2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

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Latest Masterclass (/masterclass)

Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

In the previous article the various methods used to calculate the pressure loss through ducts were brie y described. In this article we will follow a
worked example using the Equal Friction Method of calculation.

Mike Creamer.

Step 1 Study the conditioned spaces and locate the outlet di users and return air louvres. The location of these items must take into consideration:
the number of air changes; draughts; noise; temperature gradients; work patterns of the occupants.

Establish the required pressure drop for each of the outlet and inlet ttings necessary to achieve the design air pattern. (The design and selection of
di user and louvres is a topic in its own right and will be covered in the near future.)

Range of capture velocities

 

Step 2 Identify the route of the ductwork, noting the space available. Maximise the use of circular ductwork and when rectangular is used, endeavour
to maintain the lowest practical aspect ratio's for each of the runs.

Range of conveying velocities for di erent types of dusts

 

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2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

Step 3 Prepare a preliminary layout based on recommended velocities and ascertain if the duct sizes can be accommodated.

Step 4 Calculate the duct losses. If the resultant calculations reveal excessive losses then adjust duct sizes. Alternatively, it may be possible to
identify duct sections which can be reduced to improve the economics of the installation.

Step 5 It may be necessary to repeat steps 3 and 4 a number of times before the optimum design is established.

Figure 1: Duct design layout

 

Step 6 Analyse the design for potential noise problems and incorporate the necessary ttings. Adjust calculations to take any additional pressure
losses arising from the use of noise attenuators into account.

Step 7 Prepare nal manufacturing drawings.

Step 8 Select fan with the necessary characteristics.

To place the above steps into context we will examine and calculate the characteristics of the duct layout shown in Figure 1.

This scheme assumes that we have based the design on a low velocity system and from our preliminary layout the dimensions shown can be
accommodated within the building. The overall design parameters are as follows: The application is an open plan o ce.

Total air volume ow rate = 2.25m3/s

Main duct velocity = 7.6m3/s

The starting size of the main duct is established by table 1 in Master Class part 29 Recommended and maximum velocities.

Main duct size, circular area =

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2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

Using table 2 in Masterclass part 29 last month (circular equivalents of rectangular ducts) giving the equivalent rectangular duct dimensions we nd
that a duct with the long side of 800 mm and short side 400 mm has the equivalent diameter of 609 mm. Since this duct has a diameter slightly less
than was calculated, a check to nd the actual velocity will show:

which is only 0.12m/s higher and acceptable.

On the basis of the known air volumes required in each branch duct and di user leg, we could approximate the sizes for all the ducts and following
calculations, amend the duct sizes until we achieve the required result. However table 3 (Percent Section Area in Branches) allows us to speed up the
process with much more accurate results.

To use table 3 we must establish the percentage of air leaving the main duct at the branch. With this percentage we can then read the duct Circular
Equivalent (referred to as Ce) as a percentage of the main ducts Ce area.

In gure 1: 750 l/s passes into the branch duct at (B);

From the table we read adjacent to 33% air volume that the duct area required is 41% of the Ce area of the main duct.

Main ducts Ce area = 0.291 m2

Therefore branch duct Ce area = 0.291 x 0.41 = 0.119 m2

Volume of air in the next section of duct = 1500 l/s.

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2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

From the table we read 73.5% of main duct area required = 0.291 x 0.735 = 0.214 m2 Ce area.

The exercise is repeated for all the ducts in the system (see chart 2 on opposite page).

Note: When using tables or charts calculations based on velocity eg velocity pressure, then the actual velocity must be established by dividing the
volume by the actual cross section area of the tting, not the equivalent area. Calculations to arrive at the friction loss through a tting must always
use the equivalent area.

Duct Sizing

Table 4-10: Plane asymmetric di user at fn outlet with ductwork

 

Table 3: percent section area in branchesdiv>

 

Working in the direction away from the fan; the rst duct tting is the fan to duct transform section, marked on gure 1 as (i). To obtain the local
loss coe cient Co we enter the table (Plane Asymmetric Di user with Ductwork).

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2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

Therefore the ratio will be

The duct divergence angle is designed to be 20°.

for this tting is: Co = 0.1 (by interpolation).

The area of the fan outlet (rectangular dimensions 400mm x 400mm) is 0.16 m2

Using either the Velocity Pressure table 4 (Master Class 29) or the formula:

we establish the velocity pressure (Pv) = 119.1Pa.

Therefore pressure loss for fan transform = velocity pressure x tting loss coe cient = 119.1 x 0.1 = 11.9Pa.

The next tting shown (ii) is a right angle mitred elbow with single thickness vanes. When calculating the pressure loss for this tting, the key
elements are the radius of the vanes r, the distance between vanes s and the length of the trailing edge of the vane L.

The radius and distance between vanes will be determined by the size of the elbow and its associated manufacturing cost. For this size of elbow we
will use a radius of 115mm set at 60mm apart without any trailing extensions. For this design, the loss coe cient Co is 0.15. The velocity pressure for
a duct 800mm x 400mm with an actual velocity of 7.03m/s is 29.8Pa. Therefore the loss through the elbow = 29.8 x 0.15 ? 4.5Pa.

