PRINCIPLES

OF FLUID
FLOW
CLASSIFICATIONS
OF FLUID FLOW
VISCOUS AND
INVISCID
FLOW
VISCOUS FLOW – Flow in which
frictional effects are significant

INVISCID FLOW – Flow in areas where

viscous forces are negligibly small
compared to inertial/pressure forces
EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL
FLOW
EXTERNAL FLOW – Flow of unbounded fluid over a
surface
 EXTERNAL AND
INTERNAL
FLOW
INTERNAL FLOW – Flow bounded by a surface ex. Pipes,
ducts, conduits
Flow of liquid in ducts that are partially filled and has a free
surface are called open channel flow
*Internal flow are dominated by the influences of viscosity
COMPRESSIBLE
AND INCOMPRESSIBLE
FLOW
INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOW – Flow in the density
of the fluid is nearly/virtually constant
throughout. This is the case for liquids

COMPRESSIBLE FLOW – Density of the fluid is

not constant. Gases are highly
compressible fluids
THE MACH
NUMBER
Modelling gas flows as
incompressible depends on the
Mach Number Ma = 1; Sonic
Speed of flow
Ma Ma > 1;
Speed of Sound
= Supersonic Ma>>1
; Hypersonic Ma <
1 ; Subsonic
Gas flows can be approximated as incompressible
when density changes are less than 5% typically
when Ma < 0.3
NATURAL AND
FORCED
FLOW
NATURAL FLOW – Flow is due to natural means
ex. Buoyancy effect, convection
FORCED FLOW– Fluid is
forced to flow thru
external means such
as mechanical
equipment such as a
pump or fan
LAMINAR AND TURBULENT
FLOW
LAMINAR - Paths of the individual particles moves
in parallel “layers” or do not cross or intersect.
LAMINAR AND TURBULENT
FLOW
TURBULENT - When the path lines are irregular
curves which continually cross each other
LAMINAR AND TURBULENT
FLOW
TRANSITIONAL - Flow conditions that
alternates between laminar and turbulent
conditions
LAMINAR AND TURBULENT
FLOW
A key parameter used to determine whether the flow
can be described Laminar, Turbulent, or Transitional is
the dimensionless parameter called the
REYNOLDS NUMBER
SOME IMPORTANT TERMS
STEADY implies no change in properties, velocity,
temperature, etc… at a point in time and the opposite
to that is UNSTEADY

UNIFORM implies no change with location over a

specified region

TRANSIENT is typically used to describe developing

properties

PERIODIC refers to something that repeats/oscillates

about a steady mean
STEADY FLOW
Mass flowrate at the inlet equals the mass
flow rate at the exit

UNIFORM FLOW
Average velocity at every cross-section is
the same
STEADY AND NON-UNIFORM
FLOW
Q = Discharge (volume per unit
time)

A = Cross-sectional area of the

stream V = mean velocity
CONTINUITY EQUATION
 ENERGY,
HEAD, AND
BERNOULLI’S
EQUATION
ENERG
Y
TOTAL
MECHANICAL
ENERGY

Total Energy
(Mechanical
Energy) = PE + KE
+ FE
HEA
D
It is often convenient to refer to
mechanical energy graphically using
heights for easier visualization
STATIC, DYNAMIC, and
STAGNATION PRESSURES
BERNOULLI’S ENERGY
THEOREM
Stated by the mathematician Daniel
Bernoulli
“The sum of the flow energy (pressure head), kinetic
energy (velocity head), and potential energy
(elevation) along a streamline is constant during steady
flow when compressibility and frictional effects are
negligible”
BERNOULLI’S ENERGY
THEOREM 2
D2

1
D1 z2

z1

*Assuming no losses from 1 

2
DATUM LINE
 BERNOULLI’S ENERGY
THEOREM 2
(w/ Losses)
D2
H
1
L
D1 z2

z1

DATUM LINE

If energy is conserved then;

BERNOULLI’S
THEOREM

1) Select a datum plane for each equation written.

2) For pressure head, gage are simpler and will be used for liquids.
Absolute pressure head units must be used where specific weight is
not constant.

3) If a section is exposed to atmosphere, then the pressure at

that section is zero. (1 atmgage = 0)

4) If the surface area of the reservoir is large relative to the area of

the opening and if h is constant, the velocity can be considered
zero
MECHANICAL
WORK
 PE1 KE1 PE2 KE2
FE1 FE2
1 2

PUMP TURBIN
E
+ Eadd pump
PE1 + KE1 + = PE2 + KE2 +
- Eextracted turbine
FE1 FE2
TYPICAL PUMP INSTALLATION
TYPICAL TURBINE
INSTALLATION
THEORETICAL
POWER
P=Q ɤH
Q = flowrate
*note that ɤ&H fluid should
For match
Pumps:
P = Pump power
H = Head added -> Total Dynamic
Head

For Turbines

P = Water power
H = Head given up -> Effective Head
MECHANICAL POWER:
PUMPS
MECHANICAL ENERGY AND
EFFECIENCY

