What is a dual duct system?

In the dual-duct system, warm air and cool air travel through separate ducts and
are mixed to reach a desired temperature. A simpler way to control temperature
is to regulate the amount of cold air supplied, cutting it off once a desired
temperature is reached.

What is a single duct system?

A single-duct system uses a single fan to supply cool or warm air to zone
terminal units. The zone terminal units will then modulate the amount of supply
air and sometimes reheat the supply air to meet the specific heating or cooling
requirements of the zone.

The difference
Dual-duct systems have either one or two supply fans and two duct systems.
Single duct system carries heated air, and the other duct system carries cooled
air.
The benefits of single-zone HVAC systems include low-cost and fast installation
and energy efficiency. With a dual-zone system, you save energy by not heating or
cooling the areas you’re not using. If you like your bedroom at 65 degrees and
your children like their bedrooms warmer, you don’t have to cool or heat the
whole house. Each person benefits from a dual-zone system’s customized climate
control.
Single-zone ductless HVAC systems are ideal for home additions, small homes,
and households in which everyone agrees on the thermostat settings. If you’re
replacing a heating and cooling system, building a new home or have a household
in which different people like different temperatures, dual-zoned HVAC systems
offer efficient and customized comfort.