ME2135

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

ME2135 – INTERMEDIATE FLUID MECHANICS

(Semester 2 : AY2017/2018)

Time Allowed : 2 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS:

1. Please write your student number only. Do not write your name.

2. This assessment paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises TEN (10) printed
pages.

3. Students are required to answer ALL questions.

4. Students should write the answers for each question on a new page.

5. This is a CLOSED BOOK ASSESSMENT. You are not allowed to bring in any
reference materials into the examination hall.

6. All questions carry equal marks.

7. Programmable calculators are NOT allowed for this assessment.

8. The Formulae Sheet on Pages 9 and 10 of this assessment paper may be useful for
answering Questions 1 and 2.
 PAGE 2 ME2135

QUESTION 1

(a) The front and side views of a centrifugal impeller rotating at ω = 1500 rpm for pumping
water are shown in Figure 1, where the symbols have their usual meaning. Stations 1
and 2 correspond to the inlet and outlet of the impeller, respectively. The impeller has
blade heights b 1 = b 2 = 0.03 m, and radii r 1 = 0.2 m, r 2 = 0.35 m. The blade angles are
β 1 = 30°, β 2 = 40°. The impeller is surrounded by stationary guide vanes with a uniform
blade height of b 3 = 0.03 m. Assume negligible losses, and the design conditions of
whirl-free and shock-free flow. Determine the following quantities:

(i) The volume flow rate through the impeller;

(ii) The theoretical (Euler) head;

(iii) The blade angle β 3 at the inlet of the stationary guide vanes, assuming shock-
free entry.

Figure 1
(13 marks)
 PAGE 3 ME2135

(b) As shown in Figure 2, an inventor proposes to replace the stationary guide vanes in
Figure 1 with a second, outer impeller rotating at an angular velocity ω = 500 rpm in
the opposite direction to that of the inner impeller. Stations 3 and 4 correspond to the
inlet and outlet of the outer impeller, respectively. The outer impeller has blade heights
b 3 = b 4 = 0.03 m, and radii r 3 = 0.4 m, r 4 = 0.6 m. The blade angles of the outer impeller
are β 3 and β 4 . Assume negligible losses, and the design conditions of shock-free flow.
Assume that the flow angle remains constant between Stations 2 and 3. The flow
leaving the outer impeller has an absolute velocity along the radial direction with zero
swirl. Determine the following quantities:

(i) The blade angle β 3 at the inlet of the outer impeller;

(ii) The blade angle β 4 at the outlet of the outer impeller;

(iii) The theoretical (Euler) head for the outer impeller.

Figure 2

(12 marks)
 PAGE 4 ME2135

QUESTION 2

(a) As shown in Figure 3, a spiral vortex is represented by the superposition of a source of

strength q and an irrotational (free) vortex of circulation Γ, both centered at the origin
O. At a radial distance r from O, the radial and tangential components of the velocity
are u’ and v’, respectively. The magnitude of the resultant velocity is V, and it makes
an angle of α with respect to the tangential direction. Ignore the effects of gravity.

(i) Express u’, v’, V and α in terms of q, Γ and r.

(ii) Determine the pressure difference between the points (1, 0) and (0, 2), assuming
q = 100 m2/s and Γ = 200 m2/s. Assume that the fluid density is 1 kg/m3.

(iii) Evaluate the volume flow rate across a straight line joining the two points (1, 0)
and (0, 2), assuming q = 100 m2/s and Γ = 200 m2/s.

Figure 3
(13 marks)
 PAGE 5 ME2135

(b) The centers of the source and vortex are now placed at a height h above a solid
horizontal wall, as shown in Figure 4. Assume that q = 100 m2/s, Γ = 200 m2/s and h =
1 m. Neglect the effects of gravity.

(i) Determine the location of the stagnation point along the wall.

(ii) Determine the location of the point along the wall where the pressure is
minimum.

Figure 4

(12 marks)
 PAGE 6 ME2135

QUESTION 3

You can find five statements below. Write whether the statements are true or false in your
answer booklet — no explanation is necessary. Leave a blank line if you are not certain.

(a) This is the Navier-Stokes equation for isothermal, incompressible flow:

𝐷𝐷𝐕𝐕
𝜌𝜌 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = −𝛻𝛻𝛻𝛻 + 𝜇𝜇𝛻𝛻 2 𝐕𝐕;

here, 𝜌𝜌 is the density, 𝜇𝜇 is the dynamic viscosity, t is the time, V is the velocity, and 𝑃𝑃
is the pressure.

(b) The stress tensor can be written as follows:

𝜏𝜏𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 𝜏𝜏𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 𝜏𝜏𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
𝛕𝛕 = 𝜇𝜇(∇𝐕𝐕 + (∇𝐕𝐕)T ) = �𝜏𝜏𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 𝜏𝜏𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 𝜏𝜏𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 �.
𝜏𝜏𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 𝜏𝜏𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧 𝜏𝜏𝑧𝑧𝑧𝑧

(c) We can write

𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢

𝐕𝐕𝐕𝐕 = � 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 �,
𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤
where 𝐕𝐕 = (𝑢𝑢, 𝑣𝑣, 𝑤𝑤).

