BT 208

FLUID FLOW OPERATIONS IN

BIOPROCESSING
by
Dr. Selvaraju Narayanasamy
Associate Professor
Biochemical and Environmental Engineering Laboratory,
Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
 Some basic terms…..
• Momentum transfer (mass x velocity)
• Heat transfer
• Mass transfer
• Rate = Driving force / resistance
• Flux = Rate / area
• Gradient
• In molecular transport processes concern with transfer or movement
of a given property or entity by molecular movement through a
system or medium which can be a fluid (gas or liquid) or a solid.

• Each molecule of a system has a given quantity of the property

mass, thermal energy, or momentum associated with it.

• When a difference of concentration of the property exists for any of

these properties from one region to an adjacent region, a net
transport of this property occurs.

• In dilute fluids such as gases where the molecules are relatively far
apart, the rate of transport of the property should be relatively fast
since few molecules are present to block the transport or interact

• In dense fluids such as liquids the molecules are close together and
transport or diffusion proceeds more slowly.

• The molecules in solids are even more close-packed than in liquids

and molecular migration is even more restricted.
 General molecular transport equation
• All three of the molecular transport processes of
momentum, heat or thermal energy, and mass are
characterized in the elementary sense by the same
general type of transport equation.
Driving Force
Rate of transfer process 
Resistance

• This states what is quite obvious – that we need a driving

force to overcome a resistance in order to transport a
property.

• We’ll be using FLUX also……

Driving Force
Flux of transfer process 
Resistance
• The kinetic theory of gases gives us a good physical
interpretation of the motion of individual molecules in fluids.

• Because of their kinetic energy the molecules are in rapid

random movement, often colliding with each other.

• Molecular transport of a property such as momentum, heat, or

mass occurs in a fluid because of these random movements of
individual molecules.

• Each individual molecule containing the property being

transferred moves randomly in all directions and there are
fluxes in all directions

• Hence, if there is a concentration gradient of the property, there

will be a net flux of the property from high to low concentration.

• This occurs because equal numbers of molecules diffuse in

each direction between the high-concentration and low
concentration regions.
 Momentum transport & Newton’s
law
Mometum Flux  Driving Force
dv
 Mometum Flux 
dx
dv
 
dx
dv
           Newton ' s law of vis cos ity
dx

  = shear stress or momentum flux

• = kg /m sec2 or N/m2
• v = velocity, (m/sec)
• x = distance (m)
  = viscosity (kg /m sec)
 Heat transfer & Fourier’s law
dT
 Heat Flux 
dx
q dT
 
A dx
q dT
 k      Fourier ' s law
A dx
• q = rate of heat transferred J/sec
• A = area (m2)
• k = thermal conductivity (W/m K)
• T = temperature (K)
• x = distance (m)
 Mass transport & Fick’s law
dC
 Mass Flux 
dx
dC
 J 
dx
dC
 JD    ( Fick ' s law of diffusion)
dx

• J = mass flux or mol flux (kg/m2 sec)

• C = concentration (kg/m3)
• x = distance (m)
• D = diffusivity (m2/sec)
Shear stress in a moving fluid
• Although there can be no shear stress in a fluid
at rest, shear stresses are developed when the
fluid is in motion, if the particles of the fluid move
relative to each other so that they have different
velocities, causing the original shape of the fluid
to become distorted.
• If, on the other hand, the velocity of the fluid is
same at every point, no shear stresses will be
produced, since the fluid particles are at rest
relative to each other.
Fluid shear between two parallel
plates
Newtonian & Non-Newtonian fluids
• It has been found that the Shear stress for flow of fluid is
directly proportional to the velocity gradient du
(velocity/distance).

dy
• Introduce the proportionality constant “viscosity”…
get “Newton’s law of viscosity”
we
du
 
dy
• This is an equation originally proposed by Newton and
which is obeyed by fluids such as water.
• However, for many of the actual fluids encountered in
the fermentation industry (in fact during process also…),
measurements show deviations from this simple
relationship, and lead towards a more general equation:

• k (du/dy)n

• which can be called the power-law equation, and where

k is a constant of proportionality.

• Where n = 1 the fluids are called Newtonian fluids

because they conform to Newton's equation and k = ;

• and all other fluids which don’t obey this relationship are
known as non-Newtonian fluids.
• All gases and most liquids which have simpler molecular formula
and low molecular weight such as water, benzene, ethyl alcohol,
CCl4, hexane and most solutions of simple molecules are Newtonian
fluids.

