PSYCHROMETRY

AIR CONDITIONING
 Treating or conditioning of air to alter its
temperature and moisture content to suit
specific requirements.

 William H Carrier – Father of Air

Conditioning.

 Working substance – Atmospheric Air

 Atmospheric Air – Dry Air + Water Vapor

Composition of standard air

• International joint committee in 1949.

• The molecular weight of dry air is found to
be 28.966 and the gas constant R is
287.035 J/kg.K.
• The mixture of dry air and water vapor is
called as moist air.
• At a given temperature and pressure the dry
air can only hold a certain maximum
amount of moisture.
• When the moisture content is maximum,
then the air is known as saturated air.
• Any addition of moisture will drop out as
free water.
• The molecular weight of water vapour is
18.015 and its gas constant is 461.52
J/kg.K.
Atmospheric air
Psychrometry
 PSYCHROMETRY is the study of the properties of
mixtures of air and water vapor(Atmospheric Air).

 Atmospheric air makes up the environment in

almost every type of air conditioning system.

 Hence a thorough understanding of the

properties of atmospheric air and the ability to
analyze various processes involving air is
fundamental to air conditioning design.
Psychrometric Properties
• DRY BULB TEMPERATURE (DBT) - It is the
temperature of the moist air as measured by a
standard thermometer or other temperature
measuring instruments.
• SATURATED VAPOUR PRESSURE (PSAT) - is the
saturated partial pressure of water vapour at the
dry bulb temperature.
• WET BULB TEMPERATURE(WBT) - Temperature
of the moist air as measured by standard
thermometer when its bulb is wound by a wet wick.
for dry air WBT < < DBT
for saturated air WBT = DBT
DRY BULB AND WET BULB TEMPERATURES
Dry bulb Wet bulb
thermometer thermometer

• For dry air Wet bulb

WBD will be depression
maximum

• For saturated air

WBD will be 0

Heat used for

vaporization of water
to atmospheric air

Heat from Heat from

atmospheric air atmospheric air
Note: If atmospheric air is saturated then vaporization won’t take place so whole of
the heat will be transmitted to the wet bulb. So in case of saturated air DBT = WBT
Dry-Bulb Thermometer
Wet-Bulb Thermometer
DEW POINT TEMPERATURE(DPT)
• If unsaturated moist air is cooled at constant pressure
the temperature at which moisture in the air begins to
condense is called DPT.
• The DPT is the saturation temperature corresponding to
the vapour pressure of water vapour. So it can be
obtained from steam tables.
Condensation Occurs At Dew Point

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Fog Occurs When Air Is Saturated

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

 Humidity Ratio(Specific Humidity)
…compares water vapor to dry air, by weight


 Relative Humidity(Φ)
…describes the degree of saturation
Amount of moisture that a given
amount of air is holding at a
given temp.
Relative
=
Humidity Amount of moisture that a given
=

amount of air can hold at same

temp.
• It is defined as the ratio of the mole fraction of
water vapour in moist air to mole fraction of
water vapour in saturated air at the same
temperature and pressure.
Relative Humidity
…compares moisture content to saturation

50% 100%
(saturated)
Relative Humidity
 50% RH means that the air contains half
the amount of water vapor it can hold at
that temp.
 RH increases as the temp. decreases.
 The maximum amount of
moisture(saturation) that a given volume
of air can hold varies with temp.
 The temp. at which RH becomes 100% is
called DPT.
Degree of saturation (μ)

 Enthalpy of Moist Air

Humid specific heat
• It is the specific heat of humid(or moist) air per kg of
dry air.
• From the equation for enthalpy of moist air, the
humid specific heat of moist air can be written as:

• For all practical purposes the humid specific heat of

moist air, cpm can be taken as 1.0216 kJ/kg dry air.K
Specific volume
• The specific volume is defined as the number of
cubic meters of moist air per kilogram of dry air.

