Figure 1.1
Figure 2.2
From these figures, it can be seen that the elbow with the turning vanes is 800% more efficient than the same
elbow without the vanes. If the owner desires a less expensive installation, the designer may specify radius elbows
without turning vanes. A radius elbow without turning vanes is still highly efficient, and is much easier and cheaper to
fabricate and install (spatial constraints must also be considered, as a smaller turning radius will decrease efficiency
rapidly minimum recommended turning radius R without turning vanes is R=Width/2). Figure 1.3 below illustrates
airflow in a radius elbow.
Figure 1.3
Note also that the radius elbow without turning vanes and having a Radius/Width (R/W) ratio of 1.0 is only 28% less
efficient than the elbow with turning vanes. If the radius is increased to R/W=1.5, it will only be 12% less efficient, and
if it is increased to R/W=2.0, it will have the same efficiency as the same size elbow with turning vanes! In all cases
it can be clearly seen that as the airflow changes direction more gradually, the fitting pressure drop decreases, and
with it, the energy required by the system fan to supply the desired airflow volume.
THE CAVEATS:
There are certain instances where turning vanes can cause an increase in pressure drop, and this article covers two
such cases.
Case 1: Installation of turning vanes at the entrance to a branch duct.
The first case is when turning vanes are installed at the entrance to a duct branch. Some contractors, in an honest
effort to reduce static pressure, install turning vanes or scoops at the entrance to a duct branch, as shown in Figure
2.1 below.
Figure 2.1
This configuration can cause large pressure losses, because the turning vanes disrupt the uniformity of airflow in the
main duct, which in turn causes a high pressure drop at the fitting. Branches should be installed with a 45 entry or a
radius branch fitting, as shown in Figure 2.3 below.
Figure 2.2
Figure 2.3
Note that the radius branch fitting is twice as efficient as the 45 entry fitting. While the radius branch fitting is slightly
more expensive to fabricate, the installation cost is the same as the 45 entry fitting, and can greatly reduce pressure
drop in systems with a high fitting count.
Case 2: Improper Turning Vane Alignment
The second example of turning vanes causing a pressure loss is where the vanes are not aligned with the ductwork
properly, increasing air turbulence and creating a drop in pressure as seen in Figure 3.1 below.
Figure 3.1
When the turning vanes are not properly aligned to run parallel with the sides of the ductwork at both the entrance
and the exit of the vanes, the airflow will impact the sides of the duct and create turbulence. The effects of the
improperly aligned turning vanes can range from mild to severe, and are determined by how far out of alignment the
vanes are. Improper vane alignment occurs in many cases where ductwork is installed hastily or sloppily, and can be
prevented by simply performing a final alignment check on all vanes prior to completing the installation. See Figure
3.2 below for an example of airflow in a duct with correctly aligned turning vanes.
Figure 3.2
THE CONCLUSION:
Turning vanes have been proven to be very valuable for reducing pressure losses and increasing system efficiency.
Designers should always specify the highest efficiency fittings possible within the owners budget, to increase system
efficiency at every available opportunity. Mechanical contractors should never take it upon themselves to add to or
remove turning vanes from an engineers designs. Each system is designed to a specific total static pressure, and
removing or adding turning vanes where they have not been accounted for in the engineers calculations will make
the system function differently than intended. In a worst case scenario, the changes to the system may cause it to
become incapable of supplying the required airflows to all zones.
RESOURCES:
Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, Inc. (SMACNA). HVAC Duct Construction
Standards Metal and Flexible. Second Edition, 1995. Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National
Association, Inc. (SMACNA): 1998. Print.
Air Conditioning Contractors of America. Manual Q Commercial Low Pressure, Low Velocity Duct System
Design. Air Conditioning Contractors of America: 1990. Print.
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). 2008 ASHRAE
Handbook HVAC Systems and Equipment. I-P Edition, 2008. American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and
Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.: 2008. Print.
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE). 2009 ASHRAE
Handbook Fundamentals. Inch-Pound Edition, 2009. American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-
Conditioning Engineers, Inc.: 2009. Print.