CAE 464/517 HVAC Systems Design

Spring 2021

March 02, 2021

Air distribution systems: Diffuser selection

Advancing energy, environmental, and

Dr. Mohammad Heidarinejad, Ph.D., P.E.
sustainability research within the built environment Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
www.built-envi.com Illinois Institute of Technology
muh182@iit.edu
HOMEWORK / SOLUTION / EXAM

2
RECAP

3
 Recap
• Herman Hall systems:

4
 Recap
• Herman Hall systems:

5
 Recap
• Group A
q Diffusers mounted in or near the ceiling that discharge air
horizontally

• Group B
q Diffusers mounted in or near the floor that discharge air vertically in
a non-spreading jet

• Group C
q Diffusers mounted in or near the floor that discharge air vertically in
a spreading jet

• Group D
q Diffusers mounted in or near the floor that discharge air horizontally

• Group E
q Diffusers mounted in or near the floor that discharge air vertically
down 6
Recap

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Recap

8
 Recap
• If you need to know more about the air diffusion and
location of diffusers, see the following resources:
q https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/4438/engine
eringexperv00000i00435.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y
q https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/4130/engine
eringexperv00000i00442.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

9
 Recap
• In addition to the Fundamentals Chapter 20, ASHRAE
Applications Chapter 58 is a good resource

10
 Recap
• In addition to the Fundamentals Chapter 20, ASHRAE
Systems and Equipment Chapter 20 is a good resource

11
 Recap
• In addition to the Fundamentals Chapter 20, Chapter 9 of
the Engineering Handbook by Price Industries is a good
resource

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CHARACTERISTICS ROOM LENGTH
(DIFFUSER SPACING)

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 Characteristics Room Length

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Engineering Guide Air Distribution, Price
 Characteristics Room Length
• Round diffusers:
q Diameter usually vary from 6’’ to 36’’

q Usually work for high flow rates (e.g., gyms, halls, …)

q Some have adjustable vanes

15
https://www.titus-hvac.com/file/1717/m_Tmra.pdf
 Characteristics Room Length
• Square diffusers:
q Some common sizes are 12’’x12’’, 20’’x20’’, and 24’’x24’’

q Usually work for low flow rates

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https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/submittals/section%20c/fire-rated-diffusers-submittal.pdf
 Characteristics Room Length
• To identify the characteristics length, we need to identify the
location of the air outlets
• Identify the maximum achievable throw
• Add the grid and place supply outlets and returns (e.g., 2’’
by 2’’)
Return

Supply Outlet

17
 Characteristics Room Length

High Sidewall Grille

Distance to wall perpendicular to jet

Circular Ceiling Diffuser

Distance to closet wall or intersecting air jet

https://www.zoro.com/zoro-select-sidewallceiling-register-adjustable-4mjk6/i/G3228687/feature- 18
product?gclid=CjwKCAiA767jBRBqEiwAGdAOr9PLHqDn6n9EPQA_dt52anSd56Ufjsi01C2Y1uw7d1UgBStCgclyPBoCYdUQAvD_BwE
http://www.airmate.com/products/rezzin-round/ceiling-diffuser
 Characteristics Room Length

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Engineering Guide Air Distribution, Price
 Characteristics Room Length
• How do we select L for the following setup?

Outlet 2 Outlet 1

L2-1 L1-2 L1-wall

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 Characteristics Room Length

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Engineering Guide Air Distribution, Price
 Characteristics Room Length
• Various outlet performs differently:

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 Characteristics Room Length
• We need to be careful of Coanda effect

• For free space mounting, multiply the throw by 0.7

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Engineering Guide Air Distribution, Price
 Characteristics Room Length
• The following example shows how we know which diffuser
type to select:

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Engineering Guide Air Distribution, Price
 Characteristics Room Length
• Make sure to consider internal objects

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DATASHEETS

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 Datasheets
• We define throw as the terminal velocity
q 150 fpm (0.75 m/s) = T150
q 100 fpm (0.50 m/s) = T100
q 50 fpm (0.25 m/s) = T50

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 Datasheets
• Manufacture usually report the isothermal condition. To
account for the denser supply air, multiply the tabulated
values by 0.75. This is to account for a temperature
differential of approximately 15 °F.

