Lecture 3 Compressible Flow in

pipes
Learning outcomes:
• Solve compressible flow problems in
pipes using continuity, Bernoulli’s,
thermodynamics and state equations.
 Introduction
• A compressible flow is that flow in which the
density of the fluid changes during flow.
• All real fluids are compressible to some extent
and therefore their density will change with
change in pressure or temperature.
 Basic Equation of Compressible Fluid
Flow
• Continuity Equation
𝑑 𝜌𝐴𝑣 = 0
• Momentum Equation
𝑑𝑝
+ 𝑣𝑑𝑣 + 𝑔𝑑𝑧 = 0
𝜌
• Energy Equation
𝑑 𝑣2
𝑑ℎ + + 𝑑𝑞 − 𝑑𝑤 = 0
2
 Process relations
• Isentropic process
𝑝
𝛾
= constant
𝜌
• Isothermal process
𝑝
= constant
𝜌
• Compressible liquid
𝑑𝑝
𝜌 =𝐾
𝑑𝜌
Momentum equation for different
process
• Isentropic process
𝛾 𝑝 𝑣2
+ + 𝑔𝑧 = 𝑔𝐻
𝛾 − 1𝜌 2
• Isothermal process
𝑝 𝑣2
ln 𝑝 + + 𝑔𝑧 = 𝑔𝐻
𝜌 2
 Equation of state & definitions
• Ideal gas law
𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇
• Universal gas constant
𝑅 = 𝑐𝑝 − 𝑐𝑣
• Specific heat ratio
𝛾 = 𝑐𝑝 /𝑐𝑣
• Speed of sound
𝑐= 𝛾𝑅𝑇
 Example 1
A 120mm diameter pipe reduces to 60mm
diameter through a sudden contraction. When it
carries air at 25°C under isothermal condition, the
absolute pressures observed in the two pipes just
before and after the contraction are 480kN/m2 and
384kN/m2 respectively. Take R=287J/kg/K (a)
Densities at the two sections (b) Velocities at the
two sections (c ) Mass flow rate through the pipe.
[5.6kg/m3; 4.5kg/m3; 39.9m/s; 199.4m/s; 2.53kg/s]
 Example 2
In the case of air flow in a conduit transition, the
pressure, velocity and temperature at the
upstream section are 35kN/m2, 30m/s and
150°C respectively. If at the downstream section
the velocity is 150m/s, determine the pressure
and the temperature if the process followed is
isentropic. Take  = 1.4, R=290J/kg/K
[32kPa; 139.4°C]