Chapter

4
Conservation of Mass: Control- Volume Approach
he initial application of the fundamentallaws of fluid mechanics involves the law of conservation of mass. In this chapter we sha11deve10p an integral re1ationship which expresses the law of conservation f mass for a general control volume. The integral re1ation thus deve10ped wi11be app1ied to some often-encountered fiuid-fiow situations .

4.1

INTEGRAL RELATION
The 1aw of conservation of mass states that mass may be neither created nor destroyed. With respect to a control v01ume, the law of conservation of mass may be simply stated as

~;~u~fr:%s} control v01ume

{ra~~~i;t~SS} control volume

{aCC~~:~~iO~} of mass wlthin control volume

Consider now the general c ntr v ume cated in a fluid flow field, as shown in Figure 4.1 .

Streamlines at time t

Figure 4.1 Fluid fiow through a control volume.

For the small element of area dA n the control surface, the rate of mass efflux = ( pv)(dA cos e), where dA cos e is the projecti n of the area dA in a plane normal to the ve locity vector, v, and e is the ang1e between the velocity vector, v, and the outward directed nit normal vector, n, t dA. From vect r algebra we recognize the pr duct

pv dA cos

e = p dA v n cos e
p(v' n) dA

as the "scalal'" or "dot" product

32

4.2

Specific Fo!ms of the Integral Expression

33

wl1ich is the form we product pv is the mass represents the amount time. If we now integrate

shall use to designate the rate of mass efflux thl'ough dA. The flux, often called the mass velocity, G. Physically this prodllct of mass flowing through a unit cross-sectional area per unit this quantity over the entire control surface, we have

fJ

p(V ' )dA

C.S .

which is the net outward fiow of mass across the control surface, 01' the net mass effl.ux from the control volume . Note that if mass is entering the control volume, that is, fiowing inward across the control surface, the product V = v n cos e is negative, since e > 90, and cos e is therefore negative. Thus, if the integral is

positive, there is a net effi.ux of mass ; negative, there is a net infiux of mass ; zero, the mass within the control volume is constant . The rate of accumulation of mass within the contro] volume may be expressed as
\'

fr

ffJ
+
fr

pdV

.11

C.V .

and the integral expression for the mass ba]ance over a general control volume becomes

fJ
I1

p(v'
C~

n) dA

ffJ

p dV = 0

(4-1)

C.~

f 1

':(:'!'

IFIC FORMS OF THE INTEGRAL EXPRESSION

Equation (4-1) gives the mass balance in its most general form. We now consider some frequently encountered situations where equation (4-1) may be applied . If fiow is steady relative to coordfnates fixed to the control yolume, the accumulation term, iJliJt f J Jc.v. p dV, will be zero. This is readily seen when one recalls that, by the defi nition of steady f!ow, the properties of a f!ow field are invariant with time, hence the par tial derivative with respect to time is zero. Thus, for this situation the applicable form of the continuity expression is

~Il .\

Jf
"q:

p(v ' )dA = 0

C.S .

(4-2 )

111~

tllc \,'
il','l"!{'-;}

Another important case is that of an incompressible flow with fiuid fil1ing the control volume. For incompressible f!ow theldensity, p, is constant, hence the accumulation term involving the partial derivative with !'espect to time is again zero. Additionally, the density term in the surface integral may be canceled. The conservation-of-mass expression for incompressible f!ow of this nature thus becomes

ff

(v ' )dA = 0
C.S .

(4-3)

The following examples illustrate the application of equation (4-1) to some cases that recur frequently in momentum transfer.

~_,~C=-=-

-:.--

34

Chapter 4

Conservation of Mass: Control-VolumeApproach

i
~

As our first example, let us consider the common situation of a control volume for which mass effiux and infiux are steady and one-dimensional. Specifically, consider the control volume indicated by dashed lines in Figure 4.2.

i ~
~

Figure 4.2 Steady one-dimensional fiow into and out of a control volume.

Equation (4-2) applies. Since mass crosses the control surface at positions (1) and (2) only, our expression is

If

p(v' n) dA
c.s.

If

p(v' n) dA

If

p(v . n) dA

The absolute value of the scalar product, (v . n) is equal to the magnitude of the velocity in each integral, since the velocity vectors and outwardly directed normal vectors are collinear both at (1) and (2). At (2) these vectors have the same sense, thus this product is positive, as it should for an effiux of mass. At (1), where mass fiows into the control volume, the two vectors are opposite in sense, hence the sign is negative. We may now express the continuity equation in scalar form

~ .~ ;,

If

p(v' n) dA = -

C.S.

If

pv dA
A

If

pv dA

= 0

A2

Integration gives the familiar result

P v IA

= P2V2A2

(4-4)

In obtaining equation (4-4) it is noted thatthe flow situation inside the control vol ume was unspecified. In fact, this is the beauty of the control-volume approach; the flow inside the control volume can be analyzed from information (measurements) ob tained on the surface of the controlivolume. The box-shaped control volume illustrated in Figure 4.2 is defined for analytical purposes; the actual system contained in this box cciuld be as simple as a pipe or as complex as a propulsion system or a distillation tower . In solving example 1 we assumed a constant velocity at sections (1) and (2). This sit uation may be approached physically, but a more general case is one in which the velocity varies over the cross-sectional area .

! ~.
t

Lot

u,

' o'id"

the"" of '0 io'oml""ible

fl w,fo' whi'hthefl w """

i, ';,-,ul"

and

the velocity profile is parabolic (see Rigure 4.3), varying according to the expression

Vmax

[1 - (~)2]

i
;

4.2
- .-.1, '}

Specific Forms of the Integral Expression

3S

'f

It. Figure 4.3 A parabolic velocity profile in a circular flow passage.

i ,

~-

where vmax is the maximum velocity which exists at the center of the circular passage (i.e., at r = 0), and R is the radia1 distance to the inside su.rface of the circu1ar area considered. The above velocity-profile expression may be obtained experimenta11y. It wil1 a1so be derived theoretical1y in Chapter 8 for the case of laminar flow in a circular conduit. This expression represents the velocity at a radial distance, r, from the center of the flow section. Since the average velocity is of particular interest in engineering problems, we will now consider the means of obtaining the average ve10city from this expression. At the station where this velocity profile exists, the mass rate of flow is
(PV)avgA
=

Ji

pv

dA is constant. Solving for the aver-

For the present case of incompressible age velocity, we have

Vavg =

flow thedensity

iJ i
Umax

dA

R 7T~2 J02~JO V
2

max

[1 - (~)2]

r dr d8

I
i;EX MPLE3 '
~':{'':,(:":>

In the previus examples we wel nt coneemed with the empsitin the ftuid streams. Equation (4-1) app1ies to fluiH streams containing more than one constituent as we11 as to the individual constituents alone. This type application is common to chemical processes in particular. Our final examp1e wil1 use the law of conservation of mass for both the total mass and for a particular species, in this case, sa1t.

~:>.-

:,_,;,<~._ c

~:

2'.- ~

f'

i
t
i
$

Let us now examine the situation illusJated in Figure 4.4. A tank initially contains 1000 kg of brine containing 10% salt by mass. An inlet stream of brine containing 200/0 salt by mass flows into the tank at a rate of 20 kg/min. The mixture in the tank is kept uniform by sti ing. Brine is removed from the tank via an outlet pipe at a rate of 10 kg/min. Find the amount of salt in the tank at any time t, and the elapsed time when the amount of salt in the tank is 200 kg .

~.

'

~"'"' . ~

~:~

rr

_-=.~

~ _ _

"

-~ ~~ .

- _ ~ -- _

"

36

Chapter 4

Conservation of Mass: Contro!-VolumeApproach

20 kg/min

I ;111 I I I 11 , I 1I 11 \ 1 " 1 ('r I )

r .-----,~., 11 ,

11

Tank, initial content 1000 kg

Control volume

Figure 4.4 A mixing process.

10 kg/min

We first apply equation (4-1) to express the total amount of brine in the tank as ,1 function of time. For the control volume shown

ff

p(V ' )dA

10 - 20

-10 kg/rnin

c.s .

fr

f f lv

p dV

= ~t

dM

= ~t (M

- 1000)

where M is the total mass of brine in the tank at any time. Writing the complete expression, we have

ff

p(v ' )dA

+ fr

C.5.

fff

p dV
c.v .

-10

+ ~t (M

- 1000 )

Separating variables and solving for M gives M

= 1000 + 10t

(kg)
by

We now let S be the amount of salt in the tank at any time. The concentration weight of salt may be expressed as

S _
M - lO O
I

kg salt kg brine

Using this definition, we may now rpp1y equation (4-1) to the salt, obtaining

f J,
and

p(v ' )dA

lM 1000 + 10t -(0.2)(20)

~ sili min

C.S .

~ff Jr
Jt

p dV

=!f
dt

fS
So

dS

c.v.

dS dt

kg salt min
.

The complete expression is now

\1

ff

p(v' n) dA

+,

C.S.

fff

p dV =

10;+ t - 4 + ~~ = 0

C.V.

Problems This equation may be written in the form dS

dt

37

S
100

+t

=4

which we observe to be a first-order 1inear differentia1 equation. The genera1 s01ution is S2t(200 + t) 100 + t C + ---0-:,---100

+t

The constant of integration may be eva1uated, using the initia1 condition that S = 100 at t = 0 to give C = 10000. Thus the first part of the answer, expressing the amount of salt present as a function of time, is

s=

1.0000

+ 400t + 2t2 100 + t

The e1apsed time necessary for S to equal 200 kg may be eva1uated to give t = 36.6 min.
lS

4.3

CLOSURE
In this chapter we have considered the first of the fundamentallaws of fluid flow: conservation of mass. The integra1 expression deve10ped for this case was seen to be quite general in its form and use. Similar integral expressions for conservation of energy and of momentum for a general contr01 volume will be developed and used in subsequent chapters. The student shou1d now develop the habit of always starting with the app1icab1e integral expression and evaluating each term for a particular problem. There will be a strong temptation simply to write down an equation without considering each term in detail. Such temptations should be overcome. This approach may seem needlessly tedious at the outset, but it wil1 a1ways insure a complete ana1ysis of a prob1em and circumvent any errors which may otherwise result from a too-hasty consideration.

res-

f'

1
'"' "

by

t:

PROBLEMS

4.1

The ve10city vector in a two-dimensiona1 flow is given by the expression v = 10e. + 7xe.,. m/s when x is measured in meters. Determine the component of the velocity that makes a -30 ang1e with the x axis at the point (2,2).
T 0

1
-~

,
-'1.

4.2

Using the ve10city vector of the previous prob1em, deterrnine (a) the equation of the streamline passing through point (2, 1); (b) the volume of flow that crosses a plane surface connecting points (1, 0) and (2,2). Water is fiowing through a 1arge circu1ar conduit with a ve10city profi1e given by the equation u = 9(1 - r2/16) fps. what is the average water ve10city in the 1.5-ft pipe?

4.3

~
1>