Solution of Quasi one-dimension flow in nozzles

Numerical Solution
The governing equations of quasi one-dimension flow for continuity, momentum and energy can be
expressed as follows,

Continuity

𝜌1 𝑉1 𝐴1 = 𝜌2 𝑉2 𝐴2
Momentum
𝐴2
𝑝1 𝐴1 + 𝜌1 𝑉12 𝐴1 + ∫ 𝑝𝑑𝐴 = 𝑝2 𝐴2 + 𝜌2 𝑉22 𝐴2
𝐴1

Energy

𝑉12 𝑉22
ℎ+ = ℎ2 +
2 2
Perfect gas equation

p = ρRT
Calorically perfect gas

ℎ = 𝐶𝑝 𝑇

The five equations above can be solved analytically for the flow through the nozzle.

Using MacCormack’s technique as described in [1], the above equations can be written as

Continuity
𝜕(𝜌𝐴) 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝐴 𝜕𝜌
+ 𝜌𝐴 + 𝜌𝑉 + 𝑉𝐴 =0
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
Momentum
𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑇 𝜕𝜌
𝜌 + 𝜌𝑉 = 𝑅 (𝜌 +𝑇 )
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
Energy

𝜕𝑇 𝜕𝑇 𝜕𝑉 𝜕(ln 𝐴)
𝜌𝐶𝑣 + 𝜌𝑉𝐶𝑣 = −𝜌𝑅𝑇 [ + 𝑉 ]
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

To find the numerical solution, we use non-dimensional variables.

The non-dimensional temperature and density are

 𝑇 𝜌
𝑇′ = 𝑇𝑜
, 𝜌′ = 𝜌𝑜

And taking L as the length of the nozzle,

𝑥
𝑥′ =
𝐿
We let a0 denotes the speed of sound in the reservoir as 𝑎0 = √𝛾𝑅𝑇𝑜 we difine a non-dimensional
velocity as
𝑉
𝑉′ =
𝑎𝑜
And a dimensionless time as
𝑡
𝑡′ =
𝐿⁄
𝑎𝑜
A dimensionless area is then defined as
𝐴
𝐴′ =
𝐴∗
Where A* is the sonic throat area and A is the local area.

After introducing the dimensionless variable, our continuity equation becomes

𝜕(𝜌′) 𝜕𝑉 ′ 𝜕(ln 𝐴′) 𝜕𝜌′

′ ′ ′
= −𝜌 𝜕𝑥 − 𝜌′ 𝑉 𝜕𝑥 ′ − 𝑉′
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥′
The momentum equation becomes
𝜕𝑉 ′
𝜕𝑉′ ′ 1 𝜕𝑇′ 𝑇′ 𝜕𝜌′
= −𝑉 𝜕𝑥 ′ − ( + )
𝜕𝑡′ 𝛾 𝜕𝑥′ 𝜌′ 𝜕𝑥′

The energy equation becomes

𝜕𝑇′ 𝜕𝑇 ′ 𝜕𝑉′ 𝜕(ln 𝐴′)

′ ′
= −𝑉 𝜕𝑥 − (𝛾 − 1)𝑇′ [ + 𝑉′ ]
𝜕𝑡′ 𝜕𝑥′ 𝜕𝑥′

With these equations, the numerical solution of the quasi one-dimension nozzle can be obtained by
carefully selecting the initial values for ρ, T and V.

This was done in MATLAB. All values of ρ, T and V are obtained in relation to x, the distance along the
nozzle. Since the flow changes as the cross-sectional area of the nozzle changes, the values has to be
dimensionless as denoted by prime (‘) on the variables, so that we now consider, ρ’, T’ and V’ derived
earlier.

Analytical Solution
To obtain the analytical solution, we solve the governing solutions in terms of Mach number, M.
The variation of Mach number along the nozzle is governed by the ratio of A/A* . This can be obtained
using the formula,

𝐴 2 1 2 𝛾 − 1 2 (𝛾 + 1)/(𝛾−1)
( ) = 2[ (1 + 𝑀 )]
𝐴∗ 𝑀 𝛾+1 2
𝑐𝑝
Where 𝛾 = ratio of specific heats, ⁄𝑐𝑣

For a nozzle, Area, A is defined as a function of x, distance along the nozzle. A* is the sonic throat area.
By defining A as a function of x, the Mach number can also be calculated as a function of x.

The Mach number obtained by taking several x along the nozzle length, is the compared to the
numerically obtained value from a CFD tool such as MatLab.

Importance of running both numerical and analytical solution.

The key importance of having to obtain both the numeric and analytical solution is to the nozzle flow is
to test the accuracy of each method. The margin of error between the Mach number obtained from
both solutions should be as small as possible.

The general assumption in obtaining these solutions is that the flow is one-dimensional while in reality,
the flow varies both along the x and y axis.

Having two solutions gives an indication of accuracy in the correctness of this assumption.
References:

1. John D. Anderson Jr, Computational Fluid Dynamics, McGraw-Hill(1994),

Chapter 7.