Fundamentals of Fluid Flow

Definition of Terms

Ideal fluid is define as fluid without any viscosity between the fluid and the pipe or container in
which it flows.

Real fluid is define as a fluid which has viscosity, friction exists as it flows.

Classification of Fluids According to Flow

a.) Laminar Flow. Flow is said to be laminar when the paths of the individual particles moves in
parallel layers or do not cross or intersect as illustrated in Figure 4a. Conditions which tends to
produce laminar flow are low velocity, small size of conduit, and high viscosity of fluid.

Figure 4a Parallel paths of fluid particles

in laminar flow.

b.) Turbulent Flow. Flow is said to be turbulent when its path lines are irregular curves which
continually cross each other as illustrated in Figure 4b.

Figure 4b Turbulent flow

c.) Critical Flow is a type of flow if

velocity from high to low or vice-
versa and fluid condition varies from
laminar to turbulent or vice-versa for
any section.
Sub classification of Flow

a.) Steady flow For steady flow, the mass flow rate at the inlet to the control volume equals the mass
flow rate at the exit from control volume as illustrated in Figure 4c.

b.) Uniform Flow. If, with steady flow in any length, or “reach,” of stream, the average velocity at
every cross section is the same the flow is said to be uniform in that reach. In streams where
changes of cross section and velocity occur, the flow is said to be non-uniform as illustrated in
Figure 4c.

V1 V2 V2 ≠ V1
m1 = m 2

Figure 4c Steady and non-uniform flow

Discharge. The volume of fluid passing a cross section of a stream in unit time is called the
discharge. The symbol Q is used to designate the discharge, the usual units being cubic feet per
second (cfs).

V
Q = A V where: A = cross-sectional area of the stream, ft2
V = mean velocity, ft/sec

It is customary in certain lines of engineering to use other units, for instance, cubic feet per minute
(cfm) for measuring the flow of air, gallons per minute (gpm) in connection with pumping machinery,
and gallons per day (gpd) or million of gallons daily (mgd) in connection with municipal water supply.
In metric m3/hr; m3/min; m3/sec; and liters/sec.

Continuity Equation

The continuity equation states that, for steady flow, the rate at which mass enters a control volume
equals the rate at which mass leaves this control volume. To illustrate this concept, refer to pipeline of
Figure 4d in which fluid is flowing from left to right.

m1 = m2 for steady flow

V1 V2

Figure 4d Continuity of flow

Mass Flow Rate, m = ρAV = AV

v

and for steady flow, m1 = m2, the continuity equation becomes

ρ1 A1 V1 = ρ2 A2 V2
Weight Flow Rate, w = γAV and for steady flow, w1 = w2, the continuity equation becomes

γ1 A1 V1 = γ2 A2 V2

For incompressible fluids (or for liquids) ( ρ1 = ρ2 and γ1 = γ2 ), the

continuity equation becomes

A1 V1 = A2 V2

Sample Problems:

1. A city requires a flow of 25 mgd for its water supply. Compute the diameter of pipe required if the
velocity of flow is to be: (a) 2 ft/sec; (b) 6 ft/sec. Ans: 59 ½ in., 34 ½ in.

2. For the pipe of Figure 4d, the following data are given: Fluid is water. D1 = 4 in., D2 = 2 in. υ1 =
4 ft/s. Find (a) Volume flow rate (b) Fluid velocity at station 2 (c) Weight flow rate (d) Mass
flow rate. Ans: (a) 0.349 ft3/sec ; (b) 16 ft/sec ; (c) 21.8 lb/s (d) 0.677 slugs/s

3.) Air at 4.18 kg/m3 enters a nozzle that has an inlet-to-exit area ratio of 2:1 with velocity of 120 m/s
and leaves with a velocity of 380 m/s. Determine the density of air at the exit. Ans: 2.64 kg/m3

4.) A garden hose attached with a nozzle is used to fill a 10-gallon bucket. The inner diameter of the
hose is 2 cm, and it reduces to 0.8 cm at the nozzle exit. If it takes 50 sec to fill the bucket with
water, determine (a) the volume and mass flow rates of water through the hose, and (b) the mean
velocity of water at the nozzle exit. Ans: 0.757 L/s , 0.757 kg/sec, 15.1m/sec