Mechanical Engineering

Air Systems

Proud history, bright future.

Proud history, bright future.
©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved. ©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
What You Will Learn
 Fan Laws

 Sizing Ducts

 Duct Design

 Air Distribution

2 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Agenda
 Fan Laws

 Sizing Fans

 Air Distribution

 Air Flow Measurement

 IAQ – ASHRAE Standard 62.1

 Thermal Comfort

3 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fan Laws

4 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fan Laws: Example
 A fan delivers 12,000 CFM at a static pressure of 1 inch
water gage when operating at a speed of 400 RPM with
an input of 4 HP. If the same system requires 15,000
CFM, what will be the speed, static pressure and power?

 If the temperature of the air is raised from 70 degrees F

(Density=0.075) to 200 degrees F (Density = 0.0602),
what is the speed, static pressure and power?

5 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fan Laws: Changing System Capacity

6 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fan Laws: Change Temperature of the Air

7 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fan Laws: Changing Fan Speed for Constant
Pressure

8 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fan Laws: Changing Fan Speed for Constant Weight

9 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Fan Curve

10 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The System Curve

11 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Calculating the System Curve

12 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sizing a Fan

13 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Optimum Fan Selection

14 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Example #2: Calculating Optimum Selection

15 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Selecting Ductwork Size Example
 A main supply duct is delivering 1500 CFM
 Draw line along 1500 CFM

 Assume 1200 FPM velocity

 At the intersection select a duct diameter. Note smaller

diameters result in higher friction loss.

 Select rectangular duct dimensions

16 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aspect Ratio
 The aspect ratio (AR) of the cross section of a duct states
that the larger dimension divided by the smaller
dimension shall be less than 7.

 AR < (Large Side/Small Side) < 7

17 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Types of Air Distribution Systems
 Constant Volume

 Variable Air Volume (VAV)

18 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Constant Air Volume System
 Air flow is constant

 The air leaves the AHU at a constant seasonal

temperature

 Areas with different cooling and heating demands will

have a reheat coil to adjust to the required space
temperature

19 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Variable Air Volume System
 Total air flow from AHU varies with demand

 Air leaves the AHU at a constant seasonal temperature

 Air flow to the space varies based on the demand for that space

 The VAV box which controls the flow can be equipped with a
heating coil to deal with min flows to insure IAQ requirements are
met

20 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Air Flow Measurement
 Pitot Tube
 Single
 Gang

 Annemometer

 Flow Hood

21 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
ASHRAE Standard 62.1
 Fresh Air Requirements (Office)
 5 CFM per person

+
 0.06 CFM per square foot of space

 Effectiveness (Efficiency of Air Distribution)

 Values Vary for different applications

22 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thermal Comfort: ASHRAE Standard 55

23 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Summary
 Be sure to have enough fan

 Delicate balance between:

 Fan HP vs duct size
 Effective air distribution vs amount of ductwork
 Installed cost vs operating costs

 Meet the ASHRAE Standards (Code)

24 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.
References
 ASHRAE Systems & Equipment Handbook -2012
 ASHRAE Fundamentals Handbook - 2013
 ASHRAE Standard 55 – Thermal Comfort
 ASHRAE Standard 62.1 – Ventilation Rates
 ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – Energy Standard
 SMACNA
 Duct Design & Manufacturing
 Duct Testing
 Air System Balancing

25 Proud history, bright future.

©2019 KBR Inc. All Rights Reserved.