The Large Angle Diffuser (LAD® ) ensures an even flow distribution in sudden expansions which occur ahead of the heat exchangers, boilers, condensors, and blow down systems. Without a LAD® long pipe runs or elaborate custom engineered baffles that consume pressure drop are required. The LAD® consists of a series of overlapping truncated cones, with a common focal point, that is located within the expansion. Despite a sudden increase in pipe diameter, the LAD® produces a flat velocity flow profile, that results in an even distribution of the process fluid during the concentric expansion. Using a LAD® avoids the limiting expansion of 15^o between the expanding pipe diameters.

 

Operating Principles

The well-known magic angle of 15^o for small pipe diameters expanding into a larger pipe diameters, can be owercome by using a LAD® . The LAD® saves space and real estate in plants, using heat exchangers, flow meters, combustion chambers and/or compressor diffusers.

The LAD® utilizes the mathematical principle of one point source and imaging, and it consists of a series of overlapping truncated cones with a common focal point, which is located within the expansion. Fluids will obey trajectories of the point source and will then be distributed uniformly in the expansion as from a singular point. Therefore, the traditional, non-uniform flow in diffusers with an angle of more than 15^o has been eliminated !