AMCA International Technical Seminar 2009

AIRFLOW IN A SYSTEM

Presented by:
Bill Howarth, Illinois Blower, Inc.
The Air Movement and Control Association
International (AMCA), has met the standards
and requirements of the Registered Continuing
Education Providers Program. Credit earned on
completion of this program will be reported to
the RCEPP. A certificate of completion will be
issued to each participant. As such, it does not
include content that may be deemed or
construed to be an approval or endorsement by
NCEES or RCEPP.
 Learning Objectives
• Describe the elements of an air system
• Know the physical properties of air
• Describe the effects of system components on
airflow
• Understand the concept of pressure
• Understand how the conservation of energy
relates to airflow
• Understand an air systems operating point
 MOVING AIR

Air Air

Air at “A” Air at “B”

 AIR SYSTEM
System

Air
Air

Air at “B”
Air at “A”
 AIR SYSTEM DESIGN
PARAMETERS
• Properties of Air
• Conservation of Energy
• Friction And Friction Losses
• Fan Characteristics
PROPERTIES OF AIR
• Standard Air
•Density
•Pressure
•Temperature
STANDARD AIR

The Reference Gas

for
Air System Design
 RECIPE FOR
STANDARD AIR
Ingredients:
• 1.105 X 1025 Molecules of Nitrogen (N2)
• 1.480 X 1023 Molecules of Oxygen (O2)
• 6.558 X 1021 Molecules of Argon (A)
• 2.190 X 1020 Molecules of Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Pinch of other trace gases
 RECIPE FOR
STANDARD AIR
Mix Well in a sealed box one foot
on a side and one foot deep. Heat
to 68F. Warning! if you are in a
vacuum, it will take 2117 pounds
of force to hold the lid on the box.
2117 lbs
 14.7 in2
lbs
12 in. x 12 in.
 RECIPE FOR
STANDARD AIR
If you followed the instructions
properly, the container will have
gained in weight by 0.075 lb. The
density of standard air is:

Weight
Density   0.075 lb
ft3
Volume
 STANDARD AIR
DEVIATIONS
Due To:
• Change In Pressure
• Change in Temperature
• Addition of other
Component(s), such as Water
STANDARD AIR

Pressure
 PRESSURE
1 Cubic Foot
at 68F.

Air molecules are in continuous random

motion. The average impact of the
molecules against the sides of a container
result in the phenomenon known as
pressure.
 PRESSURE
1 Cubic Foot
at 68F.

Forcing the same number of molecules to

occupy a smaller volume (compressing the
air) will increase the frequency of the
molecular impacts, which is an increase in
pressure.
 PRESSURE
1 Cubic Foot
at 600F.

Increasing energy raises the random

motion and the temperature. Pressure also
increases. But; a cubic foot of air at 600F
and 14.7 lb/in2 has fewer molecules - It is
less dense.
BAROMETRIC PRESSURE
The weight of our
atmosphere
compresses air to a
pressure of 14.7
lb/in2 or 29.92 in. Hg
(average at sea level
with 50% relative
AIR
humidity).
 PRESSURE
• Absolute Pressure
•Any Pressure referenced to
absolute zero pressure.
•Barometric Pressure is an
absolute pressure.
 AIR DENSITY

Density at a given temperature

and barometric pressure:

