MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

Design Project: Design of an all-air heating system for a home in Edmonton

Report due: Friday, November 21, 2014
Table of Contents
1.Introduction...........................................................................................................................................................1
2.Objectives.............................................................................................................................................................1
3.Baseline home and minimum design requirements..............................................................................................1
4.Seminar #2: Estimation of the heat losses in each zone, overall, and energy consumption of the baseline house
..................................................................................................................................................................................5
5.Seminar #3: Ductwork layout, register flow rates and furnace sizing and selection............................................5
6.Seminar #4: Ductwork sizing and balancing........................................................................................................6
7.Seminar #5: Report content and marking scheme................................................................................................7
8.References.............................................................................................................................................................8
1. Introduction
You have been asked to develop an all-air heating system proposal for a house in Edmonton. The home owner
has provided you with the floor plan and building envelope description for the house. The floor plain is shown
in Figure 1. The building envelope description is provided in Section 3. It is based on the Alberta Building Code
standards with further modifications by the homeowners in order to increase the energy efficiency of the house.
The house has a full basement.
2. Objectives
The objectives of the project are:
1. Determine, by doing hand calculations, the design heat loss of each room in the house and the total heat
loss. Assume the house is in Edmonton, AB.
2. Determine the total energy consumption and yearly operating cost for the house.
3. Size and select the furnace that you will use in your heating system, i.e., determine the furnace kW or
Btu and the flow rate required.
4. Determine the flow rate and location for all the air supply registers and grille returns in the house.
5. Determine the layout for the forced-air heating system ductwork for the main floor and basement (air
supply and return).
6. Size the supply ductwork. Size both main and all branches.
7. Balance the system using dampers. Specify the position and friction coefficient for all the necessary
dampers.
8. Report your design in the form of a written technical document.
3. Baseline home and minimum design requirements
The house you are aiming to design is located in Edmonton, therefore the design conditions are:
Dry bulb: -30.5oC
Relative humidity: 75%
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MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

Wind Speed: 6.7 m/s

Wind direction: North-East (Note: Wind direction is reported by the direction from which it originates)

6'

Figure 1: Main Floor Dimensions

The house will be occupied by two adults and two children. The minimum temperature inside the household is
20oC in the living areas and 18oC in the basement. The minimum relative humidity in the house should be 50%.
The floor plan of the house is shown in Figure 1. As discussed before, the house has a full basement and the
following notes apply:
Use outside dimensions to calculate all areas and volumes for the home.
Window widths are shown but heights are not. Assume that the bathroom windows are 36 inches tall and
all other windows, i.e. the bedroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen, are 48 inches tall.
Doors are 80 inches tall.
Assume there are four windows in the basement, one in each wall. Their dimensions are 20 inches tall
and 36 inches wide.
The basement is a full cast in place concrete basement. Assume a basement wall height of 2.44m and
that the portion of the basement above grade is 0.6m. This does not mean that the portion of the
concrete basement below grade level is 1.83m as you must account for the thickness of the floor
assembly.
Finished grade is 0.6m below top of concrete wall and is sloped to allow water to drain away from the
structure. Soil thermal conductivity is assumed to be 1.4 W/m-K.
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MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

