US 11,867,470 B2
U-bends with the reduced pressure losses to fluid distributing networks
Grazyna Petela, Calgary (CA); Eric Clavelle, Calgary (CA); and Edgar Yajure, Calgary (CA)
Assigned to NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A., Fribourg (CH)
Filed by NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A., Fribourg (CH)
Filed on Jan. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/736,857.
Application 16/736,857 is a continuation of application No. 15/599,927, filed on May 19, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of application No. CA 2930824 (CA), filed on May 25, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0141660 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. F28F 1/02 (2006.01); F15D 1/04 (2006.01); F16L 43/00 (2006.01); F28D 7/06 (2006.01); F28F 1/00 (2006.01); F16L 9/00 (2006.01); F28D 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC F28F 1/02 (2013.01) [F15D 1/04 (2013.01); F16L 9/006 (2013.01); F16L 43/001 (2013.01); F16L 43/002 (2013.01); F16L 43/005 (2013.01); F28D 7/06 (2013.01); F28D 7/082 (2013.01); F28F 1/00 (2013.01); F28F 1/006 (2013.01); F28F 1/025 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating a fluid distributing network for fluid transport or for fluid distribution or for recycling a fluid in a heating or a cooling system comprising:
providing the fluid distributing network with at least one U-bend and at least one pipe connected to the U-bend,
wherein the U-bend comprises an inlet, an outlet, and a bend; said U-bend having individually or in co-operative arrangement a flow passage having a continuously smooth and differentiable perimeter and centerline and a smoothly varying cross-section along the flow passage such that in the 5% of the flow passage from the inlet and the 5% of the flow passage from the outlet ARQ is from 1.0 to 1.02 and over the remaining 90% of the length of the flow passage not less than 5% of the flow passage has an ARQ from 1.02 to 1.15;
operating the fluid distributing network in a manner that allows for fluid transport or for fluid distribution or for recycling a fluid in a heating or a cooling system;
and further wherein the presence of the at least one U-bend reduces the overall pressure drop within the fluid distributing network by 10% or more when compared to the calculated pressure drop for a comparative fluid distributing network operating under the same conditions for the same purpose, but having only conventional bends with a comparative flow passage with an ARQ along its length from 1.00 to 1.02, wherein ARQ is the ratio of aspect ratio (AR) to isoperimetric quotient (Q) of a section or segment of the flow passage perpendicular to the direction of flow (AR/Q), wherein L is the length of the at least one pipe and D is the inner diameter of the at least one pipe and further wherein L/D of the at least one pipe is greater than 0 and less than 55.