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2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

Figure 1, shows that the next tting in the main duct is a diverging 'Y' branch tting (iii).

The calculation parameters are volume of air entering tting (Qc), volume leaving at branch (Qb). Area at entry to tting (Ac) and area of branch
outlet (Ab) together with area of main outlet As. We also require the velocity pressure and since the duct section at Qc is the same as the previous
tting and the air volume is the same, the velocity pressure will be 29.8Pa.

Since we are concentrating on the losses in the main duct run we enter the table top left (diverging wye) at

Then the loss or (gain) will be

Pv x Cc = 29.8 x -0.04 = -1.192 Pa.

The total length of duct between ttings (A) and (B) is made up of ducts D1 and D2. If we enter Chart 5 (Masterclass Part 29) at the air quantity and
rise vertically until the line intersects with equivalent duct diameter 609 mm we establish the fraction loss is 0.8 Pa/m. Therefore the losses through
these ducts are:

D1 = 6 x 0.8 = 4.8 Pa

and D2 = 15 x 0.8 = 12.0 Pa

Immediately after tting (iii) we must reduce down to duct section D3 via a duct transition piece tting (iv).

Table 6 is used in conjunction with the duct sizing table. We have to establish the inlet Ai to outlet Ao area ratios together with the angle of slope
between inlet and outlet. We have decided the slope angle will be between 15° and 40°. The ratio:

since this gure is less than 2 we look at the intersection of 2 on y axis and 15°- 40° on the x axis to read Co = 0.05. The velocity and velocity pressure
are respectively:

and from the Velocity Pressure table Pv = 23.5 Pa.

Therefore the loss will be 23.5 x 0.05 = 1.2 Pa.

We now come to tting (v) a diverging 'T'. To establish the loss coe cient for this tting we have to calculate the velocity ratio of the air entering
the 'T' and the velocity of the air leaving the 'T'. From gure 1 we see that the 'T' has a section 800mm x 300 mm and the volume entering is 1500 l/s.
This equates to a velocity of 6.25m/s and a velocity pressure of 23.5Pa. The volume of air leaving the 'T' is 750 l/s giving a velocity of 3.125m/s,

From the Chart 2 we nd Cc = 0.09.

Pressure loss = 23.5 x 0.09 = 2.12Pa.

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Chart 2
 

Following the 'T' we have a transformation piece (vi) and we have already shown how to calculate the loss through this type of tting, so we now
examine tting (vii) which is an elbow without vanes in the main duct run. The variables used in calculating the losses are the ratio of the centre line
radius r divided by the width W of the duct:

However the loss coe cient Co = Ke x KRe x C'o

With Ke being a correction factor for angles other than 90°(see table 7) therefore in this instance Ke= 1. KRe is the correction factor based on
Reynolds number for standard air (66.3).

D = the circular equivalent diameter in mm

Vo is the velocity in m/s

Re = 66.3 x D x Vo

Re = 66.3 x 390 x 5.56 = 143765

Re x 10-4 Therefore 143765 x 10-4 = 14.3765

Table 8 shows that if Re x 10-4 =>14 and if

Therefore

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2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30
Co = Ke x KRe x C'o

Co = 1 x 1.15 x 0.18 = 0.21

Diverging Y's (viii) and (x) are calculated in the same way as (iii). See Chart 3-7a and Chart 4-5.

We now come to tting (xii), a 90° radius bend containing a single turning vane. To establish Co we must identify the interim loss coe cient C'o.

C'o is a function of the radius or curve ratio and the ratio of the depth of the duct W and its cross sectional length H. The radius for this bend has been
selected as 200 mm and the W dimension is also 200 mm the H dimension is 275 mm.

The intersection of these 2 numbers shows C'o = 0.05

Ke is found from Table 7

Using the angle 90° Ke = 1.

Since Co = Ke x C'o = 1 x 0.05 = 0.05.

The loss at this tting is Pv x Co.

From Table 4 velocity pressure (see Masterclass Part 29) using velocity 4.55 we interpolate

@ 4.50 = 12 and @ 4.60 = 13, thus 4.55 = 12.5Pa.

To double check we calculate using the formula

= 12.46

Pv = 12.46Pa

Then loss at this elbow = 0.05 x 12.46 = 0.62Pa.

The total loss on the index run of the duct is the sum of all losses. The fan selection will be based on this gure.

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2/7/2018 Masterclass: Ducting: Equal Friction Method Part 30

With thanks to Mike Creamer of Business Edge who revisits his Masterclass series of articles, updating and adding to the information which
proved so useful to readers when the series was rst published over ten years ago. In this reincarnation, the series will cover both air
conditioning and refrigeration and serve as an on-going source of technical reference for experienced personnel as well as providing a solid
educational grounding for newcomers to our industry.
 1 June 2008

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Comments

By Jose C 01 June 2008 01:01:00

Hello:
Is there any standard minimal or optimal distance between the outlets (difussers or grills) and the end cap of the duct? I have heard that 12 inches is a right distance, but is this a good
standard?
Same question for nding the optimal lenght of a converging transition in a supply or return system.
Thanks.

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