• The empirical relations for the vapor pressure of

water in moist air:
 Adiabatic saturation and
Thermodynamic WBT

 It is the temp at
which air can be
brought to saturation
state adiabatically by
evaporation of water
into the flowing air.
• An adiabatic saturator is a device in which air flows
through an infinitely long duct containing water.
• The device is adiabatic as the walls of the chamber are
thermally insulated.
• As the air comes in contact with water in the duct, there
will be heat and mass transfer between water and air.
• Air at the exit would be fully saturated and its temperature
is equal to that of water temperature.
• Make-up water to be provided to compensate for the
amount of water evaporated into the air.
• After the adiabatic saturator has achieved a
steady-state condition, the temperature
indicated by the thermometer immersed in
the water is the thermodynamic wet-bulb
temperature.
Problem 1
On a particular day the weather forecast
states that the dry bulb temperature is 37oC,
while the relative humidity is 50% and the
barometric pressure is 101.325 kPa. Find the
humidity ratio, dew point temperature and
enthalpy of moist air on this day.
Problem 2
Moist air at 1 atm. pressure has a dry bulb
temperature of 32oC and a wet bulb
temperature of 26oC. Calculate a) the partial
pressure of water vapour, b) humidity ratio,
c) relative humidity, d) dew point
temperature, e) density of dry air in the
mixture, f) density of water vapour in the
mixture and g) enthalpy of moist air using
perfect gas law model and Psychrometric
equations.
The Psychrometric Chart
 A Psychrometric chart graphically represents

the thermodynamic properties of moist air.

 The chart is normally drawn for air at 1 atm.

Pressure.
© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN
 PSYCHROMERTIC PROPERTY CURVES
• If we know any two
Psychrometric properties
we can locate the state
point of moist air in
Psychrometric chart.
•And can easily identify
how much energy (Δh) has
to be supplied or removed
to bring the air to a
required state. w = const
•From these data we can DPT
design an AC system

DBT= const
 Saturation Line
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Lexington, Kentucky USA 210
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 28.874 inches of Mercury

200

190

180

170

160

150

HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

140

130

120

110

Staturation Line
100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Linric Company Psychrometric Chart, [Link] DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F

 Constant Dry Bulb Temperature
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Lexington, Kentucky USA 210
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 28.874 inches of Mercury

200

190

180

170

160

150

HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

140

130

Constant Dry Bulb Temperature 120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Linric Company Psychrometric Chart, [Link] DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F

Constant Humidity Ratio & Pressure
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Lexington, Kentucky USA 210
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 28.874 inches of Mercury

200

190

180

170

160

150

HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

140

130

Constant Humidity Ratio 120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Linric Company Psychrometric Chart, [Link] DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F

 Dew Point temp.
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Lexington, Kentucky USA 210
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 28.874 inches of Mercury

200

190

180

170

160

150

HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

140

130

Constant Humidity Ratio 120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Linric Company Psychrometric Chart, [Link] DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F

 Constant Relative Humidity Curves
220

200
Relative Humidity
180
Grains Of Moisture Per Pound Of Dry Air
When Saturated (grains/lb of dry air)

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0 0%
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Dry-Bulb Temperature (°F)
© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN
 Constant Wet Bulb Temperature
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Lexington, Kentucky USA 210
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 28.874 inches of Mercury

200

85
190

180
85
W
ET
BU 170
LB
TE
80 MP
ER
AT 160
UR
E
-°
F
150
80

HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

Constant Web Bulb Temperature 75
140

130

75
120
70

110

70
100
65

90

65
60
80

60 70
55

60
50 55

50
45 50

40 40
45

35
40 30
30
35
25
30 20
20
15 25
10 20
5 10
15
10
0 5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Linric Company Psychrometric Chart, [Link] DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F

 Constant Enthalpy
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Lexington, Kentucky USA 210
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 28.874 inches of Mercury

200

190

180

170

160

150

HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

Constant Enthalpy 140

130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Linric Company Psychrometric Chart, [Link] DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F

 Constant Enthalpy and Web Bulb
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Lexington, Kentucky USA 210
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE 28.874 inches of Mercury

200

85
190

180
85
W
ET
BU 170
LB
TE
80 MP
ER
AT 160
URE
-°
F
150
80

HUMIDITY RATIO - GRAINS OF MOISTURE PER POUND OF DRY AIR

Constant Enthalpy 75
140

and 75
130

Constant Web Bulb 70

120

110

70
100
65

90

65
60
80

60 70
55

60
50 55

50
45 50

40 40
45

35
40 30
30
35
25
30 20
20
15 25
10 20
5 10
15
10
0 5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120