(d) The following velocity field is incompressible:

𝐕𝐕 = (𝑢𝑢, 𝑣𝑣) = (𝑎𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑎2 𝑦𝑦 + 𝑎𝑎3 𝑥𝑥)𝐞𝐞x + (𝑏𝑏1 + 𝑏𝑏2 𝑦𝑦)𝐞𝐞y ,

where 𝑎𝑎1 = 𝑏𝑏1 = 3.0 𝑚𝑚 s −1 ; 𝑎𝑎2 = 1.5 s −1 ; 𝑎𝑎3 = 0.5 s −1 ; 𝑏𝑏2 = −0.5 s −1 .

(e) At a given x-location, the higher the Reynolds number, the thinner the boundary layer.
(25 marks)
 PAGE 7 ME2135

QUESTION 4

You are working on a radial flow-field design for fuel cells that should hopefully improve
overall performance compared to serpentine flow fields. In Figure 5, you can find the schematic
of a radial low-temperature fuel cell with varying amounts of channels.

Figure 5. Schematic of a radial low-temperature fuel cell with (a) four channels, (b)
eight channels, and (c) twelve channels. (Source: S. Cano-Andrade et al./Energy 35
(2010) 920-927.)

In short, the design you are working on is based on radial flow outward between two disks with
only one channel, as illustrated in Figure 6.

(a) Fluid in (b)

Radial flow outward

between disks

r = r1 r = r2

Figure 6. Radial flow outward between two disks.

Calculate the velocity field for the radial flow between the two parallel disks in Figure 6. The
flow is driven by a pressure difference, 𝑃𝑃1 − 𝑃𝑃2 , between the inner, 𝑟𝑟1, and outer radii, 𝑟𝑟2 , of
the disks.
(25 marks)
 PAGE 8 ME2135

The continuity and Navier-Stokes equations for isothermal, incompressible and laminar flow
are as follows in Cartesian and cylinder coordinates respectively:

𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

+ + =0
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢

𝜌𝜌 � + 𝑢𝑢 + 𝑣𝑣 + 𝑤𝑤 � = − + 𝜌𝜌𝑔𝑔𝑥𝑥 + 𝜇𝜇 � 2 + 2 + 2 �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧

𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑣𝑣 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑣𝑣 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑣𝑣

𝜌𝜌 � + 𝑢𝑢 + 𝑣𝑣 + 𝑤𝑤 � = − + 𝜌𝜌𝑔𝑔𝑦𝑦 + 𝜇𝜇 � 2 + 2 + 2 �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧

𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑤𝑤 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑤𝑤 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑤𝑤

𝜌𝜌 � + 𝑢𝑢 + 𝑣𝑣 + 𝑤𝑤 �=− + 𝜌𝜌𝑔𝑔𝑧𝑧 + 𝜇𝜇 � 2 + + �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑥𝑥 𝜕𝜕𝑦𝑦 2 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧 2

1 𝜕𝜕(𝑟𝑟𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 ) 1 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧

+ + =0
𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 2 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟

𝜌𝜌 � + 𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 + − + 𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕 1 𝜕𝜕(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟 ) 1 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 2 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟

=− + 𝜌𝜌𝑔𝑔𝑟𝑟 + 𝜇𝜇 � � �+ 2 − + �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜃𝜃 2 𝑟𝑟 2 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧 2

𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃

𝜌𝜌 � + 𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 + + + 𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕

1 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕 1 𝜕𝜕(𝑟𝑟𝑟𝑟𝜃𝜃 ) 1 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 2 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃

=− + 𝜌𝜌𝑔𝑔𝜃𝜃 + 𝜇𝜇 � � �+ 2 + + �
𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜃𝜃 2 𝑟𝑟 2 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧 2

𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 𝑢𝑢𝜃𝜃 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧

𝜌𝜌 � + 𝑢𝑢𝑟𝑟 + + 𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧

𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 1 𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 1 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧 𝜕𝜕 2 𝑢𝑢𝑧𝑧

=− + 𝜌𝜌𝑔𝑔𝑧𝑧 + 𝜇𝜇 � �𝑟𝑟 �+ 2 + �
𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝜕𝜕𝜕𝜕 𝑟𝑟 𝜕𝜕𝜃𝜃 2 𝜕𝜕𝑧𝑧 2
 PAGE 9 ME2135

Formula Sheet (Part 1)

TURBOMACHINERY
Ideal Centrifugal Impeller:

Torque: T= m&( r2Vt 2 − r1Vt1=

) ρ Q ( r2Vt 2 − r1Vt1 )
Power: Tω =
P= ρ Q ( r2ωVt 2 − r1ωVt1 ) =
ρ Q ( ub 2Vt 2 − ub1Vt1 )
P u V −u V
Euler Head: ∆H = H e == b 2 t 2 b1 t1
ρ Qg g
Mass Conservation: = Q (= 2π r1b1 )Vn1 ( 2π r2b2 )Vn 2
Velocity Triangle: V=t 2 ub 2 − Vn 2 cot β 2
Pump Dimensionless Parameters:
Q gH Ps ρ ND 2 ρ gQH
CQ = ; CH = ; CP = ; Re = ;η=
ND 3 2 2
N D ρN D
3 5 µ PS

