Designing mechanical ventilation installations

Product	InstalSystem 5
Type of article	DESIGNING LESSON
Source for translation	2024-07-29

Scope of lesson

This article presents the basic design path for the Ventilation systems (BETA) for residential buildings based on off-the-shelf components.

Modules and program configuration

InstalSystem 5 with the module:

Mechanical ventilation for residential buildings.

Project file

The project file used in this lesson: Mechanical ventilation installation in residential building (example for the lesson).

Initial state

The project contains complete default data configured in the template file. The building structure has been elaborated on the basis of DWG layouts.

Steps to perform

Opening the project file

When creating a new design, select from the list the template that contains the default data for the ventilation system or,
Upload project file with existing building structure - minimum content is correct ordinates, slab thicknesses and manually created Rooms.

Editing the general project data

Fill in the default data in the General data window:

Project scope - determine project scope: Ventilation systems (BETA).

1. Project scope.
Catalogues – select and move necessary catalogues to the Catalogues in project: table. To speed up the selection, the filters can be used. For more information, see: Using catalogues and catalogues data in the project.
General data editing:
- Storeys management:
  - Create the appropriate number of Storeys / sub-levels (by interpreting from IFC or manually);
  - Set storey data:
    - ΔH_vent - Default distance of rigid duct from upper slab;
    - ΔH_vent,flex - Default distance of flex duct from upper slab;
    - ΔH_vent,supp,w - Default distance of wall air diffuser from false ceiling;
    - ΔH_vent,ex,w - Default distance of wall air extractor from false ceiling;
    - ΔH_vent,supp,c - Default distance of ceiling air diffuser from false ceiling;
    - ΔH_vent,ex,c - Default distance of ceiling air extractor from false ceiling;
    - ΔH_vent,supp,f - Default distance of floor air diffuser from floor;
    - ΔH_vent,ex,f - Default distance of floor air extractor from floor.
- (Optionally) Room data - for each/selected Room type, used in the project, set the values of:
  - Exhaust air volume flux (V̇_ex), Supplied air volume flux (V̇_su) or Min. vent. air change rate (n_min);

2. Room data General data.

- Ventilation systems (BETA) / Types and default data – append default types:
  - Default pipe types: Rigid ventilation duct;
  - Default pipe types: Flexible ventilation duct;
  - Default types: Other components:
    - Air handling unit / Recuperator,
    - Supply ventilation manifold / Return ventilation manifold,
    - Wall air diffuser / Wall air extractor, Ceiling air diffuser / Ceiling air extractor, Floor air diffuser / Floor air extractor;
  - Heat recovery efficiency: According to catalogue data, According to data for heat losses or User specified;
  - (Optionally) control and adjustment of the default value of vmax, m/s in the specified locations of the installation.
    
    3. Types and default data.
- Ventilation systems (BETA) / Calculation options:
  - Select the Method of determining the amount of ventilation air;
  - (Optionally) enable the function Check the minimum amount of ventilation air per resident;
  - (Optionally) improve the value of θ_e - External temperature, design taken by the Air intake unit.
    
    4. Calculation options.

Editing on the drawings

Editing the data

Set or modify the values of Exhaust air volume flux (V̇_ex), Supplied air volume flux (V̇_su) or Min. vent. air change rate (n_min) for each particular Room in the Data table in the Construction project scope.

5. Room data Editor.

Editing the installation

Carry out inserting and graphic editing operations using the AUTO and ORTO modes.

Select editing scope Ventilation.
Insert Ventilation elements:
- Recuperator,
- Manifold (supply) and Manifold (return);
  
  6. Insert Recuperator and Manifold (supply).
Insert Ventilation terminals and indicate the Rotation angle, if necessary:
- Air intake,
- Air exhaust,
- Fresh air diffuser (grille, supply diffuser).,
- Return air inlet (grille, exhaust diffuser);
  
  7. Insert Ventilation terminals and indicate the Rotation angle.
Insert Vertical ventilation duct;
Connect installation elements using Rigid ventilation duct or Flexible ventilation duct.

Editing the element data

In the case of necessity modify the Ventilation elements data in the Data table window, in particular:

Type of the Ventilation terminal;
V̇_su / V̇_ex for the Ventilation terminal;
Distance from ceiling (slab) / Elevation for the Recuperator;
Distance from ceiling (slab) / Elevation for the Manifold (supply) and Manifold (return);
Distance from ceiling (slab) / Elevation for the Ventilation ducts;
Pipe type for the Ventilation ducts.

Verifying the correctness of the installation structure.

Verify the correctness of the connections of the installation components using the Check connections function (Shortcut: Shift + F2);
Verify the correctness of the installation structure using the 3D view;
Adjust the layout of the Ventilation ducts according to external factors, e.g. passages through walls, overlaps with other installations.

Running the calculations

Start the calculation of the Ventilation systems (BETA) by clicking in the Calculations section of the toolbar;
Сheck messages the Diagnostics window;
In the case of necessity verify and adjust the installation, for example:
- increase the Diameters / Sizes of the Ventilation ducts, if Maximum air flow velocity exceeded (%s m/s > %s m/s) in the duct;
- increase Sizes of the Air diffuser / Air extractor or add more Ventilation ducts and Air diffuser / Air extractor, if Maximum air flow velocity exceeded (%s m/s > %s m/s) in the Ventilation terminal;
- correct the values of V̇_su and V̇_ex, in the case of Unbalanced ventilation air flow (ΣV̇_su <> ΣV̇_ex).

Verification of results

After calculations, the system layout should be verified visually by means of the 3D view;
If the calculations end with at least one error, the layout may be unreliable;
The data of each Ventilation element can be verified directly in the drawings.

8. Visual verification in the 3D view window.
Other forms of presentation of calculation results are: component labels and tables of results For more information, see: Presentation of the calculations result.

9. Results - ventilation.

Preparing drawings for export/printing

To have the results for Ventilation installation elements included in the printout of a drawing, appropriate labels must be inserted For more information, see: Preparation of drawings for export / printing.
Completed drawings can be printed and/or exported For more information, see: Export / print results and drawings.