Fundamentals of Fluid Flow

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Fundamentals of Fluid Flow

Principles relating to fluids at rest can be obtained with no ambiguity by purely rational methods. Some natural principles which are universally true are the basis of calculations. In flowing fluid, however, the laws that govern the motion are complex and most of the time defies mathematical expressions. Thanks to experimental data combined with mathematical theories which solved countless engineering problems in the past.

Discharge | Flow Rate


Tags: discharge flow rate continuous flow uniform flow steady flow turbulent flow laminar flow

Discharge (also called flow rate) The amount of fluid passing a section of a stream in unit time is called the discharge. If v is the mean velocity and A is the cross sectional area, the discharge Q is defined by Q = Av which is known as volume flow rate. Discharge is also expressed as mass flow rate and weight flow rate. Volume flow rate, Mass flow rate, Weight flow rate, Where: Q = discharge in m3/sec or ft3/sec A = cross-sectional area of flow in m2 or ft2 v = mean velocity of flow in m/sec or ft/sec = mass density of fluid in kg/m3 or slugs/ft3 = unit weight of fluid in N/m3 or lb/ft3 Laminar Flow Flow is said to be laminar when the paths of the individual particles do not cross or intersect. By many careful experiments to commercial pipes of circular cross section, the flow is laminar when the Reynolds number Re is less than 2100. Turbulent Flow The flow is said to be turbulent when its path lines are irregular curves and continuously cross each other. The paths of particles of a stream flowing with turbulent motion are neither parallel nor fixed

but it aggregates to forward motion of the entire stream. Reynolds number greater than 2100 normally defines turbulent flow but in highly controlled environment such as laboratories, laminar flow can be maintained up to values of Re as high as 50,000. However, it is very unlikely that such condition can occur in the practice. Steady Flow Steady flow occurs if the discharge Q passing a given cross section of a stream is constant with time, otherwise the flow is unsteady. Uniform Flow The flow is said to be uniform if, with steady flow for a given length, or reach, of a stream, the average velocity at every cross-section is the same. Uniform flow usually occurs to incompressible fluids flowing in a stream of constant cross section. In streams where velocity and cross section changes, the flow is said to be non-uniform. Continuous Flow By the principle of conservation of mass, continuous flow occurs when at any time, the discharge Q at every section of the stream is the same.

Continuity Equations For incompressible fluids:

For compressible fluids:

or

01 Solved problems in discharge and velocity of flow

Tags: discharge continuous flow velocity of flow

Problem 01 Compute the discharge of water through 75 mm pipe if the mean velocity is 2.5 m/sec. Solution: HideClick here to expand or collapse this section answer

Problem 02 The discharge of air through a 600-mm pipe is 4 m3/sec. Compute the mean velocity in m/sec. Solution HideClick here to expand or collapse this section

answer

Problem 03 A pipe line consists of successive lengths of 380-mm, 300-mm, and 250-mm pipe. With a continuous flow through the line of 250 Lit/sec of water, compute the mean velocity in each size of pipe. Solution HideClick here to expand or collapse this section For continuous flow

answer answer answer

02 Graph of velocity of flow against length of pipe


Tags: velocity of flow pipe with varying diameter decreasing pipe diameter

Problem The diameter of a 6-m length pipe decreases uniformly from 450 mm to 150 mm. With a flow of 0.15 m3/sec of oil, compute the mean velocity at cross section 1 m apart. Plot the velocity as ordinate against length as abscissa. Solution HideClick here to expand or collapse this section Solving for y by ratio and proportion

Solving for diameters by ratio and proportion

Formula for velocity of flow

Velocity at sections 1-m apart

Graph of velocity of flow versus length of pipe (plotted in MS Excel)

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