NQ1 2 CQ1 2 *1 2
CQ
Pump Specific Speed:=NS = =
( gH )3 4 CH 3 4
BEP
*34
CH
BEP
Typical values:
• 0.2 < N S < 1.5  Centrifugal pump
• 1.5 < N S < 3.5 Mixed-flow pump
• N S > 3.5  Axial-flow pump
Available Net Positive Suction Head:
(s)
NPSH A = hatm − hsuc − h f − hvap
To avoid cavitation: NPSH A ≥ NPSH R
System Head: H sys =∆z + h f =∆z + KQ 2
p V2
Bernoulli Head: H= +z+
ρg 2g
p1 V2 p V2
Energy Equation: H1 + H P = H 2 + h f ⇒ + z1 + 1 + H P = 2 + z2 + 2 + h f
ρg 2g ρg 2g
fL V 2
Major Losses: hf = (Darcy-Weisbach Equation)
d 2g
Laminar flow (Re < 2300): f = φ ( Re
= ) ; f 64 =/ Re 64 µ ( ρVd )

 ε 1  6.9  ε d 1.11 
Turbulent flow: f = φ  Re,  ; =−1.8log  +  
 d f  Re  3.7  
ε  1 ε d 
Fully-turbulent flow regime: f =φ  = −2.0 log  
d  f  3.7 
V2
Minor Losses: hf = K
2g
 PAGE 10 ME2135

POTENTIAL FLOW
∂v ∂u 1  ∂ ( rv ') ∂u ' 
Vorticity: ζ
= − =
(Cartesian) ζ  −  (Polar) ζ = 2ω
∂x ∂y r  ∂r ∂θ 
r r  ∂v ∂u 
Circulation: =Γ i∫ V ⋅ ds
= i∫ udx + vdy = ∫∫ ζ dxdy
= ∫∫  −  dxdy
∂x ∂y 
C C A A
Continuity Equation for 2D Incompressible Flow:
∂u ∂v ∂ ∂
+ =0 (Cartesian) ( ru ') + ( v ') = 0 (Polar)
∂x ∂y ∂r ∂θ
∂ψ ∂φ ∂ψ ∂φ 1 ∂ψ ∂φ ∂ψ 1 ∂φ
Velocity Components:= u = ; v=− =;= u' = ; v' =
− =
∂y ∂x ∂x ∂y r ∂θ ∂r ∂r r ∂θ
Volume Flowrate: =q ψ 2 −ψ 1 Streamlines: Lines of constant stream function ψ
Laplace’s Equation for Stream Function ψ and Potential Function φ:
∂ 2ψ ∂ 2ψ ∂  ∂ψ  ∂  1 ∂ψ  ∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ ∂  ∂φ  ∂  1 ∂φ 
+ =
0; r +   =
0 ; + =
0; r +  =0
∂x 2 ∂y 2 ∂r  ∂r  ∂θ  r ∂θ  ∂x 2
∂y 2 ∂r  ∂r  ∂θ  r ∂θ 
=
Uniform Flow (magnitude W, angle α): ψ W ( y cos α − x sin
= α ) ; φ W ( x cos α + y sin α )
q q q
Source (q > 0) or Sink (q < 0) of Strength q: ψ = θ; φ= ln r ; u ' = ; v' = 0
2π 2π 2π r
Γ Γ Γ
Free or Irrotational Vortex: ψ = − ln r ; φ = θ ; u' = 0; v' =
2π 2π 2π r
Half-Rankine Body:
q  y
ψ= −Uy + tan −1   [Uniform flow (right to left) + Source at origin]
2π x
q q q
x= (x-intercept); y = ± (y-intercept); y → ± (horizontal asymptotes)
2π U 4U 2U
q  2 sy 
Source-Sink Pair: ψ = tan −1 
 x 2 + y 2 − s 2 
[Source on right + Sink on left]
2π  
Full-Rankine Body: (Uniform flow + Source-Sink Pair)
−1   L  q 12
q 2 sy  H  π π UH   π UH 
ψ= −Uy + tan  =;  + 1 ; = tan  −  = cot  
2π  x + y − s  s  π Us 
2 2 2 s 2 q   q 
 
µ  sin θ  µ  y 
Doublet: = ψ =     ; µ = 2sq
2π  r  2π  x 2 + y 2 
Irrotational Flow Past Stationary Circular Cylinder of radius a: (Uniform flow + Doublet)
 a2  qs p − p∞
ψ= −Ur sin θ 1 −  ; a= , Cp = θ = 1 − 4sin 2 θ ; L = 0; D=0
 r 
2 πU 0.5 ρU 2

Irrotational Flow Past Rotating Circular Cylinder of radius a: (Uniform flow + Doublet +
Free Vortex)
 a2  Γ  r 
ψ= −Ur sin θ 1 − − L= ρΓU (per unit length) ;
 r 2  2π  a 
ln ; D=0
 
- END OF PAPER -