Sizing circular ductwork

You need to size circular ductwork according to the flow rate (L/s) through each section of pipework. You can use a friction loss chart or ductulator to help you size the ductwork for a heating or cooling system. Commercial heating and cooling systems are more complex than domestic systems. When sizing circular ductwork for a commercial system you will need to!

analyse the layout of the ductwork materials and fittings used throughout the system perform calculations "ased on material and fitting specifications size ductwork to ensure the system operates efficiently and effecti#ely ("alanced system).

$he following diagram outlines the features of a sizing chart that has "een designed for sizing circular ductwork and fittings in a commercial heating and cooling scenario.

$he following demonstration steps through the process of sizing circular ductwork for a commercial heating and cooling system. %se the worked example&s Back and Next na#igation to #iew the demonstration. Worked example ' of ()

$his worked example steps through the process of sizing circular ductwork for a commercial heating and cooling system.

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Size straight lengths of ductwork

Looking at the ductwork sizing chart you can see that ductwork section * has an airflow rate of ')+, L/s. $o help us identify the correct ductwork size for section * draw a line across the friction loss chart from the ')+, L/s airflow rate. -tarting at a friction loss of (.+ .a/m draw a line up from the (.+ .a/m friction loss rating. $he intersection of these two lines will determine the ductwork size. We can see that /+, mm is a suita"le size for ductwork section *.

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Determine air velocity for ductwork

We can use the friction loss chart to determine the #elocity of air through the duct. 1or example for ductwork section * identify the point where the airflow rate of ')+, L/s and friction loss of (.+ .a intersect along the #elocity line of the friction loss chart. $he intersection falls "etween a #elocity of 2 m/s and ', m/s. We can select the next a#aila"le air #elocity cur#e of 3.+ m/s for ductwork section *.

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Correct friction loss through ductwork

4ach straight section of ductwork in this system was sized at an initial friction loss of (.+ .a/m. $his pressure loss falls within the suggested pressure loss range. We will need to correct the friction loss to help us size a "alanced system. $he correction is determined "y identifying the duct size for each straight section and then selecting the nearest pressure loss on the friction loss chart. 1or example ductwork section * would ha#e a corrected friction loss of 0./ .a.

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Determine pressure loss through ductwork

$he section pascals column descri"es the amount of pressure loss through each section of ductwork. Looking at the sizing chart you can see that the section * ductwork has a length of 0.+ m and a corrected pressure loss of 0./ .a. $hese #alues are multipled to determine the pressure drop of each section. You can enter this e5uation into the section pascals column in the section * area of your ductwork sizing chart.

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Calculate pressure drops for ductwork

$he pressure drop for each straight section of ductwork can "e calculated "y multiplying the length of each section "y the corrected pressure loss. 1or example the pressure drop of section * would "e ''.3 .a. You can enter the result of this calculation in the pressure drop column in the ductwork section of your sizing chart.

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Calculating the velocity pressure of the air passing through the ductwork
7efore you can calculate the #elocity pressure of the air passing through the ductwork you will need to know the air temperature density and #elocity. *ll air conditioning e5uipment is rated for -tandard air. -tandard air has a temperature of ('.( 8C density of '.(,/' kg/m0 and pressure of ','0(+ .a. 9enerally the #alues for standard air are used in calculations for air conditioning processes and e5uipment selection unless the temperature of the air #aries "y more then a"out ', 8C. :nce you know the air temperature and density you can use this e5uation to calculate the #elocity pressure.

$he #elocity pressure of the air passing through a section of ductwork carrying -tandard air at a #elocity of 3.+ m/s can "e calculated with this e5uation.

$he #elocity pressure of the air passing through this section of ductwork is +/.'+ .a. Worked example 2 of ()

Determine fitting type

$here are a large #ariety of fittings that can "e used in a commercial heating or cooling system. 1ittings are often specified "y the mechanical ser#ices engineer or "uilding architect. *lways refer to your layout and specifications to determine the type of fittings to use in your system. $his system is using $44 /'' and 74;< ,'' type fittings.

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Fitting 1

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$he 74;< ,'' fitting has a cur#ed straight=through air path.

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#dentify radius$to$diameter ratio %&'D(

Looking at the 74;< ,'' fitting specifications we can see that it has a default radius ratio of '.,.

