4500 -- HVAC Duct System Design Using Dynamic Programming Method

An HVAC duct system was designed using the dynamic programming method (DPM), which considered system pressure equilibrium and the least life-cycle cost to derive the duct size and fan capacity. A simple example was provided to understand the characteristics of DPM and compare with the conventional duct design methods. Since DPM contains the concept of minimizing the life-cycle cost, the design results not only guarantee each path to share the same pressure but also bear a smaller cost than other methods. The limit on duct diameter or flow velocity was added to the computation process. As a result, the derived outcome satisfied all the requirements of duct diameter or flow velocity. In particular, the computation needed in DPM is simpler than most methods that consider the least life-cycle cost, making DPM a successful method for duct system design.

Units: SI