Mumbai University > Mechanical Engineering > Sem 8 > Refrigeration and air conditioning

Marks: 5M

Year: May 2016

This method is commonly used for high velocity systems with long duct runs, especially in large systems. In this method the static pressure is maintained same before each terminal or branch. The procedure followed is as given below:

i) Velocity in the main duct leaving the fan is selected first.

ii) 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. For example, Fig.1 shows a part of the duct run with two sections 1 and 2 before two branch take-offs. The velocity at 1 is greater than that at 2, such that the static pressure is same at 1 and 2. Then using the static regain factor, one can write:

$∆p_{f,2}+∆p_{d,2}=R(p_{v,1}-p_{v,2} )$

Where $∆p_{f,2}$ and $∆p_{d,2}$ are the frictional and dynamic losses between 1 and 2, and $∆p_{v,1}$ and $p_{v,2}$ are the velocity pressures at 1 and 2 respectively.

                        fig. 1 principle of static region method.

iii. If section 1 is the outlet of the fan, then its dimensions are known from the flow rate and velocity (initially selected), however, since both the dimensions and velocity at section 2 are not known, a trial-and-error method has to be followed to solve the above equation, which gives required dimensions of the section at 2.

iv. The procedure is followed in the direction of airflow, and the dimensions of the downstream ducts are obtained.

v. As before, 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 dampening. 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.