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https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/engineering-guides/air-distribution-engineering-guide.pdf
 Datasheets
• Let’s look at the manufacture datasheet
q https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/cat
alogs/catalog-pages/section%20d/500_600_supply.pdf

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 Datasheets

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https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/catalogs/complete-sections/section%20a/section-d---grilles-and-registers.pdf
 Datasheets

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https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/catalogs/complete-sections/section%20a/section-d---grilles-and-registers.pdf
 Datasheets
• Please review some diffuser, grille, and register options for
the next lectures

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https://www.titus-hvac.com/Products/Diffusers
 Datasheets
• Please review some diffuser, grille, and register options for
the next lectures

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https://www.priceindustries.com/#close
 Datasheets

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https://www.holyoake.com/1-Air-Diffusers.html
EXAMPLE

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 Example
• Problem:
q Use Price Industries Product
q A model 520 (6 in x 5 in) supply air grille.
q Grille’s air CFM is 150
q The floor plan is as the following

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https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/engineering-guides/air-distribution-engineering-guide.pdf
 Manufacturer Datasheets
• Solution:

37
https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/engineering-guides/air-distribution-engineering-guide.pdf
 Example
• Solution
q Isothermal:

0 deflection 22º deflection 45º deflection

22 ft 18 ft 11 ft

q Non-Isothermal

0 deflection 22º deflection 45º deflection

0.75×22 = 17 𝑓𝑡 0.75×18 = 14 𝑓𝑡 0.75×11 = 8 𝑓𝑡

See Example 9.2 and Example 9.3 in the Price Engineering Handbook

38
https://www.priceindustries.com/content/uploads/assets/literature/engineering-guides/air-distribution-engineering-guide.pdf
AIR DIFFUSION PERFORMANCE
INDEX (ADPI)

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 Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)
• Avoid the draft in the space
• Air fluctuate in a typical air conditioned space

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Fanger and Christensen, Perception of draught in ventilated spaces
 Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)
• ADPI is the percentage of points within the occupied zone
with a range of effective draft temperature of -3 to 2 F of
average room temperature at a coincident velocity of 70
fpm or less than that

• ADPI is a measure of the degree of mixing in zones

served by overhead cooling systems

• ADPI of 80 or more is desirable to avoid stratification

41
 Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)
• The ADPI is based only on
q Air velocity

q Effective draft temperature (a combination of local temperature

variations from the room average)

q Not directly related to the dry-bulb temperature or relative humidity

42
 Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)
• We define Effective Draft Temperature (EDT):

𝐸𝐷𝑇 = 𝑇-.,0 − T12 − 0.07×(V3 − 30)

q 𝐸𝐷𝑇 ∶ Effective draft temperature (F)

q 𝑇!" , 𝑥: Local air stream dry-bulb temperature (F)
q 𝑇!" : Average room dry-bulb temperature (F)
q 𝑉# ∶ Local air stream centerline velocity, fpm

43
 Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)
• Use collide air streams to project a high velocity air stream
into the occupied zone

Horizontal Throw

Vertical Throw

Throw Distance = Horizontal Throw + Vertical Throw 44

Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)

45
Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)

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 Air Distribution Performance Index (ADPI)

T50 or X50 is used interchangeably 47

NOISE CONSIDERATIONS

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 Noise Criteria
• Standard 885 provides “procedure for estimating occupied
space sound levels in the application of air terminals and air
outlets”

• Noise Criteria (NC) was developed in 1950s to address the

noise concern of HVAC systems
q NC is based on dB
q NC method was originally limited in design curves
q Did not include low frequencies
q No criterion for unbalanced spectrum