lbm Abs. press. 460 F  70F

0.075 3 x x
ft 29.92 in. Hg 460 F  Temp.
EFFECT OF HUMIDITY
The addition
of water vapor
to air will
decrease the
density of the
air.
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART
Density of Saturated Air for Various Barometric and Hygrometric Approx. Density of Saturated Air for Various Barometric and Hygrometric Approx.
Conditions—Ibm/ft3 Average Conditions—Ibm/ft3 Average
Dry-Bulb Increase in Increase in Dry-Bulb Increase in Increase in
Temp. Density Per Density Per Temp. Density Per Density Per
Barometric Pressure in. Hg Barometric Pressure in. Hg
°F 0.1 in. Hg °F Wet-Bulb °F 0.1 in. Hg °F Wet-Bulb
Rise In Depression Rise In Depression
28.5 29.0 29.5 30.0 30.5 31.0 Barometer Td-Tw 28.5 29.0 29.5 30.0 30.5 31.0 Barometer Td-Tw
30 .07703 .07839 .07974 .08110 .08245 .08380 .00027 .000017 65 .07145 .07272 .07398 .07525 .07651 .07777 .00026 .000028
31 .07687 .07822 .07957 .08093 .08228 .08363 .00027 .000017 66 .07130 .07256 .07382 .07508 .07634 .07760 .00026 .000029
32 .07671 .07806 .07940 .08075 .08210 .08345 .00027 .000017 67 .07114 .07240 .07366 .07492 .07618 .07744 .00026 .000029
33 .07654 .07789 .07924 .08053 .08193 .08327 .00027 .000018 68 .07098 .07224 .07350 .07475 .07601 .07727 .00026 .000030
34 .07638 .07772 .07907 .08041 .08175 .08310 .00027 .000018 69 .07083 .07208 .07333 .07459 .07584 .07710 .00026 .000030
70 .07067 .07192 .07317 .07442 .07568 .07693 .00026 .000031
35 .07621 .07756 .07890 .08024 .08153 .08292 .00027 .000018
71 .07051 .07176 .07301 .07426 .07551 .07676 .00025 .000031
36 .07605 .07739 .07873 .08007 .08141 .08274 .00027 .000018
72 .07035 .07160 .07285 .07410 .07534 .07659 .00025 .000032
37 .07589 .07723 .07856 .07990 .08123 .08257 .00027 .000019
73 .07020 .07144 .07268 .07393 .07517 .07642 .00025 .000033
38 .07573 .07706 .07840 .07973 .08106 .08239 .00027 .000019
74 .07004 .07128 .07252 .07377 .07501 .07625 .00025 .000033
39 .07557 .07690 .07823 .07956 .08089 .08222 .00027 .000019
75 .06988 .07112 .07236 .07360 .07484 .07603 .00025 .000034
40 .07541 .07674 .07806 .07939 .08072 .08205 .00027 .000019 76 .06972 .07096 .07220 .07343 .07467 .07591 .00025 .000034
41 .07525 .07657 .07790 .07922 .08055 .08187 .00026 .000020 77 .06956 .07080 .07203 .07327 .07451 .07574 .00025 .000035
42 .07509 .07641 .07773 .07905 .08038 .08170 .00026 .000020 78 .06940 .07064 .07187 .07310 .07434 .07557 .00025 .000036
43 .07493 .07625 .07757 .07889 .08021 .08153 .00026 .000020 79 .06925 .07048 .07171 .07294 .07417 .07540 .00025 .000036
44 .07477 .07609 .07740 .07872 .08004 .08135 .00026 .000020
80 .06909 .07032 .07155 .07277 .07400 .07523 .00025 .000037
45 .07461 .07592 .07724 .07855 .07986 .08118 .00026 .000020 81 .06893 .07015 .07138 .07261 .07383 .07506 .00025 .000033
46 .07445 .07576 .07707 .07838 .07970 .08101 .00026 .000021 82 .06877 .07000 .07122 .07244 .07366 .07489 .00024 .000039
47 .07429 .07560 .07691 .07822 .07953 .08084 .00026 .000021 83 .06861 .06983 .07105 .07227 .07349 .07472 .00024 .000039
48 .07413 .07544 .07674 .07805 .07936 .08066 .00026 .000021 84 .06845 .06967 .07089 .07211 .07333 .07454 .00024 .000040
49 .07397 .07528 .07658 .07788 .07919 .08049 .00026 .000022
85 .06829 .06950 .07072 .07194 .07316 .07437 .00024 .000041
50 .07381 .07512 .07642 .07772 .07902 .08032 .00026 .000022 86 .06812 .06934 .07056 .07177 .07299 .07420 .00024 .000042
51 .07366 .07496 .07625 .07755 .07885 .08015 .00026 .000022 87 .06796 .06917 .07039 .07160 .07281 .07403 .00024 .000043
52 .07350 .07479 .07609 .07739 .07868 .07998 .00026 .000023 88 .06780 .06901 .07022 .07143 .07264 .07385 .00024 .000043
53 .07334 .07464 .07593 .07722 .07852 .07981 .00026 .000023 89 .06764 .06885 .07005 .07126 .07247 .07368 .00024 .000044
54 .07318 .07447 .07576 .07706 .07835 .07964 .00026 .000023 90 .06748 .06868 .06989 .07109 .07230 .07351 .00024 .000045
55 .07302 .07431 .07560 .07689 .07818 .07947 .00026 .000024 91 .06731 .06852 .06972 .07092 .07213 .07333 .00024 .000046
56 .07287 .07415 .07544 .07673 .07801 .07930 .00026 .000024 92 .06715 .06835 .06955 .07075 .07195 .07316 .00024 .000047
57 .07271 .07399 .07528 .07656 .07784 .07913 .00026 .000025 93 .06698 .06818 .06938 .07058 .07178 .07298 .00024 .000048
58 .07255 .07383 .07512 .07640 .07768 .07896 .00026 .000025 94 .06682 .06801 .06921 .07041 .07161 .07280 .00024 .000049
59 .07240 .07367 .07495 .07623 .07751 .07879 .00026 .000025 95 .06665 .06785 .06904 .07024 .07143 .07263 .00024 .000050
60 .07224 .07352 .07479 .07607 .07734 .07862 .00026 .000026 96 .06648 .06768 .06887 .07006 .07126 .07245 .00024 .000051
61 .07208 .07336 .07463 .07590 .07718 .07845 .00026 .000026 97 .06632 .06751 .06870 .06989 .07108 .07227 .00024 .000052
62 .07193 .07320 .07447 .07574 .07701 .07828 .00026 .000027 98 .06615 .06734 .06853 .06972 .07091 .07209 .00024 .000053
63 .07177 .07304 .07430 .07557 .07684 .07811 .00026 .000027 99 .06598 .06717 .06835 .06954 .07073 .07191 .00024 .000054
64 .07161 .07288 .07414 .07541 .07668 .07794 .00026 .000028 100 .06581 .06700 .06818 .06937 .07055 .07174 .00024 .000055
Note: Approx. average decrease in density per 0.10F rise in dry-bulb temperature equals .000017 lbm/ft3. Note: Approx. average decrease in density per 0.10F rise in dry-bulb temperature equals .000017 lbm/ft3.
 GAGE PRESSURE
Barometric
Pressure

