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Characterization of corrected static pressure difference and airflow structure of accelerated flow in HVAC&R ducts using an A-Coil evaporator heat exchanger.

Author(s) : ESQUIVEL-PUENTES H. A., GROLL E. A.

Type of article: IJR article

Summary

This study experimentally investigates the impact of coil installation orientation on static pressure difference and airflow structure in HVAC&R duct systems, focusing on an A-coil evaporator heat exchanger. Tests were conducted in a controlled psychrometric wind tunnel at nine air velocity setpoints for three configurations: Acoil at 90◦, A-coil at 23◦ (diagonal), and a MERV 8 filter at 90◦. Differential static pressure was measured using a high-accuracy differential pressure transducer, and downstream airflow patterns were captured via high-speed imaging for qualitative flow visualization. Results show a quadratic relationship between differential pressure and air velocity for all configurations, with orientation significantly influencing performance. The 90◦ A-coil exhibited the highest pressure drop (100±2.5 Pa at 2.13±0.3 m/s), while the diagonal installation reduced the coil pressure drop by up to 57% relative to the perpendicular configuration. The MERV 8 filter demonstrated intermediate resistance. A corrected Forchheimer equation incorporating an angle-dependent factor is proposed, accurately reflecting observed reductions in viscous and inertial contributions for diagonal installations. Flow visualization revealed that diagonal placement promoted smoother flow redirection, reduced stagnation, and generated lower frequency shedding, more evenly distributed flow structures downstream, correlating with the measured lower inertial term. These findings highlight the potential for simple geometric modifications to reduce fan power demand, improve flow uniformity, and maintain thermal performance without major component redesigns. The dataset and correlations developed provide a benchmark for validating computational models of duct airflow and can inform energy-efficient design strategies.

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Details

  • Original title: Characterization of corrected static pressure difference and airflow structure of accelerated flow in HVAC&R ducts using an A-Coil evaporator heat exchanger.
  • Record ID : 30034855
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: International Journal of Refrigeration - Revue Internationale du Froid - vol. 186
  • Publication date: 2026/06
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2026.106904

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