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Determine the fitting)s *t factor

$he 74;< ,'' fittings that will "e used in this system ha#e a radius ratio (>/<) of '!,. We will use the fitting?s radius to determine the fitting?s @t factor. @t is a mathematical factor (de#eloped "y the manufacturer of the fitting) used to calculate pressure loss of a fitting using the #elocity pressure of the air or water passing through the fitting. $o help us identify the @t factor we can draw a line across the "end angle correction ta"le from the '., radius ratio. 4ach 74;< ,'' fitting has a @t factor of ,.(/.

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Determine velocity pressure

$he #elocity pressure of each 74;< ,'' fitting is determined "y the #elocity pressure of each section of connected ductwork. Looking at the sizing chart you can see that the A section ductwork has a #elocity pressure of ('.) .a. $he AB@ 74;< ,'' fitting will also ha#e a #elocity pressure ('.) .a. 4nter this .a amount into the #elocity pressure column in the AB@ 74;< ,'' fitting section of your sizing chart.

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Calculate pressure drop

$he pressure drop of each 74;< ,'' fitting can "e calculated "y multiplying the fitting&s #elocity pressure "y its @t #alue. $he following e5uation descri"es how to calculate the pressure drop of the AB@ 74;< ,'' fitting.

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Fitting +

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$he $44 /'' fitting has a straight$through and a .ranched air path. You will need to determine the pressure drop for each of these air paths.

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Determine velocity ratio of straight$through air path

$he #elocity ratio of the $44 /'' fitting&s straight=through air path can "e determined "y identifying the fitting&s entry #elocity and exit #elocity. 1or example the CB* $44 /'' fitting has an air path with an exit #elocity of 2.3 m/s and an entry #elocity of 3.+ m/s. $he #elocity ratio for this fitting would "e expressed as 2.3!3.+.

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,!! -11 Calculate velocity ratio %/D'/0( of straight$through air path

$he #elocity ratio (C</C%) of each $44 /'' fitting&s straight=through air path can "e determined "y di#iding the fitting&s exit #elocity "y the fitting&s entry #elocity. $he following e5uation descri"es how to calculate the C</C% of the CB* $44 /'' fitting.

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Determine *t of straight$through air path

$o help us determine the @t factor of each $44 /'' fitting we can draw a line across the straight=through air path ta"le from the fitting&s #elocity ratio. $he CB* $44 /'' fitting has a @t factor of , "ased on a straight=through air path #elocity of 3.0 m/s.

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Calculate pressure drop of straight$through air path

$he pressure drop can "e calculated "y multiplying the #elocity pressure of a section of straight=length ductwork "y the @t factor of a $44 /'' fitting&s straight= through air path. $he following e5uation descri"es how to calculate the pressure drop of CB* $44 /'' fittings straight=through air path.

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Determine velocity ratio %/B'/0( of .ranch air path

$he #elocity ratio (C7/C%) of each $44 /'' fitting&s "ranch air path can "e calculated "y di#iding the fitting&s exit #elocity "y the fitting&s entry #elocity. $he following e5uation descri"es how to calculate the C7/C% of the 7B* $44 /'' fitting.

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Calculate entry and exit area of ductwork

Calculate the entry and exit area of each section of ductwork "y con#erting the ductwork&s diameter to an area (m(). You can use Dr( to calculate the area of the ductwork.

1or example ductwork section 7 has a diameter of /+, mm. $his diameter con#erts to an area of ,.,/3 m(.

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Calculate area ratio %1B21D(

$he area ratio (*7!*<) for the $44 /'' fitting&s "ranch air path can "e calculated "y di#iding the fitting&s exit #elocity "y the fitting&s entry #elocity.

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Calculate pressure drop through .ranch air path

$he pressure drop can "e calculated "y multiplying the #elocity pressure of a length of straight ductwork "y the @t factor of a $44 /'' fitting&s "ranch air path.

$he following e5uation descri"es how to calculate the pressure of the 7B* $44 /'' fitting&s "ranch air path.

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Determine run loss

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*dd all of the straight ductwork sections losses and fitting losses together to determine each run&s pressure loss.

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Determine the #ndex

:nce each run loss has "een calculated identify the run with the highest loss and call it the Endex.

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Calculate pressure re3uired to .alance the system

<etermine the amount of pressure that is re5uired to "alance the system "y su"tracting the total loss of each run from the Endex. Ef the pressure re5uired to "alance each run is "elow 6+ .a "alance can "e achie#ed "y closing "ranch dampers that are installed within the ductwork. Ef the pressure re5uired to "alance the system is o#er 6+ .a the ductwork and fittings will need to "e resized.

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,he complete system

:nce the final adFustments ha#e "een made the system is complete.