A Forney Diverter Damper is a specialized component used in industrial exhaust systems, particularly in power plants and HRSG bypass applications. This device is designed to control and redirect the flow of exhaust gases within the ductwork. It can switch the gas stream between two or more alternate paths, allowing for efficient emissions management and heat recovery processes. Given its importance in HRSG bypass application, it is simulated in the current CFD study.

Figure 1: Schematic of Forney diverter – Reference: Forney company catalog

Simulation Process

The geometry is initially created using Spaceclaim. Fluent Meshing software is employed to produce polyhedral elements, leading to 2418936 cells. The flat diverter system was previously simulated so that you can find the CFD shop.

Figure 2: The designed Forney diverter system

Post-processing

The simulation reveals fluid dynamics within the Forney diverter damper. The pressure contour shows a gradient from higher pressure (red/orange) at the inlet to lower pressure (green/blue) at the outlets, with a notable high-pressure region at the point of flow division. The velocity contour indicates lower velocities (blue) in the main chamber and significantly higher velocities (red/orange) at the damper vanes and outlet regions. This suggests effective flow control and redirection by the damper vanes, with acceleration of the fluid as it passes through the constrained outlet areas. The simulation also captures potential turbulence and recirculation areas, particularly near the damper vanes and at the flow separation points, which could be critical for optimizing damper performance and durability.