Linric Company Psychrometric Chart, [Link] DRY BULB TEMPERATURE - °F

 A Final Property…Specific Volume
220

200

180
Grains Of Moisture Per Pound Of Dry Air
When Saturated (grains/lb of dry air)

160
Specific Volume Lines
140 (cubic feet / pound of dry air)

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Dry-Bulb Temperature (°F)
“X Marks The Spot”…

78°F

72°F

95°F
 relationship between…
Dry Bulb, Wet Bulb And Dew Point
220

200 A B C D
Dry Bulb 60°F 62°F 75°F 90°F
180
Wet Bulb 60°F 60.8°F 65.2°F 70°F
Grains Of Moisture Per Pound Of Dry Air
When Saturated (grains/lb of dry air)

160 Dew Point 60°F 60°F 60°F 60°F

Rel Humidity 100% 92% 60% 37%
140

120

100 60°F
60°F A
80 Wet Bulb Dew Point

60 B C D
40

20

0
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Dry-Bulb Temperature (°F)
 Determining Wet-Bulb Lines
220

200

180
Grains Of Moisture Per Pound Of Dry Air
When Saturated (grains/lb of dry air)

160

140

120 DI
100 CI
80
BI
60 AI
40 A B C D
20

0
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Dry-Bulb Temperature (°F)
Knowing Two Properties
…lets you determine the remaining three

 Dry-bulb temperature
 Wet-bulb temperature
 Dew-point temperature
 Relative humidity
 Humidity ratio
 intersection of two known air properties…
Determines The Remaining Three
220

200

180
Grains Of Moisture Per Pound Of Dry Air
When Saturated (grains/lb of dry air)

160

140

120

100 Dew Point

80 Humidity Ratio

60

40 Wet Bulb
Dry Bulb
20
Relative Humidity
0
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Dry-Bulb Temperature (°F)
 PSYCHROMERTIC PROCESSES

O-A SENSIBLE HEATING

O-B SENSIBLE COOLING
O-C HEATING + HUMIDIFICATION
O-D HEATING +DEHUMIDIFICATION
O-E COOLING + HUMIDIFICATION
E C WINTER AC
O-F COOLING + DEHUMIDIFATION
w
B O A

F D
SUMMER AC

DBT
 PSYCHROMETRIC PROCESSES
1. SENSIBLE HEATING – During this process moisture content of the air
remains constant. But its temperature increases as it flows over a heating
coil.
2. SENSIBLE COOLING – During this process moisture content of the air
remains constant . But its temperature decreases as it flows over a cooling
coil. For the moisture to remain constant the surface of the cooling coil
should be dry and DBTin > Tsurface > DPTin to avoid condensation of
moisture.
Heating coil Cooling coil (T > DPTin )

Cold air Hot air Hot air Cold air

SENSIBLE HEATING SENSIBLE COOLING

Effect Of Adding Sensible Heat
Effect Of Removing Sensible Heat
 moisture content doesn’t change by…
Adding/removing Sensible Heat
220

200

180
100% Saturation
Grains Of Moisture Per Pound Of Dry Air
When Saturated (grains/lb of dry air)

160

140

120

100 60°F
60°F
80 Wet Bulb Dew Point

60

40

20

0
25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Dry-Bulb Temperature (°F)
Effect Of Adding Moisture
Effect Of Removing Moisture
 PSYCHROMETRIC PROCESSES
3. HEATING AND HUMIDIFICATION- in this process air is first sensibly
heated by a heating coil followed by spraying steam via steam nozzle.

4. HEATING AND DEHUMIDIFICATION - This process is achieved by

using hygroscopic materials. Absorption of moisture by hygroscopic
material(liquid/solid) is an exothermic reaction, as a result heat is
released and temperature of air increases.

Heating coil Steam Nozzle

HYGROSCOPIC
Hot MATERIAL
Hot
humid
dry
air
air

Cold Cold
dry air Humid
air
HEATING AND HUMIDIFICATION HEATING AND DEHUMIDIFICATION
 PSYCHROMETRIC PROCESSES
5. COOLING AND HUMIDIFICATION- In this process air is cooled by spraying
cold water into air stream.

6. COOLING AND DEHUMIDIFICATION - In this process air is cooled and

moisture is removed when it flows over a cooling coil

Cold water sprinkler Cooling coil (

Cold
Cold dry
humid air
air
Hot
Humid
Hot air
dry air
COOLING AND HUMIDIFICATION
COOLING AND DEHUMIDIFICATION
effect of changing…
Sensible Heat And Moisture Content
effect of changing…
Sensible Heat And Moisture Content
 PSYCHROMETER
• Any instrument capable of measuring the
psychrometric state of air is called a
psychrometer.
• It comprises of two thermometers with the
bulb of one covered by a moist wick.
• The two sensing bulbs are separated and
shaded from each other so that the radiation
heat transfer between them becomes
negligible
Sling Psychrometer
• Widely used for measurements where the
air velocity inside the room is small.
• Consists two thermometers mounted side
by side and fitted in a frame with a handle
for whirling the device through air.
• The required air circulation (≈ 3 to 5 m/s)
over the sensing bulbs is obtained by
whirling the psychrometer (≈ 300 RPM).
• Readings are taken when both the
thermometers show steady-state readings.
Aspirated Psychrometer
• The thermometers remain stationary, and a
small fan, blower or syringe moves the air
across the thermometer bulbs.
• The wicks made of cotton or cloth should be
replaced frequently, and only distilled water
should be used for wetting it.
Other types are:
1. Dunmore Electric Hygrometer
2. DPT meter
3. Hygrometer (Using horse’s or human hair)
AIR WASHER
• An air washer is a device for conditioning
air.
• Air comes in direct contact with a spray of
water - exchange of heat and mass (water
vapour) between air and water.
• The outlet condition of air depends upon
the temperature of water sprayed.
• Hence, by controlling the water temperature
externally, it is possible to control the outlet
conditions of air, which then can be used for
air conditioning purposes.
• The mean temperature of water droplets in
contact with air decides the direction of heat
and mass transfer. Examples are:-
• Cooling and dehumidification: tw < tDPT. Here
both latent and sensible heat transfers are from
air to water. So water has to be externally
cooled.
• Adiabatic saturation: tw = tWBT. Here the sensible
heat transfer from air to water is exactly equal
to latent heat transfer from water to air. Hence,
no external cooling or heating of water is
required. This the process that takes place in a
perfectly insulated evaporative cooler.
• Cooling and humidification: tDPT < tw < tWBT.
Here the sensible heat transfer is from air to
water and latent heat transfer is from water
to air, but the total heat transfer is from air
to water, hence, water has to be cooled
externally.
• Cooling and humidification: tWBT < tw < tDBT.
Here the sensible heat transfer is from air to
water and latent heat transfer is from water
to air, but the total heat transfer is from
water to air, hence, water has to be heated
externally. This is the process that takes place
in a cooling tower.
• Heating and humidification: tw > tDBT. Here
both sensible and latent heat transfers are
from water to air, hence, water has to be
heated externally.
• An air washer works as a year-round air
conditioning system.
• It is not commonly used for comfort air
conditioning applications due to concerns
about health resulting from bacterial or
fungal growth on the wetted surfaces.
• It can be used in industrial applications.
Psychrometry

Air Mixtures

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Determining Entering Air Conditions

Air Conditioner
Mixture Outdoor
C
Air (OA)
B

Supply Fan Cooling Coil

A
Recirculated Air
(RA)

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Determining Entering Air Conditions

Outdoor
Air
B

A
Recirculated 95°F
Air 80°F

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Determining Entering Air Conditions
C B
4,000 cfm 1,000 cfm
Mixed Air OA

1,000 cfm = 0.25

A
4,000 cfm
3,000 cfm
OA = 25% RA
RA = 75%
Mixture = 100%
© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN
Determining Entering Air Conditions

Mixed Air Temperature

95°F × 0.25 = 23.75°F
80°F × 0.75 = 60.00°F
Mixture = 83.75°F
Determining Entering Air Conditions

B
70°F
C

A 95°F

83.75°F
80°F

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Psychrometry
Sensible Heat Ratio

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Effect Of Removing Sensible Heat

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Effect Of Removing Latent Heat

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

effect of…
Removing Sensible And Latent Heat

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

determining the…
Sensible Heat Ratio (SHR)

Sensible Heat Gain

SHR =
Sensible Heat Gain + Latent Heat Gain
Sensible Heat Ratio Scale

78°F DB
65°F WB
Index Point

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Drawing An SHR Line

A
Index Point

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Room SHR dictates…
Supply Air Conditions

