AIR DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEM
DUCTING SYSTEM

TECNOLCO INSTITUTE OF HVAC /MEP

Mohd Ghouse khan- (HVAC-Consultant)
www.hvac-guru.com
E- mail: freehvactraining@gmail.com
 AIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
In air conditioning system the supply of air is conducted through ducts from the supply fan for the
various supply outlets distributed through out the space to be cooled and the used air is brought
back to the recirculation fan or the air-conditioned equipment through a system of recirculation
ducts. These ducts usually are constructed of galvanized sheet steel. The housings around the
equipment in the apparatus room and between the various pieces of equipment are also made of
galvanized sheet steel. The function of the duct system is to distribute the supply air to each
outlet in the correct quantity and to return air intake with the least static pressure loss compatible
with a reasonable cost.

The larger the sizes of the ducts are made, in order to handle a given quantity (or) air, the
smaller will be pressure loss but greater will be the cost of the duct system. Therefore, the design
of duct work must result in using the minimum sizes of ducts will handle the air without producing
an unreasonable static pressure loss.

DUCT SIZING :
An air duct transmits air from the air handling unit to the space to be conditioned. As such
the ducts must be designed properly taking into consideration the available space, friction loss,
velocity, sound level, heat and leakage loss and jam and first and operating cost.
Generally ducts are designed with a velocity of 1500fpm and it varies for different
applications. Ducts are fabricated out of is sheets, aluminium sheets and Ms sheets and may be
circular or rectangular. Flexible round ducts are also used for terminal connections.

ASPECT RATIO:
At first consideration it might seem that the equivalent round duct would have the same
cross sectional area as a rectangular duct for the same friction loss. This is not quite true in
rectangular duct with the same friction loss will have a greater area than a round duct, this is
because the rectangular shape, with a greater ratio of surface to cross section causes more
friction. This problem becomes worse as the aspect ratio increases. The aspect ratio is the ratio
of dimensions of the two adjacent sides of a rectangular duct. As a general rule the aspect ratio
of rectangular ducts should be as low as possible to keep frictionas reasonable low and thereby
avoid excess energy consumption.

DUCT DESIGN SYSTEM:

The ducts are designed either by equal friction method or by static regain method.

TECNOLCO INSTITUTE OF HVAC /MEP

Mohd Ghouse khan- (HVAC-Consultant)
www.hvac-guru.com
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EQUAL FRICTION METHOD:

The following steps are adopted for duct designing by equal friction method.
1. Sum up the CFM’s backward from the last outlets to fine the CFM in each section.
2. Select a design velocity for the air from the fan. A velocity of 1500 ft/min will be
choosen, which should be reasonably quiet for the application.
3. From the obtained figure, the equivalent round duct diameter is read.
 4. The equivalent round duct diameter for each duct section is read from figure at the
intersection of the design velocity and the CFM for the section.
5. The rectangular duct sizes are read from figure. In actual installations, the duct
proportions chosen would depend on space available.

In the equal friction method for a given air quantity an initial velocity is selected to determine the
friction rate. This friction rate is then maintained throughout the system and the equivalent round
duct diameter is selected from the duct friction chart. This procedure of duct sizing automatically
reduces the air velocity in the direction of air flow. The loss in the duct having the highest
resistance will be the basis for the fan selection. The equivalent length of the duct including the
fittings and elbows multiplied with the friction rate will give the loss in the duct. The equal friction
method does not maintain uniform static pressure at all branches and terminals. As such to obtain
the proper air quantity at the beginning of each branch it is necessary to include a splitter damper
to regulate the flow to the branch. It is also required to have volume control dampers to regulate
the flow at each terminal.

DUCT CONSTRUCTION:

The sheet metal gauge used in the construction of ducts are the reinforced required
depends on the pressure conditions. There is also a wide variety of joints and seems for the
manufacture of ducts. The enclosed table shows the recommended gauges of GS and aluminum
sheets required for duct construction having different dimensions.

DUCT INSULATION:

Ducts carrying hot or cold air are covered with thermal insulation to reduce heat loss. In
addition, the insulation is covered with a vapor barrier to prevent condensation of water on cold
ducts. Glass fiber or similar material with a high thermal resistance is used for insulation. The
vapor barrier is usually aluminum foil. Insulation comes in either rigid board costs considerably
more and is used only when the duct is exposed and appearance is important or abuse is likely.
Fiber glass duct work offers the advantages of insulation, lighter weight, lower cost, and
sound-absorbing construction and may be used for the entire duct system or in combination with
flexible round ducts and sheet metal ducts. The fabrication and installation of duct work is
properly the work of the contractor or tradesman. One of the most complete and widely used
standards for fabrication specifications is that of the SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING
CONTRACTORS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (SMACNA).

