Computational and experimental study of pressure losses in duct transitions

This paper is concerned with numerical prediction and experimental measurement of air flow and pressure distribution in rectangular ducts with transitions. The constant-injection tracer-gas technique was used to measure mean air velocity in the ducts. Pressure distribution along the ducts was measured using static pressure tappings. The pressure loss coefficient was calculated from the measured pressure loss and air velocity. Computational fluid dynamics was used to predict air flow and pressure distribution in the ducts. The predicted pressure loss coefficient was in good agreement with experimental results for a duct with a contraction.