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Ducting

Ducting Homepage
What is polythene ducting ?
Why use polythene air ducts ?
Polythene layflat ducts - sizes and quotations
Designing an inflatable duct system
Duct kit and installing air ducts
Ducts - frequently asked questions
HVAC ducting - uses of inflatable ducts
Polythene air conditioning ducts
Polythene heating ducts
Polythene ventilation ducting
Air duct for displacement ventilation
Plastic ducting for destratification
Polythene ducting in glasshouses
Flexible ducts in mushroom farming
Plastic ducts in temporary structures
Fabric ducting and ducts
Textile ducting and ducts
Flexible ducting
Flexible air ducts and sick building syndrome

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plastic ductingplastic ducting for destratification --------------

The problem of stratification in buildings

When air is heated it rises, this is why in buildings with high ceilings, it feels cold at floor level and hot in the roof space. The effect is called stratification, and causes the following problems:

Increased heating bills because -
a) The heating system must work harder to maintain the desired temperature at floor level.
b) Heat loss through the roof increases.

Condensation - As air cools, its capacity to store moisture is reduced, and the excess moisture is released as condensation. Cardboard cases and similar moisture absorbing products stored at low level absorb it, resulting in damage.

Destratification with axial fansplastic ducting for destratification

Destratification uses axial fans in the roof space to direct the hot air back to floor level. However axial fans on their own are inefficient, because the hot air spreads out and rises again. The higher the ceiling, the less effect destratification fans have.

Plastic ducting and axial fans for destratification

The efficiency of destratification fans is greatly improved by adding plastic ducting:
Improved efficiency - Plastic ducting directs all of the air to floor level. As the roof height increases the effect becomes more pronounced.

Hot air is directed where its needed - Plastic ducting can deliver hot air to specific locations, such as workstations, production lines etc.

Difficult buildings can be destratified - Plastic ducting  returns hot air to floor level in buildings where natural air flow is restricted i.e. those with high racking, restricted roof spaces etc.

Energy savings with destratification

Energy savings are determined as follows:

Saving in annual heating cost (%) = (ceiling height (ft.) - thermostat height (ft.)) x 0.5

Example

A warehouse with a ceiling height of 25ft. and a thermostat set at 68F and mounted at 5ft.

The annual saving in heating costs will be (25 - 5) x 0.5 = 10%

The following table summarizes the energy savings expected with destratification fans and plastic ducting. Note the savings increase as the thermostat setting is reduced. The savings are given as a percentage of the total annual heating costs.

Energy savings expected with destratification fans

Thermostat Setting

Savings per 10 feet of ceiling height above the thermostat level

68°

5%

60°

6%

50°

7%


Determining the size of destratification fan required

The destratification fan should be selected so that the total air volume of the building passes through it 4 times per hour i.e.

Destratification fan size (CFM) = (building volume (cubic feet) x 4)/60

Example
A building measuring (W)40ft. x (L)40ft. x (H)20ft. will require destratification fans as follows:

Building volume = 40 x 40 x 25 = 40500 cubic feet

Fan Size = (40,500 x 4)/60 = 2700 CFM


Rather than using one 2700CFM axial fan, better results will be achieved using several smaller fans spread around the roof space.

Plastic ducting should be chosen to match the fan diameter as closely as possible. Where an exact match is not possible use the next size of plastic ducting.

Activair plastic ducting

Activair plastic ducting is available in 10 diameters to suit most fans. Its low cost and flexibility make it ideal for destratification. Installing destratification fans and plastic ducting in buildings with high ceilings can lead to savings of upto 30% per annum in heating bills with payback in less than 12 months.

For more information or a quotation for Activair plastic ducting see:


The benefits of Activair air ducts

Sizes and quotations for Activair layflat ducting

Destratification using ceiling fans

See also ceiling fans

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