Chapter III

Duct Design

The chapter presents the ducting calculations for sizing the appropriate duct
needed for the system. Standard values are needed to be used as basis for design
parameters. The sizing of ducts and pressure drops are obtained through calculations
using table and charts. The blue lines represent the supply ducts while the red lines
represent the return ducts

3.1 Design Parameters

 Recommended main duct velocity is 2000 fpm (Carrier, 2014)
 Recommended branch duct velocity is 1600 fpm (Carrier, 2014)
 Standard temperature inside the coil is 13◦C (ASHRAE, 2002).
 Enthalpy of moist air at 13◦C is 36.719 KJ/kg (STOECKER, 1989).
 Room temperature is maintained at 24◦C while being supplied with supply air
coming from the diffuser.
 Enthalpy of moist air at 26◦C is 73.77 KJ/kg (STOECKER, 1989).

3.2 Zoning
Figure 3.1 below shows the zoning layout of zone 1 that will be used for the initial
computation.
Supply
 Return

Figure 3.1 2D Layout of Duct Design in Zone 1

3.3 Supply Air:
1. For CFM:
CFM=(Mair)(Vair)
2. For Mair:
Qtotal= Mair(hinside-hsupply)

Where:
Qtotal= cooling load of room/zone, kW
Mair= mass flow rate of air, kg/s
Vair= specific volume of air, m3/kg
hinside= specific enthalpy of room/zone, kJ/kg
hsupply= specific enthalpy of coil, kJ/kg
hsupply=36.719 kJ/kg

FOR ZONE 1:
This section shows the computation for the mass flow rate of air, the total volume
of supply air and the duct diameter for the main duct to be used in zone 1. The equation
for mass flow rate is shown below.
 Qtotal= Mair(hinside-hsupply)

( )
1 kJ
s
106928.46 W = M air (73.77−36.719) kJ /kg
1000 W

M air=2.89 kg/ s
The computed mass flow rate of air for zone 1 is 2.89 kg/s. The equation and
computation for CFM is shown below where the acquired mass flow rate is used.
CFM =(M air)(V air)
Where:
Mair= 2.89kg/s
Mair= V at 13°C= 0.8225 m3/kg
3 3
CFM =(2.89 kg / s)(0.8225m /kg) ( 3.28 ft / m ) (60 s / min)
3
CFM =5032.76 f t /min
The computation for mass flow rate of air, the total volume of supply air and the duct
diameter for the main duct will be the same to all zone.

FOR ZONE 2&3:

Since zone 2&3 have the same rooms and cooling load computation, the amount
of air supplied for both of the zones are equal.

Qtotal= Mair(hinside-hsupply)
1 kJ /s
97390.81 W ( )=M air (73.77−36.719)kJ /kg
1000W
M air=2.63 kg/ s
The computed mass flow rate of air for zone 2&3 is 2.63 kg/s. The equation and
computation for CFM is shown below where the acquired mass flow rate is used.
CFM =(M air)(V air)
Where:
Mair= 2.63 kg/s
Mair= V at 13°C= 0.8225 m3/kg
3 3
CFM =(2.63 kg / s)(0.8225m /kg) ( 3.28 ft / m ) (60 s / min)
3
CFM =4579.99 f t /min
FOR ZONE 4:
Qtotal= Mair(hinside-hsupply)
1 kJ /s
94785.87 W ( )=M air (73.77−36.719)kJ /kg
1000 W
M air=2.56 kg /s
The computed mass flow rate of air for zone 4 is 2.56 kg/s. The equation and
computation for CFM is shown below where the acquired mass flow rate is used.
CFM =(M air)(V air)
Where: Mair= 2.56 kg/s
Mair= V at 13°C= 0.8225 m3/kg
3 3
CFM =(2.56 kg /s)(0.8225 m /kg) ( 3.28 ft /m ) (60 s/min)
3
CFM =4458.09 f t /min

3.4 Return Air:

The return air must have a clear path from every room that has a supply outlet,
with the exception of bathrooms or kitchens due to the potential for spreading odors
through the house or building. A direct return from each room to the equipment is not
desirable when trying to minimize duct lengths and pressure losses in the return
system. Rooms without an adequate return air path will become pressurized, which will
impede supply airflow and could result in comfort complaints (Burdick, 2011).
The return air of the system is the half of the supply air of the system (Carrier,
2014).

Rair= 0.5Sair
Where:
Sair=supply air, ft3/min
Rair=return air, ft3/min
FOR ZONE 1:
Rair =0.5(S air )

Rair =0.5(5032.76)
 3
Rair =2516.38 f t /min

The return air needed for zone 1 is 2516.38 ft 3/min .it is calculated by multiplying
the supply air by 50 %. The computations are shown above
The computation for return will be the same to all zone.