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

drawing an SHR line for…
Other Room Conditions

B
D

C
Index Point 80°F

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Psychrometry
Air Quantity

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Determining Supply Airflow
STEP 1: Calculate the sensible heat ratio (SHR)

80,000 kJ/hr sensible heat gain

20,000 kJ/hr latent heat gain

80,000 kJ/hr
SHR = 100,000 kJ/hr = 0.80
Determining Supply Airflow
Design Conditions:

Room — 78°F DB, 50% RH

OA — 95°F DB, 78°F WB

Ventilation — 25% OA
Determining Supply Airflow
STEP 2: Plot room, outdoor, and entering conditions

95°F × 0.25 = 23.75°F

78°F × 0.75 = 58.50°F
Mixture = 82.25°F
B

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Determining Supply Airflow
STEP 3: Identify supply air conditions

A
D

56.5°F 78°F

© American Standard Inc. 1999 Air Conditioning Clinic TRG-TRC001-EN

Determining Supply Airflow
STEP 4: Solve the supply airflow equation

Supply
Sensible Heat Gain
0.02044 × (Room DBT – Supply =
Airflow
in CMM
DBT)

CMM = Cubic meter/minute(m3/minute)

DBT in 0C
Sensible Heat gain in kJ/s
DUCT DESIGN
The chief requirements are:
• It should convey specified rates of air flow
to prescribed locations
• It should be economical in combined initial
cost, fan operating cost and cost of building
space
• It should not transmit or generate
objectionable noise
Pre-requisites of duct design are:
• The required airflow rates from load
calculations.
• The location of fans and air outlets are
fixed initially.
• The duct layout is then made taking
into account the space available and
ease of construction.
General rules for duct design
• Air should be conveyed as directly as
possible to save space, power and
material.
• Sudden changes in directions should be
avoided. When not possible to avoid
sudden changes, turning vanes should
be used to reduce pressure loss.
• Diverging sections should be gradual.
Angle of divergence ≤ 20o
• Aspect ratio should be as close to
1.0 as possible. Normally, it should
not exceed 4.
• Air velocities should be within
permissible limits to reduce noise
and vibration.
• Duct material should be as smooth
as possible to reduce frictional
losses.
Classification
• Low pressure systems: Velocity ≤
10 m/s, static pressure ≤ 5 cm H2O
• Medium pressure systems: Velocity
≤ 10 m/s, static pressure ≤ 15 cm
H2 O
• High pressure systems: Velocity >
10 m/s, static pressure 15<p ≤ 25
cm H2O
High velocities in the ducts results
in:
• Smaller ducts and hence, lower
initial cost and lower space
requirement
• Higher pressure drop and hence
larger fan power consumption
• Increased noise and hence a need
for noise attenuation
Typical recommended velocities are:
• Residences: 3 m/s to 5 m/s
• Theatres: 4 to 6.5 m/s
• Restaurants: 7.5 m/s to 10 m/s

If nothing is specified, then a velocity of 5 to 8

m/s is used for main ducts and a velocity of 4
to 6 m/s is used for the branches.
The allowable air velocities can be as high as
30 m/s in ships and aircrafts to reduce the
space requirement.
Duct Design Methods
• The run with the highest
pressure drop is called as
the index run.
• From load and
Psychrometric calculations
the required supply airflow
rates are known.
• From the building layout
and the location of the
supply fan, the length of
each duct run is known.
• The purpose of the duct design is to select
suitable dimensions of duct for each run
and then to select a fan, which can provide
the required supply airflow rate to each
conditioned zone.
• Most commonly used methods are:
1. Velocity method
2. Equal Friction (Constant pressure
loss) Method
3. Static Regain method
Velocity method
• Here the velocity decreases as the flow
proceeds.
The various steps involved are:
Select suitable velocities in the main and
branch ducts
Find the diameters of main and branch
ducts from airflow rates and velocities for
circular ducts. For rectangular ducts, find
the cross-sectional area from flow rate and
velocity, and then by fixing the aspect ratio,
find the two sides of the rectangular duct.
From the velocities and duct
dimensions obtained, find the
frictional pressure drop for main and
branch ducts.
From the duct layout, dimensions and
airflow rates, find the dynamic
pressure losses for all the bends and
fittings.
Select a fan that can provide sufficient
airflow for the index run.
• Balancing dampers have to be installed
in each run.
• The damper in the index run is left
completely open, while the other
dampers are throttled to reduce the
flow rate to the required design values.
• The application of this method requires
selection of suitable velocities in
different duct runs, which requires
experience.
• Wrong selection of velocities can lead to
very large ducts, which, occupy large
building space and increases the cost, or
very small ducts which lead to large
pressure drop and hence necessitates the
selection of a large fan leading to higher fan
cost and running cost.
• The method is not very efficient as it
requires partial closing of all the dampers
except the one in the index run, so that the
total pressure drop in each run will be same.
Equal friction method
• Here the frictional pressure drop per unit
length in the main and branch ducts (Δpf/L)
are kept same, i.e.,

