One of the most tedious computations in the area of HVAC design is that for the proper design and layout of ductwork. The combination of tables, charts and guesswork tends to make a hand calculation of most realistic duct design problems prohibitively time consuming for homework assignments in college level or vocational schools. While the concepts behind the static regain method are quite simple, instructors often gloss over this procedure in favor of the more simplistic equal friction method. Most engineering firms have available any number of software packages that can quickiy perform the static regain calculations. However, this black box approach to duct design is not particularly conducive to learning the fundamental methods involved. This paper describes computer software that is intended to be a compromise between laborious hand calculations and the black box approach. By requiring the student to make certain simple decisions and provide various input parameters during the design process, they can more readily understand what is going on inside the computer.

Units: Dual