CHOKED FLOW

SUMMARY

Choked flow is a phenomenon that limits the mass flow rate of a

compressible fluid flowing through nozzles, orifices and sudden expansions.
Generally speaking it is the mass flux after which a further reduction in
downstream pressure will not result in an increase in mass flow rate.

DEFINITIONS
AA : Cross sectional area
CdCd : Coefficient of Discharge
GG : Mass flux
KK : Resistance coefficient
kk : Index of polytropic Change
MM : Mach number
PP : Pressure
uu : Velocity
ww : Mass flow rate
YY : Expansion coefficient
γγ : Ratio of heat capacities, Cp/CvCp/Cv
σσ : Specific gravity

Subscripts:

11 : Upstream conditions
22 : Downstream conditions
cc : Choked conditions
tt : Throat (minimum flow area) conditions

INTRODUCTION

Non-choked Flow

As a compressible fluid passes through a restriction there are changes in both

velocity and pressure. The fluid starts upstream at a higher pressure, which
falls as it increases velocity flowing through the restriction, and may continue
to fall as the velocity increases through the vena contracta. After passing the
vena contracta the fluid will begin expand to fill the cross sectional area of
the pipe and as it does will slow down and regain pressure.
For normal non-choked flow with a given inlet pressure, reducing the outlet
pressure will cause a greater differential pressure across the restriction and
therefore increase the fluid flow rate and velocity. This holds true until the
flow rate is increased to the point that the fluid reaches the local sonic
velocity at the throat of the restriction and becomes choked.

Choked Flow

As a compressible fluid reaches the speed of sound (i.e. has a Mach

number of 1), pressure changes can no longer be communicated upstream as
the speed of which these pressure changes are propagated is limited by the
speed of sound. In a nozzle or restriction this has the effect of isolating the
upstream side from the downstream side at the throat. Because of this effect
any reduction in downstream pressure will have no effect on the flow rate, as
the increased pressure differential is not 'felt' upstream of the restriction.

The establishment of choked flow can be identified as the point at which the
ratio of the minimum fluid pressure to inlet pressure (Pmin/P1)(Pmin/P1) falls
below the critical pressure ratio in the fluid.
It should be noted that while downstream changes in pressure will not effect
the mass flow rate when the flow is choked, changes in the upstream pressure
may still have an effect as it will affect the local speed of sound at the throat,
and thus change the mass flow rate at which the system becomes choked.

Supersonic Flow

Reducing the downstream pressure of a choked system will not result in

increased mass flow rate but it will however, result in an increased velocity
of the fluid after the restriction. After reaching the point of choked flow,
further reductions in downstream pressure will result in the fluid accelerating
away from the throat and in some cases achieving supersonic speeds (Mach
number > 1).

Depending on the outlet nozzle design shock waves may form as the fluid
returns to subsonic speeds.

MASS FLUX AND VELOCITY AT CHOKED FLOW

CONDITIONS

General equations

The mass flux and velocity at which choked conditions begin can be
calculated using the following equations.
Gc=kPcρc−−−−−√Gc=kPcρc

uc=kPcρc−−−−√uc=kPcρc

Here kk is the index of polytropic change and is dependent on the

thermodynamic conditions of the fluid flow.

Adiabatic Flow

For adiabatic conditions the index of polytropic change is equal to ratio of

specific heat capacities (k=γ)(k=γ).

Isothermal Flow

For isothermal flow the index of polytropic change is equal to

unity (k=1)(k=1).

The typically abrupt nature of constrictions which result in choked flow make
it unlikely that the system will behave isothermally, and therefore adiabatic
flow is typically a better assumption for practical use.

Expansion Factor

The Expansion Factor YY is an experimentally derived value that can be

used to quantify the difference between and incompressible fluid and a
compressible fluid for a nozzle or orifice. This allow for a simplification of
the calculation provided the expansion factor value is available.
For the conditions at the choke point this value is known as the Critical
Expansion Factor. And may be used to determine the mass flux or velocity at
choked conditions.

Q1=KYAt2Δpρ1−−−−√Q1=KYAt2Δpρ1

Q1=CdYAt2Δpρ1−−−−√(11−β4−−−−−√)Q1=CdYAt2Δpρ1(11−β4)