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Compressible Fluid Flow Basics

Velocity of sound in a fluid

A = Cross section area of pipe

V = Velocity of piston

p = pressure of fluid in pipe before movement of piston

ρ = density of fluid before the moment of the piston

dt = small interval of time with which piston is moved

c = Velocity of pressure wave travelling in fluid

Mass of fluid for a length ‘L’ before compression

=ρxAxL

= ρ x A x c x dt
Mass of fluid after compression for length (L-x)

= (ρ+dρ) x A x (L-x)

= (ρ+dρ) x A x (cdt-vdt)

From continuity

Mass of fluid before compression = mass of fluid after compression

ρAcdt = (ρ+dρ)A(c-v)dt

cdρ = ρv …………………………………(1) (neglecting vdρ)

net force on fluid element

(p+dp)A-p x A = mass per second x (change in velocity)

AL Acdt
Dp x A = [v  o ] = xv
dt dt

dp
c= ………………………………….(2)
v

multiplying (1) and (2)

c2dρ = dp

dp
c=
d

Sonic velocity for an adiabatic process

p
For adiabatic process =c


diff. above eq.

dp p
=
d 
Here,

p
c= = RT


for isothermal process

p
= constant


diff. above equation

dp p
= = RT
d 

Hence,

c= RT

Important points about sonic velocity

(1). Sonic velocity is depends upon the change in density for a given change in pressure.

(2). If increase with growth in temperature

(3). Sonic velocity is higher in gases with a high value of gas constant (R)

Mach number (M):-

Define as square root of the ratio of inertia force of a flowing fluid to the elastic force.

Av2 v
M= =
kA c

Here,
 v = velocity of fluid

c = velocity of sound in the fluid

k = bulk modulus

k
c=


M < 1  subsonic flow

M = 1  sonic flow

M > 1  supersonic flow

Mach Angle:-

Propagation of disturbance wave

(a),(b) the disturbance wave reach a stationary observer before the source of disturbance
could reach him in subsonic flow

at a 1
sin    
vt v M
  1 
  sin 1   (Mach angle)
M 

Compressible flow

Basic equations

(1). Equation of state

pv = mRT

where,

p = absolute pressure in N/m2

v = volume occupied by mass (m) of the gas

ρ = mass density in kg/m3

T = absolute temperature in kelvin (K)

R = gas constant (287 J/kg-K)

(2). Continuity equation

ρAv = constant (for 1D steady flow)

differential form

dv dA d
  0
v A 

(3). Momentum equation (Euler’s equation)

dp
 vdv  gdz  0


(4). Energy equation

Compressible flow

Energy equation (Bernoulli’s equ) for incompressible flow

dp
 vdv  gdz  0


Integrating above equ

dp
    vdv   gdz = constant

p v2
  gz = constant
 2

For compressible flow

p
For isothermal process  = constant = c1


p

c1

dp dp dp p
   p
c1  c1 
p
 c1 ln p  ln p


dp
 
  vdv   gdz = constant

p v2
ln p   gz = constant
 2

Bernoulli’s Equation for adiabatic process (pv  = c)

dp dp 1

 
 1
c1 
p

 1 1 
 
1
 p  
 c1 
 1
1  
 

1
   c1 
   1 p
   1 
p

  p
  
   1 

Hence,

dp
Substituting  
into Euler’s momentum equation

dp
 
  vdv   gdz = constant

   p v2
    gz = constant
   1  2

Further,

   p1 v 2    p2 v 2
    gz1 =     gz 2
   1  1 2    1  2 2
    p1 p 2  v1  v 2
2 2

      g ( z1  z 2 )  0
   1   1  2  2

Use,

 1
T2  p 2   p1 R p1 p2
   RT1 ; cp  
T1  p1
; ;
 1  1 1  2

Above equation can be reduced to

2 2
v v
c p T1  2  gz 2 = c p T1  1  gz1 = constant
2 2

Steady flow energy equation

No heat exchange

No shaft work

Stagnation point / stagnation properties

(1) po,To,ρo

vo (at stagnation point)

using above equation with z1=z2 at point (1) and (2)

v2
h  ho (Total specific enthalpy)
2

v2
c pT   c p To
2

1 v2 T  R 
1  o c p  
2 c pT T    1

To
T
1
1 v 2   1 To
2 T R

T 2
v2
 1    1 2
1
a
a  RT 
To    1 2
 1  M
T  2 

 po p
From adiabatic relation po vo  pv  or 

o 

 
p o  To   1 p     1  2   1
    o  1   M 
p T  p   2  

Similarly,

1
 o     1  2   1
 1  M 
   2  

Relation between a and ao

v2
c pT   c p To
2

RT v 2 RTo
 
 1 2  1
 2
a2 v2 a
  0
 1 2  1

Flow of compressible fluid from a reservoir

Apply Bernoulli’s equ at (1) and (2) (assuming adiabatic process)

   p0 v0    p2 v2
2 2

      
   1 0 2    1   2 2

 2  p 0  p  
v 2    1  2 0 
   1 0   2 p0 

1
 0  p0  
 
 2  p 2 

Hence,

 1
 
 2  p 0   p 2   
v 2    1   
   1   0   p0  
 

V2 will be maximum when p2=0 {for given p0, T0, ρ0}

2 p 0 2
v2  = a0 = V max
  1 0  1
v 2  2 c p T0