HVAC duct measurement is a critical aspect of controlling indoor environmental conditions and occupant safety.
This page will show you how.
Best Ways to Measure HVAC Duct Airflow
Indoor environmental conditions directly affect the health, comfort and productivity of a building’s occupants, equipment longevity and overall energy costs. Accurate measurement of air velocity in HVAC ducts provides the information needed to examine and calculate the optimal airflow in HVAC systems. Larger HVAC ducts require a different set of tools than smaller diameter ducts.
Airflow Measurement Standards:
When asked about where and how to take air velocity measurements in a duct, we can point to well-established standards and guidelines from ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 41.2 prescribes methods for air velocity and airflow measurement, and ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 111 provides procedures for measurement, testing, adjusting, balancing, evaluating, and reporting the performance of building heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems in the field.
Where to Measure Airflow:
Airflow can vary across the cross-sectional area of a duct. Measurement accuracy improves by taking measurements at multiple points and then calculating the mean. ASHRAE provides guidance on the number and location of measuring points within a plane for both rectangular and circular ducts. A minimum of 25 points is specified for rectangular or square ducts, and a minimum of 18 points is specified for circular ducts. Reference the figures below to determine:
- Number of measuring points
- Placement of measuring points
From ASHRAE Standard 111, Traversing a Rectangular Duct:
The number of data points to be taken along each side of the duct depends on the width of that side of the duct. For duct sides less than 30 inches, 5 traversal points must be taken along that side. For duct sides of 30 to 36 inches, 6 points must be taken. For duct sides greater than 36 inches, 7 points must be taken. Multiply the numbers provided in the table times the duct dimension to get insertion depth for the sensor probe.
From ASHRAE Standard 111, Traversing a Circular Duct:
The preferred method is to drill 3 holes in the duct at 60° angles from each other in order to cover all locations recommended using the log-linear method for circular ducts. Three traverses are taken across the duct, averaging the velocities obtained at each measuring point. Then the average velocity is multiplied by the duct area to get the flow rate.
Multi-Point In-Duct Measurements:
A Sensor Pole Array is optimal for in-duct HVAC airflow analysis. It is a linear array of airflow sensors assembled into a single tube element with USB outputs. The Sensor Pole Array is designed for multi-point experimentation where there are predefined measurement locations, just as shown in the Log-Tchebycheff Rule for calculating volumetric flow within ducts. With the Sensor Pole Array, air velocity, temperature, and humidity can be measured and recorded at multiple points in real-time for building duct performance testing.
Sensor Pole Array Sensors
The Sensor Pole Array can be built to specified dimensions, including tube length, sensor quantity, pitch, and calibration range. Sensor Pole Arrays reduce set-up time by eliminating complex fixturing that goes along with making multiple measurements across a plane, and Sensor Pole Arrays increase test repeatability. Very little impedance is imparted to the air-flow profile. The Sensor Pole Array can be used with data acquisition instruments to aggregate sensor data. The data acquisition instrument is paired with integrated software to collect real-time data on air velocity, air temperature, as well as humidity and altitude (or barometric pressure) for data logging and reporting.
Embedded Air Velocity Sensors Provide Versatility:
Embedded air velocity sensors provider users with a range of configuration options for the many diverse industry applications that exist. This includes velocity ranges, mechanical lengths, supply voltages, output communication types, as well as probe and remote head sensor styles.
The master sensor first records its own velocity reading and then averages all readings from sensors in the network. Next, the master sensor uses its 0-10V analog output to transmit the average velocity to the BMS or monitoring system. All sensors are powered by universal 24VAC. Sensors are connected with a latching connector and 0.6 m [2 ft] of cable. The master sensor itself has 2 m [6.6 ft] flying leads to connect to the BMS system. The master sensor can communicate to as many as 15 slave sensors. This flexible solution ships as a kit, and master and slave sensors already addressed.
An Airflow Sensor is Key Element of HVAC Control System:
A well run HVAC control system is conducive to a healthy and comfortable indoor environment, helps maintain equipment life expectancy, and helps save costs. The control system is only as good as its sensing devices. Care should be taken in choosing the right airflow sensor for your application. Close attention should be paid to both sensor mounting and location to ensure that it will function according to published specifications. Here are some sensor considerations to evaluate:
- Check the specs against the environment the sensor will be used in.
- Consider outside influences such as vibration, spray water or debris. Decide if any special provisions will be needed for protection.
- Determine where the sensor will be mounted. Avoid mounting the sensor in turbulent locations caused by elbows or duct size changes. Follow ASHRAE best practices.
- Determine the insertion depth needed for the application. The main airflow cavity surrounding the flow thermistor should be in the center of the duct when the sensor is installed.
- Be mindful of the size of the airflow probe. A probe may impact flow and thus airflow measurements in a small cross-sectional duct. An airflow sensor with a remote head or low profile head may be needed.
- Find out what airflow velocities the sensor is expected to encounter. Choose the sensor velocity range accordingly.
- Understand the sensor flow direction and whether it is non-directional or bi-directional. The main airflow cavity surrounding the flow thermistor must be orientated perpendicular to airflow being monitored in order for it to function as designed.
- Mount the sensor securely. Do not overtighten clamps.
- Dress the sensor cable. Allow a sufficient cable bend radius and loop to prevent stress and premature wear. The wiring system should allow for serviceability.
- Maintain sensor signal integrity. Avoid excessive cable length, and keep cabling separate from high voltage lines.