Numerical Prediction and Reduction of Pressure Loss of Air Flow Inside a Sharp 90˚ Elbow Using Turning Vanes

Abstract

The aim of this study is to calculate the pressure loss and the effect of turning vanes on the pressure loss incurred by the flow in a duct with a 90˚ sharp elbow using numerical fluid mechanics. The main focus this study was to calculate the effects of the number of turning vanes and the length of the turning vanes on the pressure loss. Computational Fluid Dynamics calculations have been carried out using ANSYS Workbench software. Two turbulence models have been used in these calculations. They are the standard k- and the k- turbulence models. The number and length of the vanes were changed in the study to calculate their effects on pressure loss. The length of the vanes was varied from 0mm to 400mm in steps of 100mm on both sides of the bend and the number of vanes was changed from 0 to 3. It was found that a single curved turning vane can reduce the pressure loss significantly. The pressure loss does not reduce further when the length of the vanes was extended. As the number of turning vanes increased beyond one, the predicted pressure loss starts increasing. The turning vanes in duct systems can be used in industries and factories to reduce the pressure loss.