Stagnation Properties

The isentropic Stagnation State is defined as

the state a fluid in motion would reach if it
were brought to rest isentropically in steady
flow, adiabatic, zero work output device.
This is a reference state in compressible fluid
flow and is commonly designated with the
subscript zero. The stagnation enthalpy ho
(see figure) is related to the enthalpy and 
velocity of the moving fluid by 
𝑉 𝑉
ℎ ℎ or ℎ ℎ
2 2
For an ideal gas, 𝑐 𝑇 𝑇 ⇒ 𝑇 𝑇 ⇒ 1 ‐‐‐‐ (A)
The properties without subscript denote static properties. 
Since 𝑐 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚: 𝑐 𝑐 𝑅 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐 ⁄𝑐 𝛾
𝑉
𝐶 𝛾𝑅𝑇, 𝑀
𝐶

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 𝑀
Therefore, 

(A) =>  1 =1+  𝑀 (i)

Now  

𝑃 𝛾 1 (ii)
1 𝑀
𝑃 2

𝜌 𝛾 1 (iii)
1 𝑀
𝜌 2

These are the relationships of 
stagnation properties  of isentropic 
𝑇 𝑣 𝜌
flow of an ideal gas with the static 
𝑇 𝑣 𝜌 properties and specific heat ratio γ, 
and Mach Number M.
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Variation of Fluid Velocity with Flow Area: Or Subsonic and Supersonic Nozzles)
The relationship among velocity, density and flow areas of isentropic duct flow is very 
complex.  A relationship can be develop for the variation of static to stagnation property 
ratios with Mach number for pressure temperature and density. 
For Steady, adiabatic flow through the nozzel, q = 0 , w = 0 and P.E = 0 , then steady
flow energy equation gives

𝑉
ℎ ℎ
2
Since stagnation enthalpy does not change,
𝑉
ℎ 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
2 For an isentropic flow ds=0, 
Differentiating we get,  Therefore, 

𝑑ℎ 𝑉𝑑𝑉 0 𝑖 𝑑ℎ 𝑣𝑑𝑃
𝑑𝑃
We know from thermodynamics that,  𝑑ℎ 0 𝑖𝑖
𝜌
From equation (i)
𝑑ℎ 𝑇𝑑𝑠 𝑣𝑑𝑃
𝑑𝑃
𝑉𝑑𝑉 0 𝑖𝑖𝑖
𝜌 16
 Also from equation (iii)    Using (iii) and (iv) we get, 

𝑑𝑃 𝜌𝑉𝑑𝑉
𝑑𝑃
0 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑃 𝑑𝜌 𝜌𝑉
𝑑𝑉
1 .
As pressure decreases, velocity increases, and 𝐴 𝜌𝑉 𝜌 𝑑𝑃
vice versa.
The continuity equation gives
𝑚 𝜌𝐴𝑉 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
Taking ln (log) on both sides
ln 𝑚 ln 𝜌𝐴𝑉 ln 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑃 𝑉
1
ln 𝜌 𝑙𝑛𝐴 𝑙𝑛𝑉 ln 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝐴 𝜌𝑉 𝐶

Differentiating both sides, 𝑉
𝐴𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑀
𝑑𝜌 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑉 𝐶
0 𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑃
𝜌 𝐴 𝑉 1 𝑀 𝑣
𝐴 𝜌𝑉
𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝜌
𝑖𝑣
𝐴 𝑉 𝜌
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 From Equation (iii) 𝜌𝑉 substitute in equation (v)

𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑃 𝑑𝑉
𝑣 ⇒ 1 𝑀 1 𝑀
𝐴 𝑑𝑃 𝑉
.𝑉
𝑑𝑉
𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑉
𝑀 1 𝑣𝑖
𝐴 𝑉
This equation governs the shape of a nozzle or a diffuser in subsonic or supersonic isentropic
flow. Noting that A and V are positive quantities, we conclude the following:

When M < 1, i.e., the inlet velocity is subsonic, as now area A decreases, the
pressure decreases and velocity increases, and when flow area A increases,
pressure increases and velocity decreases. So for subsonic flow, a convergent
passage becomes a nozzle (Fig. 17.4a) and a divergent passage becomes
a diffuser (Fig. 17.4b).

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When M > 1, i.e., when the inlet velocity is supersonic, as now area A decreases,
pressure increases and velocity decreases, and as flow area A increases,
pressure decreases and velocity in creases. So for supersonic flow, a convergent
passage is a diffuser (Fig. 17.4c) and a divergent passage is a nozzle (Fig.
17.4d).

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Variation of Fluid Velocity with Flow Area:

FIGURE 17–17
Variation of flow properties
in subsonic and supersonic nozzles
and diffusers.
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Critical Pressure ratio and Choked Flow

Let us consider isentropic flow  of ideal 
gas through a convergent – divergent 
nozzle.
The mass flow rate per unit area is given by,

𝐴𝑠 𝐶 𝛾𝑅𝑇 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜌

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22
Since 𝑃 , 𝑇 , 𝛾 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑜 𝑚/𝐴 is a function of Mach number only.
There is a particular value of M when 𝑚/𝐴 is a maximum.