The baseline house has the following construction for the building envelope:
1. Basic construction of above grade walls:
a. 12.7 mm gypsum board
b. 4 mil polyethylene air/vapor barrier
c. Spruce framing, 38 x 140mm (2 x 6in), 406mm (16 in) O/C, double top plate, and framing height
(including plates) 2464 mm (assume kstuds=0.13 W/(mC))
d. Glass fiber batt insulation between studs (assume kins=0.026 W/(mC))
e. 9.5 mm plywood (Douglas fir) sheathing
f. Tyvek water barrier
g. Stucco (sand aggregate), 25 mm thick (assume kstucco=0.97 W/(mC))
h. Note: Neglect any framing changes due to doors and windows.
2. Ceiling construction
a. 12.7 mm gypsum board
b. 4 mil polyethylene air/vapor barrier
c. Engineered truss system, 38 x 89 mm (2 x 4in) bottom chord, 607 mm O/C (kstuds=0.13 W/
(mC)) with glass fiber batt insulation between studs (kins=0.026 W/(mC))
d. An additional 203.2 mm (8 in) layer of glass fiber batt insulation over both studs and insulation
(kins=0.026 W/(mC)).
e. Exterior roof pitch 7/12, 12.7 mm plywood (Douglas fir) sheathing and, asphalt shingles
f. The attic is ventilated all year round.
g. Ceiling trusses run from south to north.
h. Note: Neglect any framing at the edges.
3. Main floor framing
a. Engineered floor trusses, 38x305 mm (2x12), 406 mm (16 in) O/C (kstuds=0.13 W/(mC))
b. Fir tongue and groove plywood 19mm thick with hardwood floor finish (Chardwood = 8.35 W/
(m2C))
c. Construction of the rim joist:
i. Stucco (sand aggregate), 25 mm thick (assume kstucco=0.97 W/(mC))
ii. Tyvek water barrier
iii. 38x305 mm (2x12) rim board
iv. 38x305 mm (2x12) floor joists, 406 mm (16 in) O/C (kstuds=0.13 W/(mC)) running from
south to north.
v. 6 of glass fiber batt insulation between joists (assume kins=0.026 W/(mC))
vi. Rim joist perimeter insulated with 89mm glass fiber batt insulation between joists
(kins=0.026 W/(mC)) insulation.
vii. 4 mil polyethylene air/vapor barrier
d. Note: Assume the studs at the level of the insulation are at the temperature of the room, i.e. no
film resistance.
4. Basement Construction
a. Concrete, cast in place walls, 203 mm thick (kconcrete = 2.1W/(mC))
b. 4 in of expanded polystyrene board insulation (kins = 0.037W/(mC)) is installed from the top of
the basement walls to the footing on the outside of the wall.
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MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

c. Footing size 406 mm (16 in) wide, 203 mm (8 in) thick

d. Wall height (measured from top of footing) 2440 mm (96 in)
e. Concrete, poured, floor thickness 100 mm (4 in). Poured in inside basement walls, bottom of
floor at top of footing level.
f. Interior height (96-4=92 in)
g. Note: On the section above grade, stucco (sand aggregate), 25 mm thick (assume kstucco=0.97 W/
(mC)) is also applied
5. Windows
a. All windows are operable, insulated fiberglass/vinyl casement windows with a double glazing,
6.4 mm air space and an emissivity of 0.01 on surfaces 2 and 3. They have a K value of 2
(average-fit)
6. Doors
a. All doors have the minimum RSI value of 3.125(m2-K)/W and a K value of 2 (average-fit).
7. The household was designed to meet the ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2013 for ventilation and indoor air
quality in low-rise residential buildings. According to the standard, the minimum total ventilation rate, in
L/s, is given by
Q tot =0.15 A floor +3.5(N br +1)
where the Afloor is the floor area of residence in m2 and Nbr is the number of bedrooms. Further, according
to the standard, a local mechanical exhaust system needs to be installed in each kitchen and bathroom.
The minimum required continuous local ventilation exhaust air flow rates are 10L/s for each bathroom
fan and 5 ACH for the kitchen fan (see ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2013, Table 5.2). Continuous local
exhaust systems can be credited towards the whole ventilation requirements.
Figure 2: Sample spreadsheet for calculating heat losses in each component, total heat losses and energy consumption

MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

In the home design, continuous local exhaust ventilation fans are installed in the kitchen and bathrooms.
For sizing, the kitchen is assumed to have a floor area of 12 by 13 feet. The local exhaust ventilation
fans provide the necessary minimum total ventilation requirement, so no other fan is installed in the
home.
For your heat loss calculations, compute the ventilation and exfiltration rate for the given system; and,
assume that infiltration is mainly from doors and windows. Assume the wind direction is south-west.
Note: Both wind and pressurization effects must be accounted for. For K = 2.0, the following expression
can be used to obtain the infiltration flow rate:
Infiltration rate=0.057(Pressure drop)0.8 where infiltration rate is in L/(s-m), the pressure drop is in
Pascals and a positive pressure drop causes infiltration.
8. The heating system to be designed should be a forced air heating system with the following
requirements:
a. Heating system efficiency is at least AFUE=90%
b. Heating system capacity is 1.25 times design heat loss
4. Seminar #2: Estimation of the heat losses in each zone, overall, and energy consumption of the
baseline house
The goal of this seminar is to:
1. Estimate the heat loss from each zone in the household
2. Compute the overall heat loss from the home
3. Estimate the total energy consumption using the heating-degree days method.
At the end of this seminar, I would like you to submit the layout of the house with each heating zone labeled
and boundaries defined.
In order to compute the heat losses in each room, first divide the space into heating zones. In your case,
consider every room of the house with a door as a separate zone. Closets and corridors should be considered as
part of the heating zone they are adjacent to.
Next, for each heating zone, identify the components that are responsible for heat losses in that zone, e.g. in
BR#2 heat loss will take place through the above grade wall, windows and doors (via transmission and
infiltration), ceiling, and floor. For each component, compute the thermal resistance (R-value) and heat loss
area. Then, compute the total heat loss area for each component, including infiltration.
Once the heat loss for each heating zone has been obtained, sum all the heat losses to obtain the total heat loss.
This total heat loss value can be used to compute the total energy consumption in the house. To compute the
total energy consumption, use the heating degree day method to compute the annual energy consumption for
each room and then add them to compute the energy consumption for the whole building envelope.
In order to help you perform all the calculations, develop a spreadsheet like the one shown in Figure 2.

MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

Figure 3: Sample ductwork for residential housing

5. Seminar #3: Ductwork layout, register flow rates and furnace sizing and selection
Once you have finished analyzing the heat loads in the building envelope, you are ready to start designing the
house heating system. In order to do so, you will need to go over the following stages:

Predict the size of your furnace using the heat load calculations.
Based on the heat loss in each zone, estimate the flow rate to each room and the total flow rate. Make
sure that your furnace can provide the desired total flow rate. Keep in mind the temperature rise in the
furnace and the maximum pressure drop in the ductwork (most furnaces have variable-speed fans,
therefore you only need to worry about making sure the pressure drop in the ductwork does not reach the
maximum allowable pressure drop the fan can provide).
Design the overall ductwork layout based on the total flow rate and the flow rate to each room.

At the end of this seminar, I would like you to submit:

1. A table with the heat loss for each zone in the household.
2. Your estimated overall heat loss and energy consumption for the household.
3. A preliminary layout of the ductwork.
The rule of thumb for sizing your furnace is that the minimum heating system capacity shall be 1.25 times the
design heat loss. Since you have already analyzed the heat losses in your building envelope this value is readily
available. Use this number to select a furnace from any furnace manufacturer such as Goodman [1], Trane [2] or
Lennox [3]. Select a furnace that is efficient and yet not too costly.
Based on the furnace capacity, the furnace specification sheet should tell you what the flow rate of the furnace
should be. Most small furnaces provide a maximum flow rate of about 1,000 CFM and can provide a pressure
drop of at most 0.8 w.c. (water column), i.e. about 200Pa. For the design of the heating system in your home,
use the appropriate flow rate from the furnace catalog.
Once the design flow rate has been selected, the starting point for determining the ductwork layout for
residential buildings is usually to calculate the fraction of the flow rate that should go to each zone. The flow
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MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

