LAMINAR FLOW THROUGH CIRCULAR PIPE

M P Deosarkar
Chemical Engg Dept
VIT, Pune-37
 Shear Stress Distribution
Consider a steady fully developed flow of constant density fluid
through a Circular horizontal pipe. Consider a disc shaped element
of fluid of radius r and length dL

P P + dP
r
rw dL

Let
P = Pressure on the upstream side face
P+dP = Pressure on the downstream side face

Since the fluid possesses Viscosity, shear force

opposing the flow will exist on the rim of the
element.
Shear force = τ2π πrdL
 Shear Stress Distribution

Under steady state conditions:

∑F = 0
Pressure force on upstream side – pressure
force on downstream side – shear force = 0
Pπr2 – (P+dP)πr2 – τ2πrdL = 0 ---------(1)
– dPπr2 – τ2πrdL = 0 ---------(2)
Dividing both sides by πr2dL
− dP 2τ
− =0
dL r ---------(3)
 Shear Stress Distribution
Now considering the entire cross section of
the tube where r =rw and τ =τw
−dP 2τ w
− =0 ---------(4)
dL rw
Subtracting equation 3 from equation 4 τ τw
2τ 2τ w
− =0
=
r rw r rw
This equation gives shear stress distribution
This is relationship between shear stress and radius for
both Laminar and turbulent fully developed steady flow
 Shear Stress Distribution

r=0 τ=0
r
τ
rw

τw

Linear Relationship between Shear Stress and Radius of the pipe

 Velocity Distribution

Consider laminar flow of Newtonian fluid through a Circular horizontal

pipe. Consider an elemental ring of fluid of radius r and width dr

r
rw dr

Elemental ring area = dA =2πrdr

Cross sectional area of ring of radius r = A=πr2
 Velocity Distribution
Shear stress is related to the time rate of shear as:
du
τ = −µ ----------------(1)
dr
τ
µ=−
du
dr
du τ
=−
dr µ
But
τw τ τw
= τ= r ----------------(2)

rw r rw
 du τw r
∴ =− ----------------(3)
dr rw µ
Rearranging and integrating equation (3) within limits :
u = 0 to u and r = r to rw
u r u rw
τw τw
∫0 du = − rw µ r∫ rdr ∫0 du = rw µ r∫ rdr ----------------(4)

τw 2 2 1
u=
µ rw
( rw − r )
2
----------------(5)

Velocity will be maximum at r = 0

2
τ w r τ w rw
w
umax = = ----------------(6)
µ rw 2 2µ
Now dividing equation (5) by equation (6)

u 2
r −r  2
r  
2

= w
2
= 1 −    ----------------(7)
umax rw   rw  

Equation (7) implies parabolic profile for flow through a pipe

rw
Shear Stress and Velocity Distribution

Shear Stress Velocity

Mean Velocity

Prove that mean velocity vmean = 0.5 umax

rw
1
Vmean = ∫ udA
A0

A =πr 2
w
dA = 2π rdr
Kinetic Energy Correction Factor

Prove that kinetic energy correction factor α =2

3
1 u dA
α= ∫ 3
A Vmean
umax
Vmean =
2
2
A =πr w dA = 2π rdr
Momentum Correction Factor

Prove that momentum correction factor β = 4

3
2
1  u 
β = ∫  dA
A  Vmean 

2
A =πr w
dA = 2π rdr
 Hagen-Poiseuilli Equation
•Fully developed, steady, laminar flow of Newtonian fluid
•Horizontal circular pipe of length L

P1 P2
D

rw
V1
V2
L

• For Fully developed Steady flow V1 =V2

• Pressure drop over the length L = ∆P = P1 –P2
•The pressure drop across the pipe is balanced by the shear force
acting on the wall
 Hagen-Poiseuilli Equation
π  ∆P D  rw
∴τ wπ DL = ∆P D 2  
 4 L  4µ
4
∆P 2rw rw
4τ w L Vmean =
4 L 4µ
∆P =
D
Vmean =
2
r ∆P
w
=
( 4)
∆P D
2

∆P D 8µ L 8µ L
τw =
4 L
∆PD 2
Vmean =
32µ L
The mean velocity is given by
32 µ LV
τ w rw ∆P =
Vmean = D2
4µ
Hagen Poiseuilli Equation
 Friction Factor
Friction factor is the ratio of shear stress to
the product of density and velocity head
τw
f =
ρV 2 ∆P 4 fLV 2
= = h fs
2 ρg 2 Dg
f ρV 2
τw =
2
4τ w L 4 ρV 2 f L
∆P = = Darcy- Wiesbach Equation
D 2 D

∆P 4 fLV 2
=
ρ 2D
 Prove that for laminar flow friction factor f = 16
Re
τ w rw
Vmax = The fanning friction factor
2µ
2τ w 2(8µV )
Vmean = 0.5Vmax f = 2
=
ρV ρV 2 D
τ w rw τ w rw
Vmean = 0.5 =
2µ 4µ  µ 
D
f = 16  
But → rw =  ρVD 
2
τ w D τ wD ρVD
∴Vmean = = But → Re =
µ
4µ 2 8µ
16
8µV ∴f =
τw = Re For Laminar Flow
D
 Next Lecture
• LAMINAR FLOW THROUGH INCLINED PIPE
– Derivation
– Numerical
LAMINAR FLOW THROUGH INCLINED PIPE
LAMINAR FLOW THROUGH INCLINED PIPE

2π rτ dx
dx

r ∂P
(P + dx)π r 2
∂x
z
rw θ
Pπ r2
• As the pipeflow
Consider is not
ofhorizontal
Newtonian in addition
fluid
to pressure
through and viscous
a pipe inclinedforces
at angravity
angle
force alsohorizontal
θ to the will be significant
ρ gπ r 2 dx sin θ •
• Weight of the fluid element = ρgπr2dx
Pipe radius =rw
• Gravity component =ρgπr2dx sinθ
• Consider a small concentric fluid
= ρgπr2z
element of radius r and length dx
• In the vertically upward direction z
represents a change in elevation
corresponding to length dx of the
fluid element.
• From the figure sinθ =z/dx
Applying force balance over the fluid element
2 ∂P
Pπ r − ( P + dx)π r 2 − ρ gπ r 2 z − 2π rτ dx = 0 − − − − − − − −(1)
∂x

Dividing both sides of the equation by πr2dx and simplifying it:

∂P z 2τ
− − ρg − = 0 − − − − − − − −(2)
∂∂xx dx r
∂ r
τ = − ( P + ρ gz ) − − − − − − − (3)
∂x 2
∂ P r
τ = ρ g[ − ( + z )] − − − − − − − (4)
∂x ρ g 2
But (P/ρg + z ) = h = Piezometric Head

r ρ g ∂h
∴τ = − ( ) − − − − − − − −(5)
2 ∂x
 du
For Newtonian fluid: τ = − µ
dr
du r ρ g ∂h
= ( ) − − − − − − − (6)
dr 2 µ ∂x
r 2 ρ g ∂h
u= ( ) + C1 − − − − − − − (7)
4 µ ∂x
At r = rw : u=0
rw2 ρ g ∂h
C1 = − ( ) − − − − − − − − − −(8)
4 µ ∂x
Substitute equation (8) into equation (7)
ρ g −∂h 2 2
u= ( )(rw − r ) − − − − − − − − − (7)
4 µ ∂x

u 2
r −r 2
r  
2

= w
2
= 1 −   
umax rw   rw  
 Example
Lubricating oil of Sp. gravity 0.82 and dynamic viscosity
12.066x10-2 Pa.s is pumped at a rate of 0.02 m3/s
through 0.15 m diameter 300 m long pipe. Calculate
the pressure drop, average shear stress at the wall
and the power required to maintain the flow
a) If the pipe is horizontal
b) If the pipe is inclined at 150 with the horizontal and the
flow is in
1) Upward Direction
2) Downward Direction
Also determine the slope of the pipe and direction of flow
so that the pressure gradient along the pipe is zero
Concept of Reynolds Number
 Concept of Reynolds Number
• Reynolds Number
• Ratio of Inertia Force to Viscous Force
2
ρV ρVD
Re = =
µV µ
D Re = Reynolds Number
ρ= Density of fluid
V = Velocity of flow
µ = Viscosity of fluid
D= Diameter of pipe
Laminar, Transition and Turbulent Flow

The flow is:

laminar if Re < 2000
transient if 2000 < Re < 4000
turbulent if Re > 4000
 Laminar and Turbulent Flow

• Flow Regimes
– Laminar Flow
– Turbulent Flow
• The amount of fluid friction, which
determines the amount of energy required to
maintain the desired flow, depends upon the
mode of flow
 Laminar Flow

• Laminar flow is also referred to as streamline

or viscous flow.
– layers of water flowing over one another at
different speeds with virtually no mixing
between layers
– fluid particles move in definite and observable
paths or streamlines, and
– the flow is characteristic of viscous (thick) fluid.
 Turbulent Flow

• Turbulent flow is characterized by the irregular

movement of particles of the fluid.
• There is no definite frequency as there is
in wave motion.
• The particles travel in irregular paths with no
observable pattern and no definite layers.
 Applications of Reynolds Number

Heat Transfer:
• Determining rate of heat transfer
• Developing governing equations
• Design of heat exchange equipments

Mass Transfer:
• Determining rate of Mass transfer
• Developing governing equations
• Design of heat exchange equipments
 Darcy Wiesbach Equation
2
4 flV
Darcy Wiesbach Equation hf =
2 gD
τw
Darcy/Fanning friction factor f = 2
ρV
2
4τ w
Moody friction factor f '= 2
ρV
2
 Friction Factor
• The viscous head term is scaled by the pipe friction
factor f.
• In general, f depends on the Reynolds Number Re of
the pipe flow, and the relative roughness e/D of the
pipe wall.
Absolute Pipe Roughness
 Relative Pipe Roughness

• Relative pipe roughness is computed by dividing

the absolute roughness e by the pipe diameter D,
Moody Diagram
Reynolds Number =13,000
Friction factorRatio=0.015
Roughness =0.046
Example
• Hydrogen oil (density=1.6 g/cc; viscosity =5cP)
is being pumped from a storage tank at ground
level to the top of the absorption tower of
height 10 m, at a rate of 2000 kg/min through a
5 cm diameter smooth PVC pipe. Assuming an
efficiency of 60 percent. Calculate pump work
required in m. The loss due to valves and
expansions may be taken as 1.5 m.