FOR ZONE 2&3:

Rair =0.5(S air )

Rair =0.5(4579.99)

Rair =2290.00 f t 3 /min

FOR ZONE 4:
Rair =0.5(S air )

Rair =0.5(4458.09)
3
Rair =2229.05 f t /min

Table 3.1 Summary of Supply and Return Air in All Zones

ZONE SUPPLY AIR RETURN AIR
CFM CFM
ZONE 1 (GROUND FLOOR) 5032.76 2516.38
ZONE 2 (2ND FLOOR) 4579.99 2290.00
ZONE 3 (3RD FLOOR) 4579.99 2290.00
ZONE 4 (4TH FLOOR) 4458.09 2229.05

3.5 Diffuser Selection

Since each room and zone has similar cooling load, the same diffuser will be applied for
supply and return air.
Supply Air

Figure 3.2: Four way throw ceiling diffuser

Table 3.2: Design Specifications for Supply Air Ceiling Diffuser
Design Specifications
Brand Air Master
Material Anodized Aluminum
Size 225 mm x 225 mm
Pressure Loss 2.03 mmWC (0.08 inWC)
Flow Rate Capacity 214 CFM

Return Air

Figure 3.3: Four - way return ceiling diffuser

Table 3.3: Design Specifications for Supply Air Ceiling Diffuser
Design Specifications
Brand Air Master
Material Extruded Aluminum
Size 225 mm x 225 mm
Pressure Loss 2.87 mmWC (0.113 inWC)
Flow Rate Capacity 216 CFM
The formula for the number of diffusers is as shown.
Supply Air Flow Rate(CFM )
No . of diffusers=
Diffuser Flow Rate (CFM )

FOR ZONE 1:
5032.76 CFM
No . of diffusers for supply=
200 CFM
No . of diffusers for supply =25.16
No . of diffusers for supply =26 diffusers

2516.38CFM
No . of diffusers for return=
200CFM
No . of diffusers for return=12.58
No . of diffusers for return=13 diffusers

FOR ZONE 2&3:

4579.99CFM
No . of diffusers for supply=
200 CFM
No . of diffusers for supply=22.90
No . of diffusers for supply=23 diffusers

2290.00CFM
No . of diffusers for return=
200CFM
No . of diffusers for return=11.45
No . of diffusers for return=12 diffusers

FOR ZONE 4:
 4458.09 CFM
No . of diffusers for supply=
200 CFM
No . of diffusers for supply =22.29
No . of diffusers for supply=23 diffusers

22929.05CFM
No . of diffusers for return=
200CFM
No . of diffusers for return=11.15
No . of diffusers for return=12 diffusers
 Table 3.4 Summary of no. of Diffuser per zone

Supply air Return Air

Total Delta mass
Description Load h of air CFM CFM
No. of No. of
(W) (kJ/s) (kg/s) Adjuste per Adjuste per
diffuse diffuse
d CFM diffuse d CFM diffuse
r r
r r
ZONE 1
Speech Lab 8389.84 37.05 0.23 400 200 2 200 200 1
Library 8086 37.05 0.22 400 200 2 200 200 1
Admin Room 9515.06 37.05 0.26 500 200 3 200 200 1
12795.5
Computer Lab 37.05 0.35 600 200 3 300 200 2
8
Audio-Visual 12795.5
37.05 0.35 600 200 3 300 200 2
Room 8
Public Area and 53921.4
37.05 1.46 2600 200 13 1300 200 6
Lobby 7
ZONE 2 & 3
Classroom-5 8389.84 37.05 0.23 400 200 2 200 200 1
Classroom-4 8389.84 37.05 0.23 400 200 2 200 200 1
Classroom-3 8389.84 37.05 0.23 400 200 2 200 200 1
Classroom-2 8389.84 37.05 0.23 400 200 2 200 200 1
Classroom-1 8389.84 37.05 0.23 400 200 2 200 200 1
Public Area and 53921.4
37.05 1.46 2600 200 13 1300 200 7
Lobby 7
ZONE 4
Room-4 3912.12 37.05 0.11 200 200 1 100 200 1
Room-3 3912.12 37.05 0.11 200 200 1 100 200 1
Room-2 3912.12 37.05 0.11 200 200 1 100 200 1
Room-1 3912.12 37.05 0.11 200 200 1 100 200 1
Room-7 4288.7 37.05 0.12 200 200 1 100 200 1
Rector Room 1680.23 37.05 0.05 100 200 1 50 200 0
Study Room 4355.16 37.05 0.12 200 200 1 100 200 1
Room-6 4288.7 37.05 0.12 200 200 1 100 200 1
Room-5 4288.7 37.05 0.12 200 200 1 100 200 1
Public Area and 47652.6 37.05 1.29 2800 200 14 1400 200 4
Lobby 2
3.6 Duct Sizing
Duct sizing is an important step which is done to accurately deliver the
conditioned air in the separate rooms. Ducts are usually fabricated in round or
rectangular shapes. Both types have advantages and disadvantages, and both find
applications where one is definitely superior to the other.Improper size of duct will result
in improper distribution of air and low efficiency of the system (Committee on Industrial
Ventilation, 1998).
Formula:

D=
√ 4 V air
vπ
Where: D= diameter of duct (fy or mm)
Vair= volume flow rate of air in duct or diffuser (cfm)
v= velocity of air (fpm)
The recommended main duct velocity is 2000 fpm and branch duct velocity is 1600 fpm
(Carrier, 2014).
ZONE 1
Using the formula above, and the computed CFM, the acquired diameter is rounded
down in order to achieve the minimum acceptable air velocity. The result is tabulated
below:

The computation for return will be the same to all zone.

ADJUSTE
D
SECTI ADJUST DIAMET DIAMETER
ON ED CFM ER (in.) (in.)
A1 200 4.28 4
A2 400 6.06 6
A3 600 7.42 7
A4 800 8.56 8.5
A5 1000 9.57 9.5
A6 1200 10.49 10
A7 200 4.28 4
A8 1400 11.33 11
A9 1600 12.11 12
A10 1800 12.85 12.5
A11 2000 13.54 13.5
A12 2200 14.2 14
A13 2400 14.83 14.5
m1 2600 15.44 15
B1 200 4.28 4
B2 200 4.28 4
m2 400 6.06 6
C1 200 4.28 4
C2 200 4.28 4
C3 400 6.06 6
m3 800 8.56 8.5
D1 200 4.28 4
D2 200 4.28 4
D3 200 4.28 4
D4 600 7.42 7
m4 1400 11.33 11
E1 200 4.28 4
E2 200 4.28 4
E3 200 4.28 4
E4 600 7.42 7
m5 2000 13.54 13.5
F1 200 4.28 4
F2 200 4.28 4
F3 200 4.28 4
F4 600 7.42 7
m6 2600 15.44 15
m7 5200 21.83 21.5

ZONE 2&3
ADJUST
ED
SECTI ADJUST DIAMET DIAMET
ON ED CFM ER (in.) ER (in.)
A1 200 4.28 4
A2 400 6.06 6
A3 600 7.42 7
A4 800 8.56 8.5
A5 1000 9.57 9.5
A6 1200 10.49 10
A7 200 4.28 4
B1 1400 11.33 11
B2 1600 12.11 12
B3 1800 12.85 12.5
B4 2000 13.54 13.5
B5 2200 14.2 14
B6 2400 14.83 14.5
B7 200 4.28 4
C1 200 4.28 4
C2 400 6.06 6
C3 600 7.42 7
C4 800 8.56 8.5
C5 1000 9.57 9.5
C6 1200 10.49 10
C7 1400 11.33 11
C8 1600 12.11 12
C9 1800 12.85 12.5
C10 2000 13.54 13.5
m1 2600 15.44 15
m2 4600 20.54 20.5

ZONE 4
ADJUST
ED
SECTI ADJUST DIAMET DIAMET
ON ED CFM ER (in.) ER (in.)
A1 200 4.28 4
A2 400 6.06 6
A3 200 4.28 4
A4 600 7.42 7
A5 800 8.56 8.5
m1 1000 9.57 9.5
B1 200 4.28 4
B2 400 6.06 6
B3 600 7.42 7
B4 800 8.56 8.5
B5 1000 9.57 9.5
B6 1200 10.49 10
B7 200 4.28 4
B8 200 4.28 11
B9 400 6.06 6
B10 1800 12.85 12.5
B11 2000 13.54 13.5
B12 2200 14.2 14
B13 2400 14.83 14.5
B14 200 4.28 4
m2 3600 18.17 18
C1 200 4.28 4
C2 400 6.06 6
 C3 600 7.42 7
C4 800 8.56 8.5
m3 4400 20.08 20

Return
Zone 1- 3
ADJUSTE
SECTI ADJUST DIAMET D
ON ED CFM ER (in.) DIAMETE
R (in.)
1 100 3.03 3
2 100 3.03 3
r-a 200 4.28 4
3 100 3.03 3
r-b 300 5.24 5
4 100 3.03 3
r-c 400 6.06 6
5 100 3.03 3
r-d 500 6.77 6.5
6 100 3.03 3
r-e 600 7.42 7
7 100 3.03 3
r-f 700 8.01 8
r-g 700 8.01 8
8 100 3.03 3
r-h 800 8.56 8.5
9 100 3.03 3
r-i 900 9.08 9
10 100 3.03 3
r-j 1000 9.57 9.5
11 100 3.03 3
r-k 1100 10.04 10
12 100 3.03 3
r-l 1200 10.49 10

