Example 4 - Cafeteria

Size the index run for the ductwork system shown below and give the total pressure drop for the system.
Size the fan for the system.
The building is a Cafeteria.
The index run includes sections A,B,C,D.
 Air Flow Rate Length
Section
(m3/s) (m)
A 1.20 10
B 0.90 3
C 0.60 6
D 0.30 8

NOTES:

1. Keep one side 350 mm high.

2. Ductwork to be rectangular galvanised steel.
3. There are no additional pressure losses.
4. Tapered reductions are at 45 degrees.

Duct Sizing Table

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Pressure Fittings Pressure Loss Total

Length Flow Duct Velocity
drop per Velocity pressure loss Pressure
Section Rate Size Pressure Straight
metre (m/s) factor or Fittings Loss
(m) (m3/s) (mm) (Pa)
(Pa/m) (zeta) factor (Pa)
Duct (Pa)
(Pa)
A 10 1.2 1.0 0.47 m dia. 1.2 / (0.5 0.5 x 1.2 x Intake louvre = 6.5 see drg. 28.2 x 7.17 1.0 x 10 202 + 10
(0.47/2)2 / x 0.35) 6.862 = Bend = 0.67 = = 10 = 212
0.350 = 0.4957 = 28.2 Reduction to section B will go in 202
500 x 350mm 6.86 downstream section (B).
TOTAL = 7.17
B 3 0.9 1.0 0.43 m dia. 6.05 22.0 Branch Index Circuit is straight
425 x 350mm through (VP1 to VP2) .
The VP ratio VP2/VP1 0.29 x 22 3 9
= 22 / 28.2 = 6
= 0.78
Thezeta factor from EXAMPLES OF
zeta FACTORS is 0.09
Reduction = 0.2 for taper on one
side.
TOTAL = 0.29
C 6 0.6 1.0 0.37 m dia. 5.28 16.7 Branch
325 x 350mm VP ratio = 16.7 / 22 = 0.76 6 6 12
zeta factor = 0.16 by interpolation
Reduction = 0.2 for taper on one
side.
TOTAL = 0.36
D 8 0.3 1.0 0.28 m dia. 4.90 14.4 Branch
175 x 350mm VP ratio = 14.4 / 16.7 = 0.86 64 8 72
zeta factor = 0.08 by interpolation
Reduction = 0.2 for taper on one
side.
Bend = 0.67
Outlet diffuser = 3.5 see drg.
TOTAL = 4.45
It is a good idea to look at the velocities in each section.
If the air velocity is high, then noise may be a problem.
Acceptable noise levels depend on the areas to be ventilated.
The Table below may help to decide if the velocity is too high or not.
The velocity for the main ducts, section A,B,C do not exceed 9 m/s from the Table.
The velocity for the branch duct, section D also does not exceed the value of 6 m/s from the Table.

Air Velocity (m/s)

Building
Main Duct Branch
Domestic 3 2
Auditoria 4 3
Hotel bedroom, Conference hall 5 3
Private office, Library, Hospital ward 6 4
General office, Restaurant, Dept. store 7.5 5
Cafeteria, Supermarket, Machine room 9 6
Factory, Workshop 10-12 7.5

The fan should be capable of delivering 1.2 m3/s against a pressure of 305 Pa.

A percentage addition may be added to these figures for a design margin.

Fan Selection

To choose a fan go to; www.flaktwoods.com.

Type: JM Aerofoil axial flow fan, or go to http://www.flaktwoods.com/169/0/1/076c8cda-f44c-4779-ab73-
8ede6304a028 for a technical catalogue.
The fan code: 35JM/16/2/5 size: 355 mm diameter, 28o blade pitch angle, 2840 rev/min 5 Blades 50 Hz would fit
the criteria for duty and output pressure; 1.2 m3/s against a pressure of 305 Pa.

Since this fan is running quite fast at 2840 rev/min it is somewhat noisy at about 86 dB (less corrections).
A quieter fan would probably be better.

System Resistance

The system resistance of 305 Pa is mainly from section A at 212 Pa.

If we examine this section on the Duct Sizing Table we can see that most of the resistance comes from the Intake
Louvre.
The Intake Louvre pressure drop is; Intake Louvre - x V.P. = 6.5 x 28.2 = 183 Pa.
We could choose a louvre with a lower resistance.
Go to; www.gilbertsblackpool.com. series wg louvres.
Or go to http://www.gilbertsblackpool.com/UserFiles/File/louvres/SERIES%20WG%20-%20Jan%202006.pdf.

If a 700mm wide x 500mm high louvre is used then the sizing nomogram gives a pressure drop of 69 Pa for a air
flow rate of 1.2 m3/s.
This is a lot less than the previously calculated pressure drop of 183 Pa so this louvre would significantly reduce
fan pressure.

We could also examine the outlet diffuser resistance.

The Outlet Diffuser pressure drop is; Outlet Diffuser - x V.P. = 3.5 x 14.4 = 50 Pa.
Go to www.waterloo.co.uk. Aircell polymer louvre faced diffuser.
The air flow rate in section D is 0.3 m3/s = 300 l/s.
If a M600 diffuser is used it will fit into a ceiling tile and have less pressure drop than a M450.
The performance Table for a 4 way diffuser supplying 315 l/s gives a Ps (Static pressure drop) of 9 Pa.
This is a lot less than the previously calculated pressure drop of 50 Pa so this diffuser would also reduce fan
pressure.

The new fan pressure is; 305 - 183 - 50 + 69 + 9 = 150 Pa.

The new fan rating is; 1.2 m3/s against a pressure of 150 Pa.
The new fan code: 45JM/16/4/5 size: 450 mm diameter, 28o blade pitch angle, 1420 rev/min 5 Blades 50 Hz,
would fit the criteria for duty and output pressure; 1.2 m3/s against a pressure of 150 Pa.
Since this fan is running at half the previous fan speed it produces less noise at about 79 dB (less corrections), but
is a more expensive fan.

To be more accurate we could add resistances for; transformation pieces at the Intake louvre and fan, VCDs
(volume control dampers), flexibles at fan, plenum box at outlet diffuser.