Differentiating equation (v) with respect to M and equating  it to zero to find the maximum 
value of M

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24
𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑉
𝑀 1 𝑣𝑖 7 12
𝐴 𝑉

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 Substituting M=1 in the following equations,
dA =0, or A=constant, So 
𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑃 M=1 occurs only at the 
1 𝑀 𝑣
𝐴 𝜌𝑉 throat and nowhere else, 
and this happens only when 
𝑑𝐴 𝑑𝑉 the discharge is maximum.
𝑀 1 𝑣𝑖
𝐴 𝑉
If the convergent-divergent duct acts as a nozzle, in the divergent part also, the pressure will
fall continuously to yield a continuous rise in velocity . In other words , 𝑉 𝑚⁄𝜌𝐴, for a
certain mass flow rate with the decrease of pressure, density decrease at a rate faster than
the rate at which area increases, as a result of which velocity continues to increase. This is
true only for a compressible fluid.
The velocity of the gas is subsonic before the throat, becomes sonic at the throat, and then
supersonic till its exit, provided the exhaust pressure is low enough. The reverse situation
prevails when the inlet velocity is supersonic. The whole duct then becomes a diffuser for
an incompressible fluid, the convergent-divergent duct acts as a venturi, with the convergent
part acting as the nozzle and the divergent part acting as the diffuser. The maximum limiting
speed of such a fluid is the sonic velocity.
When M=1 occurs at the throat, the discharge is maximum and the nozzle is said to be
choked. It is incapable of allowing more discharge even with further decrease in exhaust
pressure. This discharge is know as critical discharge and the properties at the throat under
this condition are called critical properties designated by superscript asterisks (*).
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By putting M=1 in equation (i), (ii) and (iii) we get critical properties (*).

Density, (ρ)

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Nozzle Efficiency

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Effect of Back Pressure in Convergent Nozzle:
• The pressure at the exits of nozzle is called back pressure
i.e the pressure applied at the nozzle discharge region.
• The nozzle inlet is attached to a reservoir at pressure Pr
and temperature Tr.
• The reservoir is sufficiently large so that the nozzle inlet
velocity is negligible
• Since the fluid velocity in the reservoir is zero and the
flow through the nozzle is approximated as isentropic, the
stagnation pressure and stagnation temperature of the
fluid at any cross section through the nozzle are equal to
the reservoir pressure and temperature, respectively
• If the back pressure Pb is equal to P1, which is equal to Pr
,there is no flow
• When the back pressure is reduced to P2, the exit plane
pressure Pe also drops to P2
• When the back pressure is reduced to P3 (= P*, which is
the pressure required to increase the fluid velocity to the
speed of sound at the exit plane or throat), the mass flow
reaches a maximum value and the flow is said to be
choked.
• Further reduction of the back pressure to level P4 or below
does not result in additional changes in the pressure
distribution, or anything else along the nozzle length.
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Effect of Back Pressure in Convergent Nozzle:

• A plot of m. versus Pb/P0 for a converging

nozzle is shown in Fig. 17–21.
• Notice that the mass flow rate increases with
decreasing Pb/P0 , reaches a maximum at P =
P*, and remains constant for Pb/P0 values less
than this critical ratio. Also illustrated on this
figure is the effect of back pressure on the
nozzle exit pressure Pe.
• For all back pressures lower than the critical
pressure P*,the pressure at the exit plane of the
converging nozzle Pe is equal to P*, the Mach
number at the exit plane is unity, and the mass
flow rate is the maximum (or choked) flow rate.
Because the velocity of the flow is sonic at the
throat for the maximum flow rate, a back
pressure lower than the critical pressure cannot
be sensed in the nozzle upstream flow and does
not affect the flow rate.

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Choked Flow:
When nozzle operates with maximum mass flow it is
said to be choked. When the mass flow through nozzle
reaches maximum value and there will be no effect on
flow rate even on reduction of back pressure. This
flow is known as choked flow. Mass flow rate through
a nozzle will be maximum when M=1 at throat.
Critical Pressure:
The pressure of fluid at a location in the nozzle where
M=1(at throat) is called critical pressure.

Points to remember
• For subsonic flow (M<1) a convergent passage becomes a nozzle and a divergent becomes
a diffuser.
• For supersonic flow (M>1) convergent passage becomes a diffuser and a divergent
passage becomes a nozzle.
• Maximum Mach No. which can be achieved in a convergent nozzle is 1. We can change it
only if we increase the area i.e. to convert the passage from convergent to divergent.
• The properties at throat of a convergent-divergent nozzle only be called critical properties
if Mach No. at throat is 1.
• There is one value of the ratio P2/P1 which produces maximum discharge from nozzle.
Where P2/P1 is known as critical pressure ratio.
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