Welcome
Green HVAC Ductwork Done Right!
John Reints, PE
Eugene Smithart, PE
High Velocity Duct Design Tips:
Fundamentals of High Velocity,
Static Regain, Duct Design
Key Advantages
Dos
Donts
Biggest Misconceptions
Best Rooftop Acoustics Idea
Real World Examples
In Summary
Duct Layout
684
312
279
279
279
16
15
13 ft
13 ft
14
11 ft
13
17
18 ft
5 FT
18
7 ft
13 FT
19
397
12
504
Trunk Ducts
11 FT
1074
397
11
20 17 ft
307
1:36
468
1
10
286
3
397
9
15 ft
8
15 ft
15 FT
8 ft
4
904
1085
691
691
691
691
Fundamentals of Static Regain
B C
Tp = Vp + Sp - hf
hf
SP
VP
Recommended and Maximum Duct
Velocities for Low Velocity Systems
(rectangular duct)
Table 6 ASHRAE Handbook, 1972, page 481
Recommended velocities, fpm
Designation
Main ductsb
Branch ductsb
Branch risersb
Residences
700-900
600
500
Schools, theaters,
public buildings
Industrial
buildings
1000-1300
600-900
600-700
1200-1800
800-1000
800
Vp = (fpm/4005)2
Recommended and Maximum Duct
Velocities for High Velocity Systems
(round duct)
Table 7 ASHRAE Handbook, 1972, page 481
Recommended maximum duct velocities
for high-velocity systems
CFM carried by the duct
60,000
40,000
25,000
15,000
10,000
6,000
3,000
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
40,000
25,000
15,000
10,000
6,000
3,000
1,000
Maximum FPM
6,000
5,000
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
2,500
Key Advantages:
Lower cost
Lower duct heat pick up
Less duct leakage
Less space
$0.25-$1.00/[Link]. Installed Cost
Savings
Rectangular Duct 0.5#/[Link].
Rectangular Duct $3.00 - $3.50/[Link].
High Velocity Static Regain Round
Duct 0.25#/[Link]. (50% less)
Round Duct $2.00 - $2.50/[Link].
Saving of at least $0.25 to $1.00/[Link].
($100 to $400/ton)
Relative Installed Cost vs. Aspect Ratio
200
190
180
170
160
150
(%) 140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
1:1
rectangular duct
round duct
2:1
3:1
4:1
aspect ratio
5:1
6:1
7:1
Duct Heat Gain vs. Aspect Ratio
200
180
160
140
rectangular duct
(%) 120
100
80
60
round duct
40
20
2:1
3:1
4:1
5:1
6:1
7:1
aspect ratio
8:1
9:1
10:1
Duct Heat Pickup
Duct Leakage:
Leakage:
Rectangular Duct
traditionally hard to get below 10 percent
today its hard to get below 3%.
Round Duct can get below 1 percent
Fan BHP:
(CFM2/CFM1)3 = BHP2/BHP1
(110/101)3 = 29% increase in fan brake horsepower
(103/101)3 = 6% increase in fan brake horsepower
slip connection
drive connection
DUCTMATE
Gasketing
Coupling
Why is leakage so important?
*
*Source: Study Done by Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory for the Department of Energy
Less Space
Biggest Misconception
I cant use round duct
because it wont fit!
Relative Installed Cost vs. Aspect Ratio
200
190
180
170
160
150
(%) 140
130
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
1:1
rectangular duct
round duct
2:1
3:1
4:1
aspect ratio
5:1
6:1
7:1
U.S. Market
Rectangular
remains the
primary ductwork
Bellmouth Fitting
Attenuated Duct
Go the Distance
4-6 duct diameter
33% upstream flow
Fitting Efficiency
Reducer Fitting
Y Fitting
Well-Rounded, 90-Degree Tee
45 - 90
90
smooth entrance
branch
tap
Donts
top
branch
sharp edge
VAV Box Too Close to the Fan
Capped Cross Fitting
Divided Flow Fittings
Fitting
Loss Coefficient (2)
Y-2 plus 45 elbows
0.22
Capped cross with
conical tabs
5.0
Capped cross
5.0
Capped cross with
1 cushion head
5.4
Capped cross with
2 cushion head
6.0
Capped cross with
3 cushion head
6.4
Rooftop Sound Attenuation
Sound transmission below 250 Hz via duct breakout is
often a major acoustical limitation for many rooftop
installations. Excessive low-frequency noise associated
with fan noise and air turbulence in the region of the
discharge section of the fan and the first duct elbow results
in duct rumble, which is difficult to attenuate. This
problem is often worsened by the presence of a highaspect-ratio duct at the discharge section of the fan.
Rectangular ducts with duct lagging are often ineffective in
reducing duct breakout noise. Using either a single- or
dual-wall round duct with a radiused elbow coming off the
discharge section of the fan can reduce duct breakout. If
space does not allow for the use of a single duct, the duct
can be split into several parallel round ducts.
2003 ASHRAE Applications Manual, p. 47.7
In Summary...
Lower weight 25+%
Lower air leakage 210+%
SPIDA
Shorter installation hours 30+%
Lower fan energy use 6-30+%
Experience
Air to every box quietly
Plus $0.25 to $1.00/[Link]. ($100
to $400/ton) savings
JOHN V REINTS, PE
817 DORKEN LANE, DEKALB, ILLINOIS, 60115
630-327-5425 or jvrpellc@[Link]
30 Years of Designing High Velocity, Static Regain, Round Duct Systems
Thank You
Green HVAC Duct Design
Done Right!
45F air versus 55F air
6 Real World Examples
2012
Ductwork
Comparison
for
Rectangular
versus
Sta;c
regain
HVAC
contractor
project
loca;on
installed
Project
(B2)
Project
(tons)
Supply
(CFM)
Rect.
(lbs)
Spiral
(lbs)
Rect.
cost
($)
Spiral
cost
($)
Savings
($)
Saving
s
(%)
Savings
($/ton)
Pewaukee,
WI
42,400
70
25,500
9,103
5,165
$47,094
$36,768
$10,326
22%
$148
Fort
Worth,
TX
12,000
40
15,000
3,504
2,090
$14,936
$13,169
$1,767
12%
$44
Atlanta,
GA
21,000
55
19,500
6,000
2,600
$42,635
$21,305
$21,330
50%
$388
St.
Louis,
MO
98,000
240
80,000
32,533
19,804
$169,391
$115,479
$53,912
32%
$225
Orlando,
FL
25,870
60
22,000
13,600
6,548
$117,078
$64,259
$52,819
45%
$880
Chicago,
IL
23,000
60
20,100
6,320
2,455
$37,920
$17,185
$20,735
55%
$346
Average
(6)
37,045
88
30,350
11,843
6,444
$71,509
$44,694
$26,815
37%
$306
Conclusion:
Cut
the
lbs
in
half
and
save
a
lot
on
labor
while
delivering
a
quieter
air
delivery
system.
