Air Flow formulas

CFM = Duct area sq ft x Velocity Standard Air= 70F @ 29.92” HG

(Mercury)

1 cubic foot of standard air = 0.075 pounds 13.3 cubic feet of standard air =
1 pound

FAN LAWS:
Remember RPM is interchangeable for CFM
Note: new is the same as 1 and old is the same as 2

Fan Law #1
⎛ CFMnew ⎞ ⎛ RPMnew ⎞
⎜ ⎟=⎜ ⎟
⎝ CFMold ⎠ ⎝ RPMold ⎠
Formulas for problem solving
⎛ RPMnew ⎞ ⎛ CFMnew ⎞
CFM new = CFM old X ⎜ ⎟ RPM new = RPM old X ⎜ ⎟
⎝ RPMold ⎠ ⎝ CFMold ⎠

Fan Law #2
2
⎛ CFMnew ⎞ SPnew ⎛ CFMnew ⎞ SPnew
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = Or ⎜ ⎟ =
⎝ CFMold ⎠ SPold ⎝ CFMold ⎠ SPold
Formulas for problem solving
2
SPnew ⎛ CFMnew ⎞
CFM new = CFM old x SP new = ⎜ ⎟
SPold ⎝ CFMold ⎠

Fan Law #3
3
⎛ CFMnew ⎞ BHPnew CFMnew BHPnew
⎜ ⎟ = or = 3
⎝ CFMold ⎠ BHPold CFMold BHPold
Formulas for problem solving
3
BHPnew ⎛ CFMnew ⎞
CFM new = CFM old X 3 BHP new = BHP old x ⎜ ⎟
BHPold ⎝ CFMold ⎠

Volume calculations:

CFMx60 AirChangesperhour
Air Changes Per Hour = CFM = Room Volume x
Cubicfeet 60

Calculating Outside Air quantities:

OAT =
(MATx100) − (% RAxRAT ) O=Outside A=Air R=Return M=Mixed
%OA
T=Temperature

%OA =
(RAT − MAT ) x 100
(RAT − OAT )

MAT =
(%OAxOAT ) + (% RAxRAT )
100

RAT =
(MATx100) − (%OAxOAT )
% RA

Velocity and Velocity with density correction:

For Standard Air (70F @ 29.92"): For Other Than Standard Air:

⎛ V ⎞
2
VP
VP = ⎜ ⎟ V = 1096.7 ×
V = 4005 × VP ⎝ 4005 ⎠ Den
530 BAR
Den = 0.075 × ×
460 + T 29.92

Airflow stations flow:

CFM
Cv = 3
CFM = CV × ∆P(inches) H 2o ∆P(inches) H 2o
2
⎛ CFM⎞
∆P(inches)H 2o = ⎜ ⎟
⎝ Cv ⎠

Air Thermal calculations:

sp.ht = 0.24
13.3 cu.ft. = 1 lb.
0.075 lbs. = 1 cu.ft.
.075 lbs. x 60 min. = 4.5 lbs per hour
4.5 x 0.24 = 1.08

BTUH = M × sp. ht .× ∆T
M = Mass Flow Rate in Lbs. per Hour. sp.ht. = Specific Heat in BTU/Lb. per Degree
F.

BTUH ( Sensible) Den

CFM = BTUH = CFM × 108
. × ∆T ×
. × ∆T ( DryBulb)
108 0.075
BTUH
∆T =
. × CFM
108

Den
BTUH (Total ) = CFM × ∆h × 4.5 ×
0.075 h = Enthalpy in BTU per Lb.
BTUH
= MBH
1000

Fan calculations:

CFM × SP
FanBHP =
Static fan efficiency: 6356 × SE

Circ.(in.) Ts( FPM ) × 12

FanTipSpeedFPM = RPM × Circ.(in.) =
12 RPM
Ts( FPM ) × 12
RPM =
Circ.(in.)

( D − d)2 d
BL = 2C + ( 157
. × ( D + d )) + FanRPM = MotorRPM ×
4C D
D
MotorRPM = FanRPM ×
d

BL = Belt Length (in.) C = Distance between shaft centers (in.) D = Fan sheave dia.
(in.)
d = Motor Sheave dia. (in.)

ExsistingFanSheaveDia.
Max. (min.) Fan sheave Dia. =
Max.BHP
3
ExsistingEstimatedBHP

Max.BHP
Max. Motor sheave = Existing Motor sheave Dia. X 3
ExsistingEstimatedBHP
 ⎛ RPMnew ⎞
New Motor Sheave size Diameter new = Dia.old x ⎜ ⎟
⎝ RPMold ⎠
⎛ RPMold ⎞
New Fan Sheave size Diameter new = Dia.old x ⎜ ⎟
⎝ RPMnew ⎠

© 2005, National Energy Management Institute Committee. All rights reserved.