AIR DISTRIBUTION IN ROOMS:

The object of air distribution in room is to produce and maintain inside design conditions
within the zone of occupancy. Ordinarily, no attempt is made to hold design conditions and the
ceiling as this space is the region in which the performance of the air distribution equipment
occurs. The role of the terminal air distribution devices (diffusers, registers, grilles) is to:
1. Distribute the air to the space,
2. provide space temperature uniformity,
3. Control or counteract conduction, radiation, and convection effects of warm or cold
surfaces.
4. Provide adequate air motion to prevent “deadness” of air on the one hand and drafts
on the other.

SUPPLY AIR DISTRIBUTION:

The three general systems for supplying air are in common use.
 1. CEILING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS:
Using ceiling or linear diffusers, because the density of cold air for summer cooling is
much greater than that of space air, this type of distribution provides excellent cooling
performance.

2. INSIDE WALL DISTRIBUTION: using registers, such equipment is used to throw the air
towards a terminal point. For application in areas of severe outside design conditions or
exposed glass, outside-wall return air is necessary.
3. PERIMETER DISTRIBUTION: of the air at the outside perimeter of the space. In
structures involving exposed walls, large glass areas, or service outside design
conditions for heating or cooling, supplying the air at the perimeter introduces the
conditioned air at the point of maximum load.

RETURN AIR SYSTEMS:

In most air conditioning systems a rather large proportion of the air that is supplied to the
space must be returned to the unit. Although the return-air location is not quite as critical to the
air-distribution system performance as the proper supply air location, careful consideration of both
location and economics for the return air system is warranted. Air generally moves toward the
return air grille at low velocities (15 to 30 fpm) due to a slight difference in static pressure
between space and return duct.

TYPES OF AIR-SUPPLY OUTLETS:

Manufacturers of air-distribution equipment provide an almost unlimited variety of

diffusers, registers and grilles to safety performance, construction, architectural and application
requirements.
There are two types of air-supply devices for creating proper air distribution in the
conditioned space. According to modern day systems, they are:
1. side wall registers or grilles,
2. Ceiling diffusers.

1. REGISTERS AND GRILLES:

These devices consist of a frame and parallel bars, which may be either fixed or
adjustable. The bars serve to deflect the supply air in the direction the bars are set, and if
the bars are adjustable to adjust the throw and spread of the air. Grilles with two sets of
bars at right angles to each other are available and are called double deflection grilles.
They enable control of the air distribution in both directions, if needed. Grilles with volume
control dampers mounted behind the grilles are called Registers.

2. CEILING DIFFUSERS:

These devices usually consist of a series of separated concentric rings or lowers

with a collar or neck to connect the duct. They may be round or rectangular in shape. In
addition to those that distribute air equally in all directions they can be designed to
distribute air in any desired direction.
Ceilings diffusers are also available in the form of perforated panels. This type is
sometimes used because it blends architecturally with the appearance of a hung panel
ceiling.

LOCATION OF INLETS AND OUTLETS:

The location of the inlets for cooled air & the outlets for recirculated air is of importance in
an air-conditioning insulation. The basic idea is that the entering air should mix with the room air
near the ceiling and after being tempered by the room air drop to the floor and leave the room
through the recirculation grille. The flow of air should take place in such a way as to bring the
entire room into the air-flow current.

TECNOLCO INSTITUTE OF HVAC /MEP

Mohd Ghouse khan- (HVAC-Consultant)
www.hvac-guru.com
E- mail: freehvactraining@gmail.com
 TECNOLCO INSTITUTE OF HVAC /MEP
Mohd Ghouse khan- (HVAC-Consultant)
www.hvac-guru.com
E- mail: freehvactraining@gmail.com

TECNOLCO DUCT CALCULATER

TECNOLCO INSTITUTE OF HVAC /MEP
Mohd Ghouse khan- (HVAC-Consultant)
www.hvac-guru.com
E- mail: freehvactraining@gmail.com

EQUAL FRICTION METHOD

SECTION CFM VELOCITY FRICTION ROUND RECTANGULAR

DUCT DUCT L” * B”
A-B (MD) 4100 1500 0.2 20 19*20
B-C (BD) 850 1200 0.4 9 5*20
C-C’ (C) 850 18*18
B-D (M-D) 3250 1500 0.2 18 16*20
D-E (BD) 850 1200 0.4 9 5*20
E-E’ (C) 850 18*18
D-F (MD) 2400 1500 0.29 14 11*20
F-G (BD) 800 1200 0.31 10 5*20
G-G’ (C) 800 18*18
F-H (MD) 1600 1500 0.33 12 8*20
H-I (BD) 800 1200 0.31 10 5*20
I-I’ (C) 800 18*18
H-J (BD) 800 1200 0.31 10 5*20
J-J’ (C) 800 18*18

TECNOLCO INSTITUTE OF HVAC /MEP

Mohd Ghouse khan- (HVAC-Consultant) www.hvac-guru.com
E- mail: freehvactraining@gmail.com