Bends
In the case of bends it is important to note that much American data is categorised on the basis that the radius of a bend is to its centreline. British practice is usually to give the inside radius. When looking at data, make sure you are comparing like with like.
The loss of pressure in a bend following by further straight ducting is less than if it discharges to atmosphere. In the former case there is some recovery in the expansion of the airflow to the full duct diameter. (See Figure 3.55.)
The hard bend throws the air to one side as it turns the corner and so causes higher resistance. This loss can be reduced by the inclusion of splitters. Figure 3.57 gives equivalent lengths in diameters for a number of different bends, including those with splitters. The equivalent length in diameters is based upon the assumption that one velocity pressure is lost in 55 diameters of ducting. Or to be precise the equivalent of one velocity pressure is lost in frictional resistance. Extensive tests have been made on bends of various designs and their losses measured. These were then converted into fractions of velocity pressure. This factor is then independent of velocity over a limited working range. For example a bend with a resistance of 50 Pa at 10 m/s (velocity pressure 60 Pa) therefore has a loss factor of 0.83. As resistance may be taken as the square of velocity over this limited range, at 20 m/s the loss would be 200 Pa and the velocity pressure would be 240 Pa and the loss factor would still Be— i. e. 0.83. 240 To repeat, it is convenient in estimating the resistance, or pressure loss of a ducting system to calculate assuming that bends are equivalent to so many metres of straight ducting. 3.5.1.1 Reducing the resistance of awkward bends When ducting is to be arranged in large buildings it is often impossible to find the space to incorporate bends of a reasonable radius. It is then possible to insert vanes or splitters to reduce the pressure loss. See Figures 3.58 to 3.61. |
Figure 3.55 Recovery in duct after a bend |
It should be noted that the factors are in diameters. For example a 355 mm diameter single radius 90° bend is equivalent in resistance to 9 diameters of straight duct. Its equivalent length 355 In metres is then——- x9 = 32 metres. When dealinq with rect- 1000 Angular bends, the equivalent is taken on the “way” of the bend i. e. on dimension W (see Figure 3.56). Two 90° bends of exactly the same cross-section will have different pressure losses according to the “way”. One is an easy bend and the other a hard bend. |
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Figure 3.58 Bend with splitters |
__ .Radius Easy Figure 3.56 Easy and hard bends |
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Figure 3.59 Detail of splitter |

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Figure 3.60 Bend with aerofoil section vanes
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Figure 3.61 Detail of aerofoil section vane |
Figure 3.57 Duct resistance equivalent lengths for bends
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The aerofoil section vanes are cast aluminium and are less liable to be noisy that sheet metal splitters. They also result in a lower pressure loss i. e.
Sheet metal splitters pLb = 0.24 x velocity pressure
Aerofoil section vanes pLb = 0.11 x velocity pressure
An alternative design of splitter which encompasses the complete bend may also be used. This effectively divides the bend into a number of parallel sections for which the dimensions are known. The loss for these may then be calculated and the highest value used. See Figures 3.62 and 3.63.
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Figure 3.64 Duct resistance equivalent lengths for branches and junctions |
2500 2000 1500 1250 1000 750 IдT 375 250 200 150 125 100 75 |
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Figure 3.65 Duct resistance equivalent lengths for branches and junctions |
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1 2 3
Number
Figure 3.63 Chart for determining position of splitters
For example, as shown by the line drawn across the chart in Figure 3.63, a bend has an inner radius of 50 mm and an outer radius of 500 mm. If there were 2 splitters, these would be positioned at radii of 112 mm and 230 mm.
If there were 3 splitters, these would be positioned at radii of 90 mm, 160 mm and 260 mm.
Posted in Fans Ventilation A Practical Guide