MAPE

PUERTOLLANO

Air Distribution
System Design
Introduction
Central heating and cooling systems use an
air distribution or duct system to circulate
heated and/or cooled air to all the
conditioned rooms in a house.

Properly designed duct systems can

maintain uniform temperatures throughout
the house, efficiently and quietly.
Efficient duct system designs can
reduce equipment size, further
saving money for new or
replacement equipment.
Leaky and unbalanced duct
systems may force conditioned
air outside and unconditioned air Why Duct Design
into the house. This increases
heating and cooling costs and
Is Important ?
may also draw humidity, dust,
mold spores, and other
contaminants into a home from
the attic, crawlspace, or garage
and radon gas from the soil.
The
objectives of
good duct
design are:
1. Provides conditioned air to meet all
room heating and cooling loads.
2. Is properly sized so that the pressure
drop across the air handler is within
manufacturer and design specifications.
3. Is sealed to provide proper air flow and
5 outcomes of the to prevent air from entering the house or
duct design duct system from polluted zones.
4. Has balanced supply and return air
process flows to maintain a neutral pressure in the
house.
5. Minimizes duct air temperature gains or
losses between the air handler and
supply outlets, and between the return
register and air handler.
Supply
Duct
Systems
Trunk and
Branch System
In the trunk and branch system, a large main
supply trunk is connected directly to the air
handler or its supply plenum and serves as a
supply plenum or an extension to the supply
plenum. Smaller branch ducts and run outs
are connected to the trunk.

It provides air flows that are easily balanced

and can be easily designed to be located
inside the conditioned space of the house.
Spider System
A spider system is a more distinct
variation of the trunk and branch
system.

This system is difficult to locate

within the conditioned space of
the house.
Radial System
In a radial system, there is no main
supply trunk; branch ducts or run outs
that deliver conditioned air to individual
supply outlets are essentially connected
directly to the air handler, usually using
a small supply plenum.

Traditionally, this system is associated

with an air handler that is centrally
located so that ducts are arranged in
a radial pattern.
Perimeter Loop
System
A perimeter loop system uses a
perimeter duct fed from a central
supply plenum using several feeder
ducts. This system is typically
limited to houses built on slab in
cold climates and is more difficult
to design and install.
Return Air Techniques
Return
Duct
Systems
Multiple Room Return System
Multiple-Room
Return System
A multiple-room return system is designed to return air from
each room supplied with conditioned air, especially those
that can be isolated from the rest of the house (except
bathrooms and perhaps kitchens and mechanical rooms).

Design and installation costs of a multi-room return system

are generally higher than costs for a central return system,
and higher friction losses can increase blower requirements.
Central Return System
Central Return
System
A central return system consists of one or more large grilles
located in central areas of the house (e.g., hallway, under
stairway) and often close to the air handler.

The wall cavity must be well sealed to prevent air leakage.

Jumper ducts are short ducts routed through the ceiling to
minimize noise transfer.
Duct
Materials
Air distribution ducts are commonly
constructed from sheet metal, rigid
fiberglass duct board, or flexible
nonmetallic duct. Selection of duct
material is based on price,
performance, and installation
requirements.
03
Flexible
Sheet Metal Fiberglass Duct Nonmetallic
Board Duct

Sheet metal is the most

common duct material and
can be used on most all Fiberglass duct board is
supply and return duct insulated and sealed as part of Flexible nonmetallic duct (or
applications (for plenums, its construction. flex duct) consists of a duct
trunks, branches, and run inner liner supported on the
outs). Sheet metal ducts inside by a helix wire coil and
have a smooth interior covered by blanket insulation
surface that offers the least with a flexible vapor-barrier
resistance to air flow. jacket on the outside.
Duct and
Register
Locations
DUCT AND REGISTER LOCATIONS
• PLACE THE DUCTS IN A FURRED-DOWN CHASE BELOW THE CEILING (E.G.,
DROPPED CEILING IN A HALLWAY), A CHASE FURRED-UP IN THE ATTIC, OR
OTHER SUCH CHASES. THESE CHASES MUST BE SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED,
AIR-SEALED, AND INSULATED TO ENSURE THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO
UNCONDITIONED SPACES.
• LOCATE DUCTS BETWEEN THE FLOORS OF A MULTI-STORY HOME (RUN
THROUGH THE FLOOR TRUSSES OR JOISTS). THE EXTERIOR WALLS OF THESE
FLOOR CAVITIES MUST BE INSULATED AND SEALED TO ENSURE THEY ARE
WITHIN THE CONDITIONED SPACE. HOLES IN THE CAVITY FOR WIRING,
PLUMBING, ETC., MUST BE SEALED TO PREVENT AIR EXCHANGE WITH
UNCONDITIONED SPACES.
• LOCATE DUCTS IN A SPECIALLY-CONSTRUCTED SEALED AND INSULATED
CRAWLSPACE (WHERE THE WALLS OF THE CRAWLSPACE ARE INSULATED
RATHER THAN THE CEILING).
Duct
Design
Method
DUCT DESIGN METHOD
The air distribution system should be designed at the same time the house plans
are being developed. The following eight steps should be followed in the design
of an air distribution system to ensure efficiency and comfort:
1. Select the general type of heating and cooling equipment (e.g., furnace, heat
pump, air conditioner).
2. Select the general type of air distribution system (supply and return duct
systems).
3. Calculate the design heating and cooling loads of each room of the house and
the loads that are associated with the entire house.
4. Size and select the specific models of the heating and cooling equipment.
DUCT DESIGN METHOD
5. Develop a scale drawing or rough sketch of the air distribution system.
6. Determine the size of all the ducts based on the room loads, blower data,
pressure drops of additional components or devices, and equivalent duct
lengths. Several duct layouts may need to be examined before reaching a
final design.
7. Select and size the air distribution system devices (return grilles and supply
air diffusers, grilles, and registers).
8. Select the insulation levels for the duct system in accordance with the 2000
International Energy Conservation Code.
Design
Recommendations
and Key Design
Elements
DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
AND KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS
In designing the air distribution, consider the following recommendations before
finalizing the design:
• Design the air distribution system to be located inside the conditioned space of
the house to the greatest extent possible. Do not locate ducts in exterior walls.
• The entire air distribution system should be “hard” ducted, including returns (i.e.,
building cavities, closets, raised-floor air handler plenums, platform returns, wall
stud spaces, panned floor joists, etc., should not be used).
• In two-story and very large houses, consider using two or more separate heating
and cooling systems, each with its own duct system.

• Consider supply outlet locations near interior walls to reduce duct lengths.
DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
AND KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS
• Locate supply outlets as far away from exhaust vents as possible in bathrooms
and kitchens to prevent supply air from being swept directly up by the exhaust
fans.
• Consider installing volume dampers located at the take-off end of the duct
rather than at the supply register to facilitate manual balancing of the system after
installation. Volume dampers should have a means of fixing the position of the
damper after the air distribution system is balanced.
• When using a central return system, include
(a) a return on each level of a multi-story house,
(b) a specification to install transfer grilles or jumper ducts in each room with a
door (undercutting interior doors to allow 1 inch of clearance to the floor is usually
not sufficient), and
(c) if at all possible, a return in all rooms with doors that require two or more
supply ducts.
DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
AND KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS

• Specify higher duct insulation levels in ducts located outside the

conditioned space than those specified by the 2000 International Energy
Conservation Code, especially when variable-speed air handling equipment
is being used.

• Specify that all duct joints must be mechanically fastened and sealed
prior to insulation to prevent air leakage, preferably with mastic and
fiberglass mesh.
Thank
You!