Pressure Loss Modeling for Multi-Stage Obstacles in Pressurized Ducts

Estimating singular pressure losses for multi-stage obstacles in pressurized hydraulic ducts is a challenging task. An experimental study was conducted in a closed-loop hydrodynamic tunnel to characterize the pressure losses of a system consisting of a porous fibrous foam placed in front of a bar rack. The pressure losses of different foam–rack configurations were measured over a range of inlet velocities in order to highlight the mutual influence of their characteristics on the flow. The interdependence between the two stages has been evidenced by both the experimental results and additional numerical simulations using RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes Equations) simulations with a k - ω SST turbulent closure model. The pressure losses were first modeled using two approaches based on the assumption of either independence or full dependence between the stages. The respective advantages and limitations of these approaches led to an improved analytical formula that considers the transition of the flow from the porous foam to the bar rack. By taking into account an empirical transition factor, the proposed model improves the head loss prediction for all tested configurations, with an average relative error between the formula and experimental results less than that of the two simpler approaches. This study improves our understanding of global pressure losses in multi-stage systems that include a porous foam or other filtering or clogging media in front of bar racks.