε/D) to determine the
value of friction factor in the left side of the moody chart.
4. Apply the equation to find the pressure loss in ducting inserting the
coefficient of friction f in the equation.
 Use of Colebrook’s Equation
The Colebrook’s equation gives the accurate value of the friction
coefficient after several iterations and through the values of diameter,
absolute surface friction and flow characteristics involving the use of a non-
dimensional value called the Reynolds number as a function of flow velocity
and viscosity of the fluid used.
Methods are as follows:
1. Determine the Reynold’s number to determine the characteristics of
flow using one of the following equations:
Re = VD/v = ρVD/μ = γVD/μg
V – fluid velocity (m/s, ft/s) v – kinematic Viscosity (m2/s, ft2/s)
D- Deq (m, ft) ρ – Fluid Density (kg/m3, lb/ft3)
μ – Absolute Viscosity (Pa-s) γ – Specific Weight (N/m3)

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2. Substitute the required parameters of the Colebrook’s equation.

Assume first for the value of f, find in the table above the value for absolute
roughness ε, and iterate the equation below:

The obtained value is the exact value of friction coefficient and next
procedure can be followed immediately.
4. Apply the equation to find the pressure loss in ducting inserting the
coefficient of friction f in the equation.
 Estimation from the graph (values from fig. 21.15 and 21.16)
Estimation can be made if the type of material used for ducting is a
galvanized steel which is made to conform to the widely manufactured
absolute surface roughness of 0.15mm. The table also applies to a round
ducting as specified in the graph. For a rectangular ducting, use the
correction formula to determine the equivalent diameter as:

Where a and b are the measures of the sides as applied to a rectangular

ducting.
Take into consideration that the table only applies to air at 200C and
P=101.325kPa. For a correction factor for temperature other that 200C, apply
the proportionality equation as:

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2. Pressure drop in Fittings

a. Pressure loss in diverging/converging ducting:

When air flows frictionless through a converging or diverging
ducting, the Bernoulli’s equation applies and the head loss will be derived
as:

b. Sudden Enlargement:
Revising the Bernoulli’s equation to include pressure losses, we may
calculate the loss of pressure due to sudden enlargement.

Sudden Enlargement

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c. Sudden Contraction:
A sudden contraction occurs in the duct section where the duct size is
abruptly reduced in the direction of flow. The flow pattern is predicted as
shown in the figure. A correction factor must be selected and applied
accordingly to adjust the pressure losses.

Sudden Contraction
Due to turbulence a vena contracta appears in section 1’ is observed. That is,
the factor can be obtained from Table 6-3 to apply the below formula:

Where Cc is the contraction coefficient. (Table 6-3)

d. Turns:
The most common elbows used in duct system are 900 turns, either circular
of rectangular cross section.
For rectangular turns:
1. Measure from the design the ratio Ri/Ro

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2. Measure from the design the ratio W/H

3. Determine the factor multiplier for V2ρ/2 in figure 6-8 to calculate the
pressure loss.
For circular turns:
1. Calculate the geometry factor (RCURVATURE/Diameter)
2. See table 6-4 to locate the geometry factor multiplier for V2ρ/2 to yield
the pressure loss

d. Branch Take off/Branch Entry

Due to individual branch supply/entry by/on the main stem of the
ducting system, there are momentum and fittings losses experienced by the
fluid flow given by the equations below:
For Branch Take-off pressure loss considering flow from u to d

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Branch Take-off
For Branch Take-off pressure loss considering flow from u to b
1. Calculate the ratio Vb/Vu
2. From the design geometry, measure the take-off angle of the branch
3. In figure 6-11, locate the factor multiplier for V2ρ/2 to yield the
pressure loss

For Branch Entry

Head loss between u and d considering the branch entry angle β:

If the branch entry angle is 900, the equation above reduces as follow:

For branch area ratio (Au/Ab) greater than 4.0:

Branch Entry

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C. FAN SIZING
After calculating the pressure losses in both the ducting and fittings in
the longest duct run, total frictional and geometry losses will now be used
to estimate the fan power.
As per application, fans and blowers are used simultaneously where
great amount of fluid (gases) volume is to be displaced requiring a low
pressure flow. Thus, basic flow and energy equation for fans and blowers
can be also used simultaneously.
Basically the total air power needed to drive the flow can be
computed using the below equation:

where:
TAP = total air power
γa = specific weight of air existing in the given air temperature
Q = Volume flow rate of air
ha = total head of air measure in both side of fans/blowers
streamline
Applying the bernoulli’s equation to calculate the total head of the
air:

Equation above can calculate the value of the total head of air
required after determining the static pressures in suction and in discharge
as well as air velocities and including the head losses where the fluid travels.

Head loss is the calculated pressure requirement of the ducting as presented

in the previous section. It can be calculated as:
hloss = Ploss/ρgair

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hs (static head) and hv (velocity head) are given below:

There are some instances where suction and discharge pressure are not
measured using a pressure gauge and the only means is the use of water
filled manometer. In this case, head of the fluid inside the manometer must
be converted to the equivalent static head of air given as:

Some formulae involved in fans and blower calculations:

Static Power:

Static Efficiency:

Total Fan Efficiency:

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Fan Laws for Variable Motor Speed, Constant fan size and air density:

SUPPLEMENTARY PROBLEMS:
1. Design to size up the fan power of a certain Air handling unit having the
following data:
Material used: Commercial GI Sheet, Circular ducting design
Supply pressure in the diffuser: 2mm H2O
Velocity at diffuser: 5m/s
Supply temperature and humidity ratio: 180C, 0.00324kgv/kg da
Turn radius are equal to the corresponding duct diameter
The diameter reduction in each of the section follows a converging geometry
Fan Vacuum requirement: 100Pa
No difference in suction and discharge velocity in the fan side
Motor and Total Fan efficiency: 87%/80%

2. Repeat problem 1 considering that the design of ducting is of a square cross

section as well as the branch leading to diffuser. Use ratio of inner to outer
radius of turns of 0.2 and area reduction in each section is converging.

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