空气分配系统的目的是将空调或通风空气从空气处理系统或进气口以所需的量输送到各个终端。这些系统由风机、过滤器、热交换器、直管段、支管、弯头、阻尼器和其他必要元件（1）组成。典型的风管由镀锌钢、铝、塑料甚至混凝土构件制成，具有圆形、椭圆形或矩形横截面。这项工作只涉及矩形横截面管道，这是最常用的类型。 风管系统的费用完全由其节点坐标、元件坐标和横截面尺寸确定。最终的设计在操作和安装成本之间达成了妥协。由于空气分配系统的设计涉及一个繁琐的过程，并且需要多次重复计算，因此数字计算机可能具有某些优势。然而，似乎直到最近才有人尝试将计算机不仅用作大容量和精确的计算器，而且还用作影响管道系统优化设计的工具。 引文:宾夕法尼亚州费城ASHRAE Transactions第85卷第1部分

The purpose of an air distribution system is to deliver the conditioned or ventilation air fromthe air-handling system or intake to the various terminals at the required quantities. Thesesystems are composed of the fan(s), filters, heat exchangers, straight duct sections, branchtakeoffs, elbows, dampers and other necessary elements (1). Typical ducts are manufacturedfrom galvanized steel, aluminum, plastic or even concrete elements with round, oval or rectangularcross sections. This work is concerned with the rectangular cross section ducts only,which constitute the most commonly used type.The outlay of an air duct system is completely defined by the coordinates of its nodes, itselements and the cross sectional dimensions. The final design results in a compromise between operation and installation costs.Since the design of an air distribution system involves a tedious process and necessitatesmany repeated computations, a digital computer may have certain advantages. It appears, however, that only recently attempts have been made to employ the computer notonly as a large capacity and accurate calculator but also as a tool for affecting an optimaldesign of duct systems.