Chapter 6: Problem 2

The long air ducts used to ventilate homes and businesses usually have very large diameters. These ducts are often visible near the ceilings of modern warehouse-style stores and restaurants as pipes roughly 0.5 m across. Why must the ducts be so large in diameter?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Large diameters decrease air velocity and friction, allowing quieter, more efficient airflow.

Step by step solution

- Understand the Function of Air Ducts

Air ducts are used to deliver and remove air in a building for the purposes of ventilation, heating, and cooling.

- Fluid Dynamics Concept

Air flow through ducts follows principles of fluid dynamics. Larger diameters reduce air velocity for a given flow rate, resulting in quieter operation and reducing friction losses.

- Friction and Pressure Loss

Smaller diameters increase friction and pressure losses, requiring more energy to move air through and potentially causing noise.

- Volume and Flow Rate

Larger diameter ducts can move larger volumes of air at lower velocities compared to smaller ducts, which helps in maintaining indoor air quality more efficiently.

- Practical Consideration

In modern buildings, especially in large open spaces, minimizing noise and maximizing energy efficiency are important. Large ducts help achieve this by allowing a smooth and quiet airflow.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

fluid dynamics

Fluid dynamics is a vast field that studies how fluids (liquids and gases) move and the forces acting upon them. When we talk about air ducts, we're specifically interested in how air (a fluid) moves through the system.

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The long air ducts used to ventilate homes and businesses usually have very large diameters. These ducts are often visible near the ceilings of modern warehouse-style stores and restaurants as pipes roughly 0.5 m across. Why must the ducts be so large in diameter?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

- Understand the Function of Air Ducts

- Fluid Dynamics Concept

- Friction and Pressure Loss

- Volume and Flow Rate

- Practical Consideration

Key Concepts

fluid dynamics

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