rate to each zone will depend on the heat loss for that zone. The total furnace flow rate of hot air should be
divided taking into account the percentage of heat losses for each heated zone.
The next step is to locate the air outlets (register) and return inlets (grilles) and to create the layout of the
ductwork. There is no restriction on the number of floor registers but there should be a minimum of one per
room. In order to minimize noise, the type and size of the registers is very important. For this project, it is
assumed that the same register is used at all the outlets and that each register should not carry more than 100
CFM. If you need to provide more than 125 CFM to a room, you will need to install several registers and split
the flow rate evenly between the registers. Both supply (hot air to the conditioned space) and return (cold air
back to the furnace) air systems are required in a household. It used to be that people just cut the doors shorter
and centrally located the return air intake. Even though this is no longer done, for simplicity, we will assume
this is the case for the project so that you only need to design the supply ductwork and not the return
ductwork.
For the supply system, the most common layout is to have the furnace centrally located in the basement, a
supply plenum connecting the furnace to the main duct, and a main rectangular duct hanging from the basement
ceiling. This main duct supplies air to round piping (placed between the floor joists) that delivers the hot air to
the registers (see Figure 3). In a standard air distribution system, registers are located under each of the
windows in the building to help keep the windows clear of condensation during very cold weather. Top take-off
fittings (see Figure 3), which allow connection of 4, 5 or 6 inch diameter round piping for floor boots or floor
registers, are used to connect the branch to the main duct.
6. Seminar #4: Ductwork sizing and balancing
The goal of this seminar is to show you how to:
Size the ductwork based on the equal-friction method.
Balance the system using dampers.
Check that the total pressure loss is appropriate for the furnace selected.
At the end of the seminar, I would like you to submit the following:
Estimated flow rate to each room.
Final layout of the ductwork.
Once you have obtained the duct system layout and the flow rate to be delivered to each zone, you can start
thinking on sizing the ductwork. In order to design the heating system, you must find the size of the main and
each branch of the supply. You will also need to size the plenum and the take-off. Use the equal-friction method
to determine the size of each branch using a desired pressure drop of about 1.5 Pa/m (Note that we are using a
larger pressure loss than in class since I would like to minimize duct size). Note that you are unlikely to find
tabulated values of loss coefficients for many of the fittings and transitions that are used. To move forward you
will have to assume a loss coefficient for things such as top take-off fittings, right angle boots and the like. If
you cannot find values for the exact fitting, pick something close and state the assumption you made. The
ASHRAE Fundamentals 2009 and 2013 handbooks provides loss coefficients for many fittings, it is likely you
can find one that is similar to the one you need.
Once you have determined the size of each branch, you will need to adjust each register in order to balance the
flow at each branch. Assuming a circular damper, determine the pressure loss and aperture angle for each
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MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

register/damper. Note that the only point where you will have a common pressure in the ductwork is the exit of
the furnace.
After the system has been sized, make sure that the pressure drop in your ductwork is appropriate, i.e. the
blower installed in the furnace you have selected will be able to deliver the desired flow rate.
You will want to use a spreadsheet for your calculations in order to simplify the iterative design process. In your
report, submit your spreadsheet and sample calculation showing how the values in the spreadsheet are obtained.
7. Seminar #5: Report content and marking scheme
The goal of this final seminar is to help you finalize the calculations and write up the final report.
At the end of the seminar, I would like you to submit the following
A table with the sizes of the main, branches and plenum.
Sample calculation for the total pressure loss through the system
The report should include the following:
a) Cover page
b) (7.5) Building Envelope Analysis and Energy Consumption Estimation
(0.5) Divide the building into appropriate heating zones. Justify your division and include a diagram
with the heating zones selected and labels. Include a spreadsheet at the back with the heat loss areas
used in each zone.
(1.5) For each building envelope component, determine the RSI-value and any other necessary
information. Create a table with the RSI-value of each component in the report. (Provide sample
calculations in the appendix).
(2) Determine the pressure inside the house and the overall ventilation, exfiltration and infiltration
rates. Is the house pressurized or depressurized? What are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
Imagine the wind blows from the south-west direction, what is the pressure in the house in this case?
Could you recommend any modifications to the ventilation system to reduce the possible
pressurization/depressurization of the house?
(2) For each zone, calculate the heat loss due to each building component, including windows and air
leakage and add them in order to obtain the total heat loss in each zone. (Provide sample calculations
in the appendix). Create a table summarizing the heat loss in each zone.
(1) Create a table with the overall heat loss in each component in the building envelope, e.g.,
windows, doors, exfiltration. If you had money to upgrade a building component, which one would
you upgrade? Justify your answer.
(0.5) Provide the total energy consumption for the house. Assuming natural gas costs $4/GJ, how
much money per year does it cost to heat the house?
NOTE: Provide all your calculations and a printout of your spreadsheet in the appendix.
b) (7.5) Forced-Air Heating System Design
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MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

Duct layout and hot air flow rate distribution:

a) (0.5) Determine the furnace capacity and select an appropriate furnace. For the specific furnace,
find the maximum flow rate and use the value to size the ductwork (Provide the furnace technical
sheet in the appendix and justify your selection).
b) (1) Determine the flow rate to each heating zone in the house (Provide sample calculations).
c) (1) Determine the position and flow rate to each register in the house. Create a summary table
showing the flow rate to each register.
d) (0.5) Determine the layout of the supply and return ductwork system for the main floor and
basement (both air supply and air return). Create a layout diagram showing the supply ductwork
for main floor and basement including labels for each register, flow rates and dimension.
Duct sizing and balancing:
a) (2) Size of the ductwork for the supply. Size plenum, main and all branches (Provide sample
calculations). Create a table with all the duct runs (both main and branches) and show the size of
each branch.
b) (2) Determine the pressure loss on each branch and determine the necessary loss coefficient at
each damper in the branch (usually located by the register) to balance the system. Create a table
with the damper pressure loss, loss coefficient and aperture angle (assuming a CD9-1 butterfly
damper with D/r = 0.98) for each branch (Provide sample calculations for how the value was
obtained for one branch).
c) (0.5) Determine the total pressure loss of the system. Compare the value to the requirement from
the selected furnace. Is the pressure loss appropriate? If not, you might need to increase the size
of the ductwork in your design or re-balance your system (Provide sample calculations).
NOTE: Provide all your calculations and a printout of your spreadsheet in the appendix.
b) Appendices:
Appendix I: Sample calculations for the heat loss for each component in the building envelope.
Appendix II: Sample calculations for overall ventilation and infiltration losses.
Appendix III: Excel sheet used for the heat loss calculations.
Appendix IV: Sample calculations for air distribution sizing and balancing. For balancing, select two
arbitrary branches and clearly show all pressure losses for each and how the two were balanced.
Appendix V: Specification sheet for the furnace
Note 1: I am looking for a good engineering analysis for the building envelope and a detailed duct design
including furnace sizing and selection. The format of the report should follow good practice (should be clear,
easy to read, informative, use graphics where appropriate and be in typed form). To that end there should be
zero spelling mistakes, zero incomplete sentences and the report should be properly punctuated. All values and
conclusions in the report should be properly justified. Sample calculations are required for all the calculations in
the report. I would like to see all sample calculations in the standard calculation format used in MECE 360 and
460 (e.g., state the assumptions, input parameters, equations used and the final values provide appropriate
references if the equations are not from the class notes).
Note 2: If I cannot understand your sample calculations, you will receive zero marks for that section.

MECE 463 Thermo-Fluids Systems Design

Instructor: M. Secanell

8. References
[1] http://www.goodmanmfg.com/ResidentialProducts/GasFurnaces.aspx
[2] http://www.trane.com/residential/en/products/heating-and-cooling/gas-furnaces.html
[3] http://www.lennox.com/products/furnaces/

GOOD LUCK!

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