Zone 4
 ADJUSTE
SECTIO ADJUSTE DIAMETE D
N D CFM R (in.) DIAMETE
R (in.)
1 100 3.03 3
2 100 3.03 3
r-a 200 4.28 4
3 100 3.03 3
r-b 300 5.24 5
4 100 3.03 3
5 100 3.03 3
r-c 500 6.77 6.5
6 100 3.03 3
r-d 600 7.42 7
7 100 3.03 3
r-e 700 8.01 8
8 100 3.03 3
9 100 3.03 3
r-f 900 9.08 9
10 100 3.03 3
r-g 1000 9.57 9.5
11 100 3.03 3
12 100 3.03 3
r-h 1200 10.49 10
r-i 1200 10.49 10

3.7 BALANCING DUCT METHOD

In designing a system of ductwork with multiple branches, the resistance of each
branch must be adjusted so that the static pressure balance, which exists at the junction
of two branches, will give the desired volume in each branch. The balance duct method,
in which duct sizes are chosen so that the static pressure balance at each junction will
achieve the desired air volume in each branch duct. It is less flexible and layout must be
in complete detail and construction (Danielson, 1973).

Zone 1
Zone 1 is the ground floor of the school building. The total supply air needed for this
zone is 5200 ft3/min. The static pressure in the supply duct system is 3.3 in WC. The
return air system is 2400 ft 3/min. The static pressure in the return duct system is 2.8 in
WC. below shows the supply and return layout for zone 1.
Supply

Figure 3.4 Supply Layout for Zone 1

Table 3.5 Duct Balance of Supply in Zone 1
Return

Figure 3.5 Return Layout for Zone 1

Table 3.6 Duct Balance of Return in Zone 1

Table 3.7 Summary of Supply and Return Duct Balance in Zone 1

AHU Selection 1
Supply Duct Return Duct
Supply Air Static Pressure Return Air Static Pressure
Cfm in WC CFM in WC
5200 3.3 2400 2.8
ZONE 2
Zone 2 is the second floor of the school building. The total supply air needed for this
zone is 4600 ft3/min. The static pressure in the supply duct system is 3.16 in WC. The
return air system is 2400 ft 3/min. The static pressure in the return duct system is 2.8 in
WC. below shows the supply and return layout for zone 2.

Supply

Figure 3.6 Supply Layout for Zone 2

Table 3.8 Duct Balance of Supply in Zone 2
Return

Figure 3.7 Return Layout for Zone 2

Table 3.9 Duct Balance of Return in Zone 2

Table 3.10 Summary of Supply and Return Duct Balance in Zone 2

AHU Selection 2
Supply Duct Return Duct
Supply Air Static Pressure Return Air Static Pressure
Cfm in WC CFM in WC
4600 3.16 2400 2.8
ZONE 3
Zone 3 is the third floor of the school building. The total supply air needed for this zone
is 4600 ft3/min. The static pressure in the supply duct system is 3.16 in WC. The return
air system is 2400 ft3/min. The static pressure in the return duct system is 2.8 in WC.
below shows the supply and return layout for zone 3.

Supply

Figure 3.7 Supply Layout for Zone 3

Table 3.11 Duct Balance of Supply in Zone 3
Return

Figure 3.8 Return Layout for Zone 3

Table 3.12 Duct Balance of Return in Zone 3

Table 3.13 Summary of Supply and Return Duct Balance in Zone 3

AHU Selection 3
Supply Duct Return Duct
Supply Air Static Pressure Return Air Static Pressure
Cfm in WC CFM in WC
4600 3.16 2400 2.8
ZONE 4
Zone 4 is the fourth floor of the school building. The total supply air needed for this zone
is 4600 ft3/min. The static pressure in the supply duct system is 3.16 in WC. The return
air system is 2400 ft3/min. The static pressure in the return duct system is 2.8 in WC.
below shows the supply and return layout for zone 4.

Figure 3.9 Supply Layout for Zone 4

Table 3.14 Duct Balance of Supply in Zone 4
Return

Figure 3.10 Return Layout for Zone 4

Table 3.15 Duct Balance of Return in Zone 4

Table 3.16 Summary of Supply and Return Duct Balance in Zone 4

AHU Selection 4
Supply Duct Return Duct
Supply Air Static Pressure Return Air Static Pressure
Cfm in WC CFM in WC
4600 3.26 2400 2.53