• Generally non-Newtonian fluids are complex mixtures: slurries,

pastes, gels, polymer solutions etc.,

• In many instances in practice non-Newtonian characteristics are

important, and they become obvious when materials that it is
thought ought to pump quite easily just do not.

• They get stuck in the pipes, or overload the pumps, or need

specially designed fittings before they can be moved.

• It is necessary to determine experimentally the rheological

properties of the material so that equipment and processes can be
adequately designed.
 Various non-Newtonian Behaviors
• Bingham-plastic: Resist a small shear stress but flow
easily under larger shear stresses. e.g. tooth-paste,
jellies, and some slurries.

• Pseudo-plastic: (n<1) Most non-Newtonian fluids fall into

this group. Viscosity decreases with increasing velocity
gradient. e.g. polymer solutions, blood.
– Pseudo-plastic fluids are also called as Shear
thinning fluids. At low shear rates (du/dy) the shear
thinning fluid is more viscous than the Newtonian
fluid, and at high shear rates it is less viscous.

• Dilatant fluids: (n>1) Viscosity increases with increasing

velocity gradient. They are uncommon, but suspensions
of starch and sand behave in this way.
– Dilatant fluids are also called as shear thickening
fluids.
 ENERGY LOSSES IN FLOW
• Energy losses can occur through friction in
pipes, bends and fittings, and in equipment
– Friction in Pipes
– Energy Losses in Bends and Fittings
– Pressure Drop through Equipment
– Calculation of Pressure Drops in Flow Systems
Friction losses in Pipes
 HAGEN-
POISEUILLE Eqn.
 m of
r for
ot he EN-
An HAG ILLE
I S EU
.
PO Eqn
 Maximum velocity…..
• We know, for laminar flow….. the average velocity
is given by, Hagen-Poiseuille's eqn….

P 1
• We know the velocity profile, ur  (R 2  r 2 )
L 4
• And @ r = 0…..ur = umax
PR 2
 u max 
4 L
u
  0.5
u max
 Prob 1
• A small capillary with an ID of 2.22x10 -3 m and a
length 0.317m is being used to continuously
measure the flow rate of a liquid having a
density of 875 kg/m3 and viscosity 1.3x10-3 Pa-s.
The pressure drop reading across the capillary
during flow is 0.0655m of water (density
996kg/m3). What is the flow rate?
• u = 0.275m/s
• Q = 1.066x10-6m3/s
• NRe = 473
 Prob 2
• A crude oil of viscosity 0.97P and relative
density 0.9 is flowing thro a horizontal
circular pipe of dia 100mm and of length
10m. Cal. the pressure difference at the
two ends of pipe, if 100kg of oil is collected
in a tank in 30s.
• u = 0.472 m/s
• NRe =437 (Laminar)…….so use HP eqn…
• ∆P = 1465 N/m2
A large artery in a dog has an inner radius of 4.0010-3 m. Blood flows
through the artery at the rate of 1.0010-6 m3.s-1. The blood has a
viscosity of 2.08410-3 Pa.s and a density of 1.06103 kg.m-3.

Calculate:
(i) The average blood velocity in the artery.
(ii) The pressure drop in a 0.100 m segment of the artery.
(iii) The Reynolds number for the blood flow.

Briefly discuss each of the following:

(iv) The velocity profile across the artery (diagram may be helpful).
(v) The pressure drop along the segment of the artery.
(vi) The significance of the value of the Reynolds number calculated in
part (iii).
Solution

radius R = 4.0010-3 m

volume flow rate Q = 1.0010-6 m3.s-1

viscosity of blood  = 2.08410-3 Pa.s

density of blood  = 1.060103 kg.m-3

 (i) Equation of continuity: Q = A v

A =  R2 =  (4.0010-3)2 = 5.0310-5 m2

v = Q / A = 1.0010-6 / 5.0310-5 m.s-1 = 1.9910-2

m.s-1

(ii) Poiseuille’s Equation

Q = P  R4 / (8  L) L = 0.100 m

P = 8  L Q / ( R4)

P = (8)(2.08410-3)(0.1)(1.0010-6) / {()(4.0010-3)4} Pa
P = 2.07 Pa

(iii) Reynolds Number

Re =  v L /  where L = 2 R (diameter of
artery)
Re = (1.060103)(1.9910-2)(2)(4.0010-3) / (2.08410-
3
)
Re = 81