After laying out the ductwork for an air conditioning project and computing the air flow to

each terminal, the designer knows the air flow and length for each supply and return duct
segment, and can select a duct height that is compatible with the geometric restraints in the
area where the ducts will be routed. A segment can be defined as a run of duct from one
branch to the next. A branch may be a major junction or a take-off for a terminal diffuser or
return grille. His problem is therefore to select a diameter for the duct segment, find a width
if the duct is to be rectangular, and then to estimate the duct friction and fitting dynamic
losses for each segment of the critical duct routing path. The sum of losses of all of the
supply and return segments will make up the external static pressure requirement for the air
handling unit. If the filter is external to the unit, the filter and bracket may be included as a
segment, or the filter pressure loss may simply be added if internal to a packaged air handler.
This static pressure happens to be positive relative to the air outside the pipe (the atmospheric
pressure), and so any leaks in the pipe would push water out into the air. If, however, this
were a length of pipe being used to draw water from a reservoir below into a pump (in
suction) the relative static pressure would be negative; and if this simple manometer tube
were still attached to the pipe, it would suck air into the system. If a tube is added to the
inside of the original pipe facing the direction of the flow, known as a Pitot tube (as shown
in drawing (b) in Fig 2), then the height of the water in this manometer would be greater as
this will now additionally reflect the velocity energy of the flowing water (that is always
positive) as well as the static head. The manometer column height, z, will give the sum of the
static head + velocity head. Used in conjunction with an adjacent static head reading (as in
drawing (a) in Fig 2) the velocity head may be determined by subtracting the static head from
the combined total head (static head + velocity head); and this assumes that the potential head
is the same for both measurements, and so cancels itself out.