• Room Criteria Method (RC) was developed in 1980s

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 Noise Criteria

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http://acessoverd.dominiotemporario.com/doc/Indices_Fundamentais_de_Projeto_e_Qualidade_Workshop-Acoustic.pdf
 Noise Criteria
• Generally, within a 10 ft. module the catalog NC rating will
apply for diffusers and continuous linear grilles

• We hear only 10 ft. of a continuous diffuser

• A wide open balancing damper in the diffuser neck may add

4–5 NC

• Significantly closed balancing dampers can add more than

10 NC, depending on the duct pressure and supply fan
characteristics

51
 Noise Criteria
• Pick NC values match the purpose of room

• Typical NC levels are:

q Conference Rooms < NC30
q Private offices < NC35
q Open offices = NC40
q Hallways, utility rooms, rest rooms < NC45

• Sometimes it might be difficult to achieve less than NC30

• Try to select diffusers for NC20-25 (or less)

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DIFFUSER SELECTION GUIDELINES
(CONSIDERATION OF LOADS)

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 Diffuser Selection Guidelines
• Find air flow requirement for the space

𝑞̇ 454 𝑞̇ 678
𝑉̇ = ≅
𝜌∆ℎ 𝜌∆𝑡

q 𝑉:̇ maximum volumetric flow rate (m3/s, ft3/min)

q 𝑞̇ $%$ : total design load (W, Btu/hr)
q 𝑞̇ &'( : sensible design load (W, Btu/hr)
q ρ: air density (kg/m3, lbm/ft3) – about 1.08
q Δh: enthalpy difference between supply and return air (J/kg,
Btu/lbm)
q Δt: Temperature difference between supply and return air (°C, °F)

• Select diffuser type, number, location

54
 Diffuser Selection Guidelines
• Guideline 1:
q Determine the air flow requirements (both outdoor air and the load
required) and room size

q Obtain reflected ceiling

q Select the type of diffuser to be used

q Determine room characteristic length

q Select the recommended throw-to-length ratio

q Select the appropriate diffuser from catalog data

q Make sure that other specifications are met (e.g., noise or total
pressure)

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 Diffuser Selection Guidelines
• Guideline 2:
q Use equalizing grids on direct diffuser connections

q Locate balancing dampers at branch take-off

q Keep flexible duct bends as gentle as possible

q Flex is a great attenuator of upstream noise sources

q Keep duct velocities as low as possible but over sizing can result
in higher thermal loss

56
 Diffuser Selection Guidelines
• Guideline 3:
q Occupants may need to hear diffusers at full load to be assured
system is operating

q Noisy diffusers work better at mixing air than quiet ones

q Oversized diffusers may have excessive drop at low flows

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CLASS ACTIVITY

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 Class Activity
• For a 20 by 12 ft room, with 9 ft ceiling, with uniform loading
of 10 Btu/h·ft2 or 2400 Btu/h and air volumetric flow of 1
cfm/ft2 or 240 cfm for one outlet, find the size for a 0°
deflection horizontal blade, high sidewall grille located at
center of 12 ft end wall, 9 in. from ceiling (From ASHAE A19
– Chapter 58).

59
 Class Activity
• Solution:

9 ft

12 ft
20 ft

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑠 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ = 20 𝑓𝑡

60
 Class Activity
• Solution:
q Cooling model (Table 6A)
q Consider maximum condition

𝑇9:
= 1.8 → 𝑇9: = 1.8×20 = 36 𝑓𝑡
𝐿
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 Class Activity
• Solution:
q Heating model (Table 6B)
q Consider maximum condition

𝑇9:
= 1.6 → 𝑇9: = 1.6×20 = 32 𝑓𝑡
𝐿

Then, use the manufacture's catalog 62

 Class Activity
• Solution:
q To satisfy both models of operation, consider one or pick a common
throw distance that resides within the overall ADPI range of both
modes

63
 Class Activity
• Solution:
q Let’s look at some manufacture datasheets:

https://www.priceindustries.
com/content/uploads/assets
/literature/catalogs/catalog-
pages/section%20d/500_60
0_supply.pdf 64