Mechanical Equipment are

Subjected to Inefficiencies

This document contains proprietary and confidential information of University of Santo Tomas, Mechanical Engineering Department. The
information is for the sole use of the intended addressee(s) only and used specifically and exclusively for the furtherance of Lecture
ENG2018. Please be aware that any disclosure, re-print, copy, distribution or use of the content of this document, other than for the
class ENG2018, is strictly prohibited
A liquid of specific gravity 1.75 flows in a 6 cm.
horizontal pipe. The total energy at a certain point in
the flow is 80 J/N. The elevation of the pipe above a
fixed datum is 2.6m. If the pressure at the specific
point is 75 KPa.
(a) Determine the velocity of the flow.
(b) Determine the discharge
(c) Determine the power available at the specified
point in watts.
Solution:
If the velocity of water is 8 m/s and the pressure is 140 KPa on the
discharge side of a pump.
🞇 What is the head of the pump if the velocity is 4m/s and the
pressure is 90 KPa on the suction side of the pump?
🞇 How much power is required to drive it if the diameter of the
suction is 600mm?
🞇 If the pump is rated at 120 Hp, what is the efficiency of the
pump neglecting energy losses in the system?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pz_y2uOefc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Dy3T_XQTQ
FLOW OF
VISCOUS FLUID
IN A PIPE
LOSSES IN PIPE
FLOW
MAJOR LOSSES

- Due to friction in the length of the pipes

MINOR LOSSES

-Due to the fluid passing through various components, bends,

tees, and the like

Note: In general, major losses are higher than minor losses but there are
cases in which the minor losses are greater.

For example this exists in cases where there are several turns and valves
in a short distances
The nature of the flow in a pipe depends on
the
dimensionless parameter
Reynolds Number NR or
Re
For flow through noncircular pipes, the
Reynolds number is based on the hydraulic
diameter Dh.
Darcy – Weisbach Equation:

ƒ – friction factor

L – length of straight pipe

D – actual internal diameter (hydraulic diameter for non circular pipe)

V – average velocity of the fluid

FRICTION FACTOR

FOR LAMINAR
FLOW
FRICTION
FACTOR

FOR TURBULENT
FLOW
Approximate
formula:
LOSS
COEFFICIENTS
GLOBE
VALVES
GATE VALVES
CHECK
VALVES
 LOSSES IN ENTRANCS, EXITS,
CONTRACTIONS AND
EXPANSIONS
EQUIVALENT LENGTH
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: BOOK

Water is pumped from a lake to a storage tank 18 m above

at a rate of 70 L/s while consuming 20.4 kW of electric
power. The top of the tank is open to the atmosphere.
Disregarding any frictional losses in the pipes and any
changes in kinetic energy, determine
a. The overall efficiency of the pump–motor unit
b.The pressure difference between the inlet and the exit of
the pump.

Answer:
Efficiency=
60.6%
ΔP = 177
kPa

This document contains proprietary and confidential information of University of Santo Tomas, Mechanical Engineering Department. The
information is for the sole use of the intended addressee(s) only and used specifically and exclusively for the furtherance of Lecture
ENG2018. Please be aware that any disclosure, re-print, copy, distribution or use of the content of this document, other than for the
class ENG2018, is strictly prohibited
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: BOOK

Note: Q = (Volume Flow Rate)

∆E = P (Change in mechanical energy or
Pump Power)
P=QH=Q z
∆p = Pressure Difference

This document contains proprietary and confidential information of University of Santo Tomas, Mechanical Engineering Department. The
information is for the sole use of the intended addressee(s) only and used specifically and exclusively for the furtherance of Lecture
ENG2018. Please be aware that any disclosure, re-print, copy, distribution or use of the content of this document, other than for the
class ENG2018, is strictly prohibited
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: BOOK

∆p =

∆p = or 176.58 kPa

Note: Q = (Volume Flow Rate)

Note: ∆E = P (Change in mechanical energy or
Pump Power)
You can also use ∆p = P=QH=Q z
∆p = Pressure Difference

This document contains proprietary and confidential information of University of Santo Tomas, Mechanical Engineering Department. The
information is for the sole use of the intended addressee(s) only and used specifically and exclusively for the furtherance of Lecture
ENG2018. Please be aware that any disclosure, re-print, copy, distribution or use of the content of this document, other than for the
class ENG2018, is strictly prohibited
SAMPLE PROBLEMS: BOOK
Water is flowing from a garden hose. A child places
his thumb to cover most of the hose outlet, causing
a thin jet of high-speed water to emerge. The
pressure in the hose just upstream of his thumb is
400 kPa. If the hose is held upward, what is the
maximum height that the jet could achieve?

Answer:
40.8 m

This document contains proprietary and confidential information of University of Santo Tomas, Mechanical Engineering Department. The
information is for the sole use of the intended addressee(s) only and used specifically and exclusively for the furtherance of Lecture
ENG2018. Please be aware that any disclosure, re-print, copy, distribution or use of the content of this document, other than for the
class ENG2018, is strictly prohibited
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
A large tank open to the atmosphere is filled with
water to a height of 5 m from the outlet tap. A tap
near the bottom of the tank is now opened, and
water flows out from the smooth and rounded
outlet. Determine the maximum water velocity at
the outlet.
Answer:
9.9 m/s

This document contains proprietary and confidential information of University of Santo Tomas, Mechanical Engineering Department. The
information is for the sole use of the intended addressee(s) only and used specifically and exclusively for the furtherance of Lecture
ENG2018. Please be aware that any disclosure, re-print, copy, distribution or use of the content of this document, other than for the
class ENG2018, is strictly prohibited