Circular ducts, at the forefront

An economical, durable and efficient alternative when it comes to ducts for air conditioners is undoubtedly that of circular ducts. Precisely to expand the topic we invited two experts in the field, the engineer Juan Fernando Rivas, commercial coordinator of the Colombian company Spiroductos, and Samantha Torres, belonging to the International Marketing area of the Mexican company Difusión Textil Integral S.A. de C.V., with whom we will delve into the most relevant novelties of these.

Our two guests, who are representatives of leading companies in their field, will present us with two trends, and their main benefits, in terms of circular pipelines. The first, Spiroductos, will tell us about the spiral graph circular duct, which uses materials such as galvanized steel, stainless steel and cold roll. For its part, Integral Textile Diffusion brings us a novel pipeline that uses materials such as synthetic fibers, in this case polyester, polyethylene and PVC.

As Samantha Torres acknowledges, the main purpose of the technology when handling this type of fiber is to develop more hygienic air conduction systems, faster installation, and a better orientation of air diffusion.

"The materials are highly resistant to acidic environments, UV radiation, are flame retardant, antibacterial, light and 100% washable, they can also be presented in a wide variety of colors, adapt to any application, are immune to any oxidation or corrosion process, and also diffuse the airflow more homogeneously and do not generate any condensation, "- our guest emphasized.

Meanwhile, the engineer Juan Fernando Rivas stressed that the circular spiral graphed duct is the trend with the most advantages due to its structural strength by having reinforcement throughout the body of the pipeline. In the same way, he emphasizes that another of the benefits of the product that his company handles are the male-female joints for small diameters, due to their ease in installation and the flanges in crazy and at an angle when more reinforced joints are required between ducts of larger diameters or structural reinforcement by greater pressures.

On the other hand, Samantha Torres assures that another goodness of the product that her company sells is "the homogenization of the air, since it can be in 360°, 180°, 90°, 60°, or the angle that is required. Air diffusion can be along the entire length of the duct, ideal for applications of air washing, ventilation, air conditioning, controlled atmosphere, etc."

Advantages and disadvantages
There are many advantages offered by circular ducts, of course it is without detracting from the functionality of conventional ones, so we asked our experts to tell us what is the differential plus of their products in order to provide our readers with elements of judgment when choosing the most convenient option for their interests.

As for the advantages of the spiral graphed circular duct that the company Spiroductos has on the market, Juan Fernando Rivas highlights that the most important are:

• The tightness of the air.

• Installation costs, which are significantly lower.

• It often requires less space.

• Easy to make flow measurements.

• Mechanical resistance that allows savings in the thickness of the sheet.

• Lower pressure losses, reducing operating costs.

• Interior cleaning of ducts is more effective.

• By its nature, it is the strongest pipeline system.

• It is the solution with the greatest possible visual appeal.

• It is manufactured in greater lengths, saving on supports and joints.

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• Less than 2% weight of the metal duct.

• They are 100% washable.

• It does not generate corrosion or oxidation.

• Easy installation.

• It can be sent in light packages.

• 18 colors to choose from.

• Fire retardant fabrics approved by NFPA code 701.

• Its proven quality: certified by UL in HACCP.

• Replacement of damaged parts: they provide in 72 hours the section of the duct that has been damaged or that has to be modified.

• Noise-free air release: The duct provides different types of air outlet, in addition to noise absorption in the occupied space.

• Extensive warranty: from one year to ten, depending on the material.

Likewise, Samantha Torres recognizes that the duct they offer is not the most suitable to install outdoors, because from its very development it was designed for indoor use.

Reduced cost, another feature
In terms of costs, the viability of this type of ducts in an air conditioning system is, in short, lower compared to a traditional pipeline, since its value can be lower by up to 80%.

This is recognized by the representative of Difusión Textil Integral S.A. de C.V., who assures that "our costs are much lower, between 30% and 80% less, than traditional pipeline systems".

In the same way, the commercial coordinator of Spiroductos expresses it, who affirms that "in general, a system of circular ducts consumes on average 20% less sheet and 15% less insulation material. Likewise, installation times, being 20% lower, also bring a decrease in labor expenses. But the most significant savings is the cost of energy operation, which is 30% lower versus the same system in rectangular pipeline."

Rivas also stressed that "it is totally feasible to leave more height in civil works to accommodate a circular pipeline system, since in time the energy savings pay for the investment in structure. This with the new trends of Greenbuilding in terms of global warming parameters and energy consumption of buildings, makes it more viable than ever, "he said.

Regarding the installation and maintenance of this type of ducts, Samantha Torres maintains that "the DTI installation saves 90% of the time compared to conventional ducts", and highlights, in terms of maintenance, that they are "100% washable, with washing and sanitization hygiene and the elimination of microorganisms are guaranteed".

In this regard, Juan Fernando Rivas said that circular pipeline installations are even easier to perform than an equivalent rectangular system, therefore they are the same as in any system in terms of industrial safety. However, the most important recommendation lies from the design part of civil works. The only restriction that has existed in Latin America for the implementation of circular pipelines, which are the global trend, is that we must leave more space for these systems that are not normally visible," he concluded.