1 in. wg
Water

Gauge Pressure is a
Differential Pressure.
 STATIC PRESSURE
Barometric
Ai
Pressure
r

1 in. wg
Water
Static Pressure

Fan Static Pressure is a gage

pressure, indicating
compression of the air.
 VELOCITY PRESSURE
Barometric
Pressure
Ai
r

1 in. wg
Water
Velocity Pressure

Velocity pressure is a measurement of the energy

needed to accelerate air to a given velocity.
Kenetic Energy
VelocityPressure  VP 
Volume
2
 Velocity
VP    x Density
 1097 
 TOTAL PRESSURE

Total Pressure=
Static Pressure + Velocity Pressure
or

TP  SP  VP
 ACFM vs. SCFM

1 Cubic Foot 1 Cubic Foot 1 Cubic Foot

at 600F. at 600F. at 68F.

Actual Cubic Feet Per Minute (ACFM)

Standard Cubic Feet Per Minute (SCFM)
ACFM  SCFM
CONSERVATION
OF
ENERGY
 BERNOULLI'S LAW
For ducted airflow which is:
• Constant with time
• Incompressible
• Without friction

TP  SP  VP  Constant
(If we neither add nor subtract
energy, energy is constant.)
FLOW THROUGH A NOZZLE
Area 2
Airflow
TP1

Pitot Tube SP1

TP1  TP2  SP2  VP2  VP2 

0.5

Velocity2    x 1097
VP2  TP1  SP2  Density

CubicFeet
CFM   Velocity2 x Area 2
Minute
 BERNOULLI'S LAW
• May be used in system calculations
wherever friction can be ignored.
• Do NOT use for:

• Abrupt
Expansion

• Abrupt
Contraction
 FRICTION
AND
FRICTION LOSSES
 TOTAL PRESSURE
IN AN AIR SYSTEM
Total Duct
Pressure Loss

Duct Length

Total Pressure declines

as duct length increases.
 FRICTION LOSS
• Caused by non-uniform velocities
across the ductwork, coupled with
the viscosity of air.
• Always results in the conversion of
Total Pressure to Heat
• Turbulence (irregular or chaotic air
flow) will amplify the friction loss.
 LOSS FACTORS FOR
ROUND ELBOWS
Coefficient
R/D C
0.50 0.71
R 0.75 0.33
1.00 0.22
1.50 0.15
D
2.00 0.13
2.50 0.12

