LAB 2: Air Recirculation through a Duct-Room System

Abstract
This laboratory experiment is on the observation of air flow and heat loss in a room through a
duct system. There are two separate tests to be conducted, one being test A which involves
hot air flowing through a normal duct by a simple entry and exit channel. The other test is
Test B which is slightly more complex, having the same concept as Test A although using a
recirculated duct.

Introduction:

This “Air recirculation through a duct-room system” experiment is divided into two different
tests (test A & test B) were the air stream through a conduit and a room will be examined as
well as analysing heat loss through a conduit system. In test A, heated air flows into a room
through a conduit and streams out through an exit. In test B, wind streams through a recycled
conduit room system.

Aim & Objective:

The primary point and goal of this lab is to pick up the basic knowledge of air flow through a
ducted room system and investigate the heat loss through a conduit room system as well as
the discussion and comparison between the two experiments and factors that could possibly
affect temperature change at different areas of the system.

Apparatus and Methodology:

Description of apparatus

Equipment features:

 Air recirculation ducts

 Room like model
 Internal heaters (pre-heater & re-heater)
 Air velocity meassuring sensors
 Air temperature meassuring sensors
 Air humidity measuring sensors
 Louvers (control of air flow)
the ventilate of the duct is passed into a chamber to exhibit climate control. The exit channel
from the chamber is fitted with flexible vents permitting a portion of the air to be recycled
back to the conduit inlet. Extra sensors measure the temperature and humidity at several
LAB 2: Air Recirculation through a Duct-Room System

points in the duct, for example the chamber outlet temperature and temperature after the
recycled air is blended with the inlet air as well as the measurement of the flow rate of the
recycled air.

Duct Cross sectional area = 0.2m x 0.2m = 0.04m²

Apparatus images

Figure 1. Isometric View

LAB 2: Air Recirculation through a Duct-Room System

Figure 2. Top view

Methodology

Assumptions used in this experiment:

Dry air and uniform flow in the duct where the temperature is uniformly distributed in the
𝑃
cross sectional area of the duct. Air density can be calculated based on the ideal gas law, =
𝜌
RT, and the pressure is atmospheric pressure Patm = 101325 Pa, and R is the specific gas
constant of air R = 287 J/kg.K. The specific heat of air varies with temperature and the cp is
given by:

28.11+0.1967×10−2 𝑇+0.4802×10−5 𝑇 2 −0.1966×10−9 𝑇 3

Cp = (kJ/kg.K)
28.97

Temperature, T is in Kelvin scale (K)

 Test – A (Non-recycled system flow)

Step 1: Fully open the inlet and outlet and fully close the recycle louver

Step 2: Setting the fan to a constant 50% speed throughout the experiment

Step 3: Setting the preheat control to manual 40% and wait until the temperatures are
stabilised and then recorded the temperatures and velocity flow
LAB 2: Air Recirculation through a Duct-Room System

Step 4: Setting the preheat control to manual 60% and wait until the temperatures are
stabilised and then recorded the temperatures and velocity flows

 Test – B (Recycled system flow)

Step 1: Fully close the inlet and outlet and fully open the recycle louver

Step 2: Same fan speed in used in this part of the experiment 50%

Step 3: Setting the preheat control to manual 40% and wait until the temperatures are
stabilised and then recorded the temperatures and velocity flow

Step 4: Setting the preheat control to manual 60% and wait until the temperatures are
stabilised and then recorded the temperatures and velocity flows

Results and Calculation:

 The specific heat of air varies with temperature and the cp is given by:

28.11+0.1967×10−2 𝑇+0.4802×10−5 𝑇 2 −0.1966×10−9 𝑇 3

Cp = (kJ/kg.K)
28.97

 The difference in energy (heat) between positions A and B in a duct can be calculated
by (for dry air and without mass loss between A and B)

ΔQAB=ṁ (cpBTB- cpATA)

Where, cp is the specific heat value at constant pressure

 Temperature T and ṁ is mass flow rate (kg/s) Mass flow rate, ṁ can be calculated by:
ṁ = 𝜌𝑉𝐴
LAB 2: Air Recirculation through a Duct-Room System
Table of results:

