Pressure Loss in Pipe Bends of Large Curvature at High Re

Abstract

This study investigates pressure loss in pipe bends at a novel combination of conditions - large pipe curvature and high Re.  Detailed measurements of pressure drop, including measurements on the inside and outside of the pipe bend, are made over a range of high Reynolds numbers (> 3 x 105).  Under these conditions, upstream effects are much more pronounced than in previous investigations, and correlations for pressure drop in pipe bends significantly underpredict the measured pressure loss. The effect of two downstream exit configurations is also studied. The downstream exit configuration does not influence the pressure drop behavior upstream of the pipe bend, but leads to significant variations throughout the pipe bend. In all cases, wall friction is the dominant factor contributing to pressure loss in the bend.