M MAINLAND Sa ENGINEERING PTE. LTD. oT Email: service@mainland.com.sg URL: www:mainland.com.sg ( She eer ee sae bie METHOD OF MEASURING AIR FLOW RATE At Air Terminal Outlet & Inlet, Round or Rectangular Duct Including AHU FCU Return Openings 1. MEASURING INSTRUMENT ARolating Vane Anemometer has traditionally been employed for air duct balancing and testing airflow rate. This cumbersome task requires performing a traverse of the opening, measuring and manually recording the velocity of air stream at numerous points to obtain the mean (average) velocity, and then multiplying the mean velocity by the cross- gecional era ofthe ductor opening to obtain the ttl volumetc ow rate measurementin cubic metr per hour (CMH) low rate. Rong Vane Anemometer 2. FORMULA FOR TOTAL AIR FLOW RATE Total flow rate through an opening is determined by the folowing formula Q=VAx 3600, where: Q= airflow rate in cubic meter per hour (CMH) V= average velocity in meter per second A= cross-sectional area of duct, return or supply opening in m* To determine the average velocity V, gvide the opening inio a number of equal areas. Take a velocity reading at the center of each area and numerically average the results, the velocity profie's relatively lat, only a few equal areas are needed. If the profle is non- uniform, several equal areas should be used. Generally, tis a good idea to make.a rapid traverse across the cuct in hvo dimensions to detemingihe unfomty ofthe a veloc. the, veloly not constantatone measuring port. use fe mean vod between the upper an lower readings. General, the vlocy profi mre unorm on tum openings than on suply ‘openings. Ifa supply opening s covered by a grille, the meter should be placed about 26mm infront ofthe grilto obtain the average velocity reading as above. Page 1 of 3« M MAINLAND Ox wen ENGINEERING PTE. LTD. “ ce mal. senvice@mainland.com.s9_ URL: wavmainiand com 3g bioSAFE 2. AIR TERMINAL OUTLET OR INLET WITH KNOWN COEFFICIENT IFinformation is given on the coefficient of discharge fora speciic rile, the meter should be placed against the rile and centered over the open areas in the gill. Choose several grile openings through which to obtain an average air velocity. In his case, the total fowis: Q= KAV x 3600, where: K = the given coefficient discharge by the manufacturer of grille ‘A= the effective area of the grile as specified by the manufacturer of grile Ifa retum or suction opening is covered by 2 grille and itis necessary to compute the total flow into the opening, take a number of readings at the centers of equal areas, as in the case where there is no gril, and determine the average velocity. The probe should be placed in the plane of the opening and close to the grille. The flow rate can be computed fairly accurately with the following equation: Q= FAV x 3600, where: F = application factor (see table below) A = designated area in square meter None 1.00 Full duct area ‘Square Free (daylight) Punched| 0.88 area Bar 0.78 |Core Area Steel Strip 0.73 |Core Area 3. ROUND DUCT The log-linear method provides high accuracy (43%) in Now totalizaion by taking into consideration the effect of friction along the walls of a duc. For round ducts, the three-ciameter, six- point method is the preferred traverse. ifthe three- diameter method cannot be used (because of inaccessibility, then the two-diameter method is acoeptable. ‘This method consisis of taking two sets often readings, 90° spart. Log linearraverse for round ducts, three-diameter approach, Log linear traverse fr round duct, two diameter approach. Page 20f3M ENGINEERING PTE. LTD. a {Bk 3018 Ubi Road 1 #01-266 Singapore 408704 Tek: (65) 6848 1131 Fax: 6848 1121 Email service@mainland.com.sg_ URL: wumainland.com sg FReg, No. 2002042290 GST No: 20-0204229-0 3. RECTANGULAR DUCT OR AHU & FCU RETURN OPENING With rectangular ducts, the following procedure is recommended: =] @Vv Fagot Contactar bioSKEE rye “The table below indicates that any rectangular duct dimension less than 750 requires five traverse lines on that side, ‘Thus, a 700 x 250 duct will require 25 readings, because each side needs five traverse lines. A 950 x 250 duct will require 35 readings (seven traverse lines on the 950 side and five on the 250 side), < 750 5 3750 but < 900 6 2900 7 1 2. The minimum number of readings should be 25. 3. The points where the readings are to be taken should be located at the intersection ofthe traverse lines as shown (as proportions of the traverse measurement) below: 0.074 | 0.061 0.053, 0.288 | 0.235 0.203 0.500 | 0.437 0.366 0.712 | 0.563 0.500 | 0.926 | 0.765 0.634 a 0.939 0.797 0.947 Example ofa 25-point og inear-raverse for rectangular ducts or return opening Page 3 of 3