Loss C x VP
 LOSS FACTORS FOR
STRAIGHT DUCTS
D
100
Coefficient
D C per 100 Ft.
0.25 9.35
0.33 6.53
0.50 3.95
0.67 2.78

Loss C x VP 0.75
1.00
2.40
1.69
1.33 1.19
1.67 0.91
2.00 0.73
2.50 0.56
3.00 0.45
3.50 0.38
4.00 0.32
5.00 0.25
 SYSTEM LOSSES
Duct Friction Chart
• Based on standard
air, 0.075 lbm/ft3 .
• This chart based
on galvanized
ducts with Beaded
slip joints every
48” (=0.0003).
• Other charts
available.
 LOSSES IN A REAL
AIR SYSTEM
• Add losses for each component.
• Add a safety factor to all for the impact
of one component connected directly to
the next.
Example:


 AIR SYSTEMS
Basis for development
of an Air System
• Ventilation Rate
• Air Changes/Hour
• Face Velocity
• Exhaust Requirements
• References:
• Fan Application Manual
• ASHRAE Handbooks
• Industrial Ventilation
Guide
 AIR SYSTEM

Convert Ventilation Rate in to Flow Rate (CFM)

Develop a detailed duct system layout.
 AIR SYSTEMS
Do: Don’t:
• Calculate: • Simplify component
• Actual Cubic Feet Per losses
Minute
• Static Pressure
• Abruptly change
Requirement velocity through
• Air Density the air system
• Include all entrance • Neglect System
and discharge points Effects on the fan
• Pay careful attention • Inlet and Outlet
to fan entry and exit • Density
conditions
 SYSTEM CURVE
System  CFM 
2

 C x VP  C  x 0.075  Constant x CFM2

Loss  Area x 1097 

Pressure

System Resistance Curve

System Losses Plotted

CFM
 THE FAN’S JOB

The purpose of a fan is to

supply an air system with
energy (in the form of
pressure) necessary to
maintain airflow.
 FAN
CHARACTERISTICS
 FANS
• There are many types of fans.
• For each type, there may be many
sizes.
• All fans have one thing in common:

Accurate prediction of aerodynamic

performance requires a test.
 THE AERODYNAMIC
PERFORMANCE TEST
At:
Power

Constant
Speed,
Known
Pressure

Density

Airflow
 THE FAN LAWS
• Are used to calculate fan
performance at:
•Other Speeds
•Other Densities
•Other Fan Sizes
 THE FAN LAWS
First Law:
3
 DIA2   RPM 2 
CFM 2  CFM1     
 DIA1   RPM 1 
 THE FAN LAWS
Second Law:
2 2
 DIA2   RPM 2    2 
SP2  SP1       
 DIA1   RPM 1   1 
 THE FAN LAWS
Third Law:
5 3
 DIA2   RPM 2    2 
H 2  H1       
 DIA1   RPM 1   1 
 THE FAN LAWS
P
r
e P
s o
s w
u e
r r
e

Airflow

Changes in Speed
 FAN SELECTION

Airflow Desired CFM

Select a fan which will generate the

required pressure at the desired airflow.
 FAN SELECTION

• There is only one intersection

between the fan curve and
system curve.
• Fans are load matching devices.
• Fans handle ACFM only.
 OPERATING POINT

Fan - Air System Interaction

 FAN SELECTION
COROLLARIES
• Any air system fan which generates
the required system pressure will
also deliver the required airflow.
• If an air system fan generates the
specified static pressure but not the
desired airflow, the system
resistance has been mis-calculated.
FAN PERFORMANCE
TOLERANCES

• Account for:
•Test Uncertainty
•Manufacturing
Imperfections
 AMCA TOLERANCES
• The fan must perform within 2.5% of its air
performance rating and within 5% of its
power rating.
• To meet rated performance, the fan RPM
might have to be increased up to 2.5%, and
the power increased up to 5% of the rated
power.

• The AMCA Tolerances DO NOT account for

System Effect or for errors in the system
calculations.
Questions?