Test Relative Relative power

V1 V2 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
speed of the of the
(m/s) (m/s) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)
fan (%) preheater (%)

A 50 40 0.6 0 19.9 25.8 25.3 25.1 23.5

A 50 60 0.6 0 20.2 28.4 27.8 27.6 25.3

B 50 60 0.6 0.6 27.3 34.7 33.7 33.2 29.3

B 50 40 0.6 0.6 26.7 32.3 31.6 31.3 28.3

Mass Mass flow

flow rate rate 2
Test Cp1 Cp2 Cp3 Cp4 Cp5 Density Density 1
1 2

A 1.0043 1.0052 1.0052 1.0051 1.0049 1.18 1.19 0.0284 0

A 1.0043 1.0057 1.0056 1.0055 1.0052 1.17 1.18 0.0282 0

B 1.0055 1.0067 1.0066 1.0065 1.0058 1.15 1.16 0.0278 0.0280

B 1.0054 1.0063 1.0062 1.0062 1.0057 1.16 1.17 0.0278 0.0280

Test A - Heat loss between T2 and T4

ΔQAB= 0.0284 ((1.0051x26.35) – (1.0052x27.1))

= -0.0213

- Heat loss between T4 and T5

ΔQAB= 0.0284 ((1.0049x24.4) – (10051x26.35))

= -0.0554

Test B – Heat loss between T5 and T1

ΔQAB= 0.0278 ((1.0058x28.8) – (1.0055x27))

LAB 2: Air Recirculation through a Duct-Room System
= 0.0172

- Heat loss between T4 and T5

ΔQAB= 0.0278 ((1.0055x27) – (1.0065x32.25))

= -0.146

Discussion:

 In test A discuss how the heat losses are affected by temperature T2.

Due to the preheater where air at T2 is heated and flows through the duct and affects the
temperature readings at different areas of the duct system.

 Discuss if there is any difference between the power supplied by the preheater in Test
A and that in Test B, and what is the possible reason for the difference.

Yes there was a slight difference in the power of the preheater, because in test A the heater
had to maintain the heat of the air flow while the outlet was fully open, while in test B air
flow was recirculating through the ducts without any openings in the duct path, that mean that
the power needed to heat the air flow is less.

 In test B discuss how the heat losses are affected by temperature T2.

Due to the preheater where air at T2 is heated and flows through the duct and affects the
temperature readings at different areas of the duct system.
 Comparison between the temperatures in test A with the temperatures in test B and
the reason for the difference.

Test Relative Relative power

V1 V2 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
speed of the of the
(m/s) (m/s) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C)
fan (%) preheater (%)

A 50 40 0.6 0 19.9 25.8 25.3 25.1 23.5

A 50 60 0.6 0 20.2 28.4 27.8 27.6 25.3

B 50 60 0.6 0.6 27.3 34.7 33.7 33.2 29.3

B 50 40 0.6 0.6 26.7 32.3 31.6 31.3 28.3

The most possible reason of the temperature difference between the two tests is that in
test A the outlet was open to the room which means that the heat loss is greater than
LAB 2: Air Recirculation through a Duct-Room System
the heat loss in test B because in test B the outlet was closed which means less heat is
lost.

 Discuss the possible reasons that lead to errors in the measurement.

Reasons that may lead to errors in the readings and results may have been cause due to
human error in reading the values and fluctuation of temperatures in the surroundings.
These issues may be resolve by conducting the experiment in an isolated room and more
precise equipment.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, this experiment was successful as the objectives; understanding the concepts
of the “Air recirculation through a duct-room system”, were met. Nevertheless, in this
experiment, air flow in the duct in test A and test B seemed to have obeyed the laws of
thermodynamics in the relationship between density, mass flow rate and temperature. The
small changes of the results (data) may have been cause due to human error in reading the
values and fluctuation of temperatures in the surroundings. These issues may be resolve by
conducting the experiment in an isolated room and more precise equipment.