The stepwise procedure are as follows:

Select a suitable frictional pressure drop per
unit length (Δpf/L) so that the combined
initial and running costs are minimized.
Then the equivalent diameter of the main
duct (A) is obtained from the selected value
of (Δpf/L) and the airflow rate.
• Airflow rate in the main duct is equal to the
sum total of airflow rates to all the
conditioned zones.
• From the airflow rate and (Δpf/L) the
equivalent diameter of the main duct (Deq.)
can be obtained either from the friction chart
or using the frictional pressure drop equation:
Since the frictional pressure drop per unit
length is same for all the duct runs, the
equivalent diameters of the other duct runs,
are obtained from the equation:

The velocity of air through each duct is

obtained from the volumetric flow rate and the
cross-sectional area.
Next from the dimensions of the ducts in each
run, the total frictional pressure drop of that
run is obtained by multiplying the frictional
pressure drop per unit length and the length
Next the dynamic pressure losses in each
duct run are obtained based on the type
of bends or fittings used in that run.
Next the total pressure drop in each duct
run is obtained by summing up the
frictional and dynamic losses of that run
Next the fan is selected to suit the index
run with the highest pressure loss.
Dampers are installed in all the duct runs
to balance the total pressure loss.
• This method usually yields a better design as
most of the available pressure drop is
dissipated as friction in the duct runs, rather
than in the balancing dampers.
• Generally suitable when the ducts are not too
long, and it can be used for both supply and
return ducts.
• However, it requires partial closure of dampers
in all but the index run, which may generate
noise.
• If the ducts are too long then the total pressure
drop will be high and due to dampering, ducts
near the fan get over-pressurized.
Static Regain Method
• Commonly used for high velocity systems
with long duct runs, especially in large
systems.
• The static pressure is maintained same
before each terminal or branch.

The procedure followed is as given below:

Velocity in the main duct leaving the fan is
selected first.
Velocities in each successive runs are
reduced such that the gain in static pressure
due to reduction in velocity pressure equals
the frictional pressure drop in the next duct
section. Thus the static pressure before each
terminal or branch is maintained constant.
If section 1 is the outlet of the fan, then its
dimensions are known from the flow rate
and velocity (initially selected).
Since both the dimensions and velocity at
section 2 are not known, a trial-and-error
method has to be followed to get required
dimensions of the section at 2.
The procedure is followed in the direction of
airflow, and the dimensions of the
downstream ducts are obtained.
The total pressure drop is obtained from the
pressure drop in the longest run and a fan is
accordingly selected.
• Static Regain method yields a more
balanced system and does not call for
unnecessary dampering.
• However, as velocity reduces in the
direction of airflow, the duct size may
increase in the airflow direction.
• Also the velocity at the exit of the
longer duct runs may become too small
for proper air distribution in the
conditioned space.
AIR DISTRIBUTION
SYSTEMS
Definitions
Principles of air distribution
Location of return duct opening
Air-handling System
The air handling system consists:

Figure shows schematic air-flow diagram for

an air-conditioning system. It may be seen
that in circulation of air a closed loop is
formed. In this loop the point is room itself
which can be considered at atmospheric
pressure.
Through the inlets the air enters and it continues to
drop in pressure until it reaches the fan. The fan
raises the pressure, and this pressure thereafter
starts dropping again until the air enters the space.
Therefore, the pressure on the discharge side of the
fan is positive and on suction side negative.