CFD Simulation of Leak in Residential HVAC Ducts

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2012

Publication Title

Energy and Buildings

Volume

54

First page number:

534

Last page number:

539

Abstract

A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model was used to simulate fluid flow in a duct and its simulated leaks with six different air leak geometries placed respectively on its periphery. The k–ɛ turbulence model for high Reynolds numbers flows was used for that purpose and the Reynolds numbers were varied to simulate a variety of flow conditions between 27,000 and 82,000. The computer code was used to produce pressure drop data and leak flow rates across the holes necessary to compute the pressure loss coefficients, as well as to produce flow field and static pressure plots that offer insight into the physics of the flow field. The flow coefficient and pressure exponent (C and n) were found for different leak geometries by curve fitting the pressure and leak flow data derived from CFD simulations and were compared to available data in the literature.

Keywords

Air distribution system; Air duct; Air pressure; CFD simulation; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer simulation; Duct leakage; Power law model; Pressure distribution; Turbulence

Disciplines

Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics | Engineering Physics | Fluid Dynamics | Mechanical Engineering

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

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