MEC653

HVAC SYSTEMS

CHAPTER 8
PUMP AND PIPING DESIGN
 INTRODUCTION

Liquid or gas flow through pipes or ducts is commonly used in HVAC

applications.

The fluid in such applications is usually forced to flow by a pump (liquid) or

fan/blower (air) due to pressure drop/head loss (major & minor losses) along
the pipes/ducts.

Proper pipes/ducts sizing and pump/fan/blower selection is important to

ensure smooth operation.

Fluid System Equipment Example in HVAC

Application
Liquid Piping Pump Condenser water,
chilled water
Gas Ducting Fan/Blower Supply and return air
distribution
- Chilled water pipe - Rectangular duct for supply
- Condenser water pipe and return air
- Also available in circular
shape (circular/flexible duct)
Types of flow: Laminar & turbulent

Reynolds number:

Pressure drop/head loss: @

Total head loss:

Energy equation:
Colebrook equation:

Haaland equation:

Roughness:
Equation (Colebrook) to chart (Moody):
Type of fluid flow problems:

1. Determining the pressure drop (or head loss) when the pipe length and
diameter are given for a specified flow rate (or velocity)
2. Determining the flow rate when the pipe length and diameter are given for
a specified pressure drop (or head loss)
3. Determining the pipe diameter when the pipe length and flow rate are
given for a specified pressure drop (or head loss)

USgpm

Pipe diameter

Friction rate
 TYPE OF PUMP

The types of fans commonly used in HVAC applications include rotodynamic

pump (eg. centrifugal pump) and positive-displacement pump (eg. gear
pump).
 PUMP CURVE

Operating point/
duty point

1 2
It is common practice in the pump
industry to offer several choices of
impeller diameter for a single pump
casing. There are several reasons
for this:
(1) to save manufacturing costs
(2) to enable capacity increase by
simple impeller replacement
(3) to standardize installation
mountings
(4) to enable reuse of equipment
for a different application
AFFINITY LAW
PUMP ARRANGEMENT
PIPE MATERIAL
PIPE SUPPORT
 SYSTEM HEAD

***Major & minor losses

STRAIGHT-RUN HEADLOSS
LOSS THROUGH PIPE FITTINGS
 DESIGN OPTION

Manual
Calculation Friction
Chart
Table
Software
FRICTION CHART
Friction chart for
closed piping
system

Typical friction
loss: 4 – 6 ft of
water per 100 ft
pipe length
FRICTION CHART
Friction chart for
open piping
system

Typical friction
loss: 6 – 8 ft of
water per 100 ft
pipe length
 TABLE FOR PIPE
SIZING

Flow rate can be used to

determine the suitable pipe
size:

Higher flow rate  bigger pipe

size when the velocity is
maintained (Q = A1V1 = A2V2)
 PIPING SYSTEM DESIGN

Piping system: water distribution system to deliver the proper amount of chilled
water (indirect expansion system) and condenser water (water-cooled system)

The piping must be sized properly to maintain flow throughout the system
 FLOW RATE CALCULATION

Cooling energy from water side:

Btu/hr = 500 x USgpm x ∆T

RT = USgpm x ∆T
24

Flow rate of CHW & CW:

Evaporator: 2.4 USgpm/RT

Condenser: 3.0 USgpm/RT
 FLOW RATE FROM TEST CONDITIONS

AHRI 550/590

MS2449
CHILLER TESTING
 EXAMPLE

AHU – 600,000 Btu/hr @ 50 RT

{ii} {ii}

{ii}

{ii}

{i} {i} {i} {i} {i} {i} {i} {i} {i} {i}

2 nos. x 4 hp pump
(1 duty, 1 standby)

Modular chiller – 120,000 Btu/hr

@ 10 RT each
600,000 Btu/hr

Single AHU paired with 5 nos. air-

cooled modular chiller (capacity
120,000 Btu/hr @ 10 RT each)

RT = Q x ΔT
24

Q - Flow rate in USgpm

RT - Chiller RT
ΔT - Temperature difference in °F, usually 10°F based on 44°F supply and 54°F return
from standard test conditions

Q = 24 Usgpm
From table (based on flow rate):

{i} 24 USgpm  2 inch pipe

{ii} 120 USgpm  3 inch pipe
To determine pump size:

Pump bhp = Q x H x s.g.

3960 x η

bhp – Pump power in hp

Q – Flow rate in igpm (120 USgpm = 100 igpm)
H – Total pump head in ft (calculated 104.4 ft)
s.g. – Specific gravity for water (1.0)
η – Pump efficiency (typical 70%)

Therefore, pump bhp = 3.77 hp (use 4 hp pump)

 EXAMPLE
Each room = 60,000 Btu/hr @ 5 RT
Q = 12 USgpm

Room 1 Room 2 Room 3 Room 4 Room 5 Room 6 Room 7 Room 8 Room 9 Room 10

{xi}
{i} {ii} {iii} {iv} {v} {vi} {vii} {viii} {ix} {x}
120 108 96 84 72 60 48 36 24 12

Chiller Section Flow rate (USgpm) Pipe diameter (inch)

{i} 120 USgpm 3
{ii} 108 Usgpm 3
{iii} 96 Usgpm 3
{iv} 84 Usgpm 3
{v} 72 Usgpm 3
{vi} 60 Usgpm 2½
{vii} 48 Usgpm 2½
{viii} 36 Usgpm 2
{ix} 24 Usgpm 2
{x} 12 USgpm 1¼
{xi} 12 USgpm 1¼
 EXERCISE

* Cooling tower RT = 1.25 x Chiller RT

Section Flow rate Pipe diameter

(USgpm) (inch)
{i}
{ii}
{iii}
{iv}
…
…
…