Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
(OP)
I have a conceptual question to aid my understanding of thermal insulation and duct condensations.
Suppose there is an equipment room that needs a small amount of make-up air for pressurization. There is a supply fan that takes air from an intake louver, through a supply duct, and delivers it into the room. The fan and the duct are located inside the conditioned space. The fan would run continuously year-round. How can I determine if thermal insulation is needed for the supply duct to prevent condensation, and if so, how to determine the R-value required?
Thank you.
Suppose there is an equipment room that needs a small amount of make-up air for pressurization. There is a supply fan that takes air from an intake louver, through a supply duct, and delivers it into the room. The fan and the duct are located inside the conditioned space. The fan would run continuously year-round. How can I determine if thermal insulation is needed for the supply duct to prevent condensation, and if so, how to determine the R-value required?
Thank you.
RE: Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
If you are in the rainforest, and the duct provides 40°F air, it will be tough. If you are in Saudi Arabia and the duct just provides outdoor air and that matches the interior space, it will be easy.
RE: Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
To make it more concrete, let's consider two examples:
1. Room in cold and dry climate
- Outdoor air: -40 C, 100% RH
- Indoor air: 18 C, 50% RH
- Duct: 500mm x 500mm, 5 m long, 200 L/s, -40 C supply air
2. Room in warm and wet climate- Outdoor air: 30 C, 100% RH
- Indoor air: 18 C, 50% RH
- Duct: 500mm x 500mm, 5 m long, 200 L/s, 30 C supply air
What are the insulation requirements for each situation to prevent condensation on both inside and outside of the duct? Would you use external or internal insulation in each case?RE: Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
there probably is a way to create a spreadsheet. You would have to manually enter the dewpooint. Or write a program in EES.
I would question your indoor conditions possible without extreme humidification or dehumidification. If outdoor is -40°C, I doubt a normal space will have 50% RH at 18°C unless it is a wet space. The same way in a climate with 30°C/RH 100% outdoor, it will be hard to have indoor RH at 50%.
RE: Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
1. Room in cold and dry climate
- Outdoor air: -40 C, 100% RH
- Indoor air: 18 C (electric heat and DX cooling)
- Duct: 500mm x 500mm, 5 m long, 200 L/s, -40 C supply air
2. Room in warm and wet climate- Outdoor air: 30 C, 100% RH
- Indoor air: 18 C (electric heat and DX cooling)
- Duct: 500mm x 500mm, 5 m long, 200 L/s, 30 C supply air
Other than using software or writing a program, is there a more straightforward way to calculate it?RE: Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
Your example 1 needs duct insulation, and example 2 does not.
I don't think it's a good idea to discharge outdoor air directly into the space. In most areas on earth, the outdoor conditions will change all year round, usually cold in winter. If you have ducted fan coils, connect the outside air to the return duct. If it is a ductless highwall unit, have the outside air discharge very close to the return grill.
RE: Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
RE: Outdoor make-up air duct insulation
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers Entire Forum list http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm