Chapter 3

Dynamics of Fluid Flow

The science which deals with the action of forces causing the motion of
the fluid is known as hydrokinetics or kinetics.
Types of Flow:

According to variation of velocity and other characteristics (pressure, density,

temperature etc.) of a moving fluid, the fluid flows may be classified as follows.
 Steady Flow and Unsteady Flow

Steady flow
The steady flow In which the fluid characteristics like density, pressure,
velocity at a point do not change with respect to time.
 ,,
Unsteady Flow:
The unsteady flow in which the fluid characteristics density, pressure, velocity
at a point changes with respect to time.
 ,,
 Uniform flow and Non Uniform flow

 The uniform flow is defined as the type of fluid in which the flow
parameters like density, pressure, velocity etc, at a given time do not
change with respect to space.
 ,
 The non-uniform flow is defines as the type of fluid in which the flow
parameters like density, pressure, velocity etc, at a given time change
with respect to space.
 ,,
 Laminar Flow and Turbulent flow

A flow is known as laminar flow when the fluid particles move in layers without
causing any interference to each other. Also, If the Reynold’s number is less than
2000, then the flow is said to be Laminar flow.

A flow is known as turbulent flow when the fluid particles does not have a definite
path and the individual particles moves in random fashion. Also, If the Reynold’s no.
is more than 4000, then the flow is said to be turbulent flow.
 Laminar Flow, Transitional flow and Turbulent flow
Laminar Flow
1. Re < 2000
2. 'low' velocity
3. Fluid particles move in
straight lines
4. Simple mathematical
analysis possible
5. Rare in practice in water
systems.
 Eg: Dye does not mix with
water
Transitional flow Turbulent flow
1. 2000 < Re < 4000
1. Re > 4000
2. 'medium' velocity
2. 'high' velocity
3. This flow is assumed
as turbulent in most 3. Particle paths completely irregular
practical cases. 4. Average motion is in the direction of the
flow
 Eg: Dye stream 5. Mathematical analysis very difficult - so
wavers in water - experimental measures are used.
mixes slightly.  Eg: Dye mixes rapidly and completely.
 Compressible & Incompressible flows:

 Compressible flow is the branch of fluid mechanics that deals with flows having
significant changes in fluid density. Generally, all gases are compressible in nature.

 Incompressible flow is the branch of fluid mechanics which refers the flow in which the
density is constant within a fluid. Generally, all liquids are incompressible in nature.

Rotational & Irrotational Flow

 Rotational flow: In which the fluid particles while flowing along stream lines, Also
rotate about their own axis.
 Irrotational flow: In which the fluid particles while flowing along stream lines, do not
rotate about their own axis.
 Principles of fluid flow:

There are three basic principles used in analyzing the problems of fluid flow. They are:
 1.Principle of conservation of mass
 2.Principle of conservation of energy
 3.Principle of conservation of momentum

Principle of conservation of mass:

 It states that, “mass can neither be created nor destroyed, but it may be converted from one form to
another”.
 Mass entering in to the system = mass leaving from the system
 This is true only if there is no additional or subtraction of mass into or from the system. The energy
equation is derived based on this principle.
Principle of conservation of Energy
It states that,” energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but it may be converted from one form to another” i.e., the
total energy in any one energy system remains constant. The energy equation is derived from this principle.
Example: Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy when water flows down in a vertical pipe.
Control volume:
To apply the above principles, control volume approach is adopted. Control volume is a definite volume (space) under
consideration with entry and exit chosen along the fluid passage.
Principle of conservation of momentum:
Principle of conservation of momentum: It states that, “the impulse of the resultant force, or the product of
the force and the increment in time during which it acts, is equal to the change in the momentum of the
body”. The momentum equation is derived from this principle.
 Equation of continuity of a fluid flow:
As per the law of conservation of mass,
Mass of fluid entering the fixed region = mass of fluid leaving the fixed region.

 For incompressible flow,

 Discharge of flowing fluid

The discharge of a flowing fluid through any passage is measured by the volume of the fluid flowing in
a specified time i.e., it is the quantity of fluid flowing per second through a section of a pipe or channel.
This is also known as rate of discharge or rate of flow or simply discharge. It is denoted by the letter
“Q” and it is expressed in m3/sec or liters/sec.
 Let a – cross section area of the pipe in m2
V – Average velocity of flow m/sec
Consider any cross section of pipe. A quantity of fluid equal to a cylinder length L and cross sectional
area of a m2 will pass through this section in one second.
Rate of discharge (Q) = Area * Average velocity of flow
Q=a*v m3/sec
This is known as theoretical discharge. The actual discharge will be less than the theoretical discharge
since there will be losses in actual practice.
 Problem 1
The diameter of the pipe at section 1 and 2 are 10cm and 15cm
respectively. Find the discharge through the pipe if the velocity of water
flowing through the pipe at Secion1 is 5m/s. Determine also, the velocity
at section 2.
 Problem 2

A 30cm diameter pipe, conveying water, branches into two pipes of

diameters 20cm and 15cm respectively. If the average velocity in the
30cm diameter pipe is 2.5m/s. find the discharge in this pipe. Also
determine the velocity in 15cm pipe if the average velocity in 20cm
diameter pipe is 2m/s.
 Problem 3

Water flows through a pipe AB 1.2m diameter at 3m/s and then passes
through a pipe BC 1.5m diameter. At C, the pipe branches. Branch CD
is 0.8m in diameter and carries one-third of the flow in AB. The flow
velocity in branch CE is 2.5m/s. Find the volume rate of flow in AB, the
velocity in BC, the velocity in CD and diameter of CE.
 Bernoulli’s equation for an Ideal fluid:
For a non-viscous, incompressible fluid in steady flow, the sum of Pressure,
potential and kinetic energies per unit weight is constant at any point. This is
called the Bernoulli Equation.
Assumptions
The following assumptions are made while applying Bernoulli’s equation to a
flow
1. The flow is ideal, ie, the viscosity is zero.
2. The flow is steady.
3. The flow is incompressible.
 The equation is,

Where,

= pressure energy per unit weight of fluid or pressure head

= kinetic energy per unit weight or kinetic head

Z = potential energy per unit weight or potential head

The Bernoulli’s equation at two sections 1 and 2 can be written as

Practical applications of Bernoulli’s equation:
 Bernoulli’s equation is applied in all problems of incompressible
fluid flow where energy considerations are involved. But we
shall consider its application to the following measuring devices.
1. Venturimeter
2. Orifice meter
3. Flow nozzles
4. Pitot tube
 Problem 4
 Through a refinery, fuel ethanol is flowing in a pipe at a velocity of 1 m/s and a pressure
of 101300 Pa. The refinery needs the ethanol to be at a pressure of 2 atm (202600 Pa) on
a lower level. How far must the pipe drop in height in order to achieve this pressure?
Assume the velocity does not change. (Hint: Use the Bernoulli equation. The density of
ethanol is 789 kg/m3 and gravity g is 9.8 m/s2.Pay attention to units!)

 Ans:-13.1m
Problem 5
 Water is flowing in a fire hose with a velocity of 1.0 m/s and a pressure of
200000 Pa. At the nozzle the pressure decreases to atmospheric pressure
(101300 Pa), there is no change in height. Use the Bernoulli equation to
calculate the velocity of the water exiting the nozzle. (Hint: The density of water
is 1000 kg/m3 and gravity g is 9.81 m/s2 . Pay attention to units!)]

 Ans:14 m/s
Problem 6
Water is flowing through a pipe having diameters 600 mm and 400 mm at the bottom
and upper end respectively. The intensity of pressure at the bottom end is 350 kN/m 2
and the pressure at upper end is 100 kN/m2. Determine the difference in datum head if
the rate of flow through the pipe is 60 liters/sec.
Problem 7:
Water flows in a circular pipe. At one section the diameter is 0.3 m, the static pressure
is 260 kPa gauge, the velocity is 3 m/s and the elevation is 10 m above ground level.
The elevation at a section downstream is 0 m, and the pipe diameter is 0.15 m. Find
out the gauge pressure at the downstream section.
Venturimeter:
 A venturimeter is a device used for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid flowing through a
pipe. Due to simplicity and dependability, the Venturi tube flow meter is often used in
applications where it's necessary with lower pressure drops, than the orifice plate can
provide. In the Venturi Tube, the fluid flow rate is measured by reducing the cross sectional
flow area in the flow path, generating a pressure difference. After the constricted area, the
fluid passes through a pressure recovery exit section, where up to 80% of the differential
pressure generated at the constricted area, is recovered.
It consists of three parts:
 1.A short converging part
 2.Throat
 3.Diverging part
Venturimeter
 Value of h is given by differential manometer
Case 1:
 Let the differential manometer
contains a liquid which is heavier
than the liquid flowing through the
pipe.
 Sh – Specific gravity of the heavier
liquid
 S0 - Specific gravity of the liquid
flowing through pipe
 x – Difference of the
heavier liquid column in U-tube
 Then,
Case 2 :
 If the differential manometer contains a liquid
which is lighter than the liquid flowing through
the pipe, the value of h is given by
 Sl – Specific gravity of the lighter liquid in U-
tube.
 S0 - Specific gravity of the liquid flowing
through pipe
 x – Difference of the heavier liquid column in
U-tube,
 Then,
Problem 8 :
A horizontal Venturimeter with inlet and throat diameters 300 mm and 150 mm
respectively is used to measure the flow of water. The reading of differential
manometer connected to the inlet and the throat is 20 cm of mercury. Determine
the rate of flow. Take Cd = 0.98.

Answer: 125.76 lit/s.

 Orifice-meter or Orifice plate:
 The orifice plates are simple and cheap. It consists of a flat circular plate which has
a circular sharp edged hole called orifice. Its accuracy is poor at low flow rates. An
orifice plate in good shape, with a sharp edge to the upstream side gives good
accuracy.
 a1 - Area of the section 1,
 P1 - pressure at section 1
 v1 - velocity of fluid at section
1

 a0 - Area of the orifice,

 P0 - pressure at orifice
Problem 9:
An orifice meter with orifice diameter 10 cm is inserted in a pipe of 20 cm
diameter. The pressure gauges fitted upstream and downstream of the orifice
meter gives readings of 19.62 N/cm2 and 9.81N/cm2 respectively. Coefficient of
discharge for the meter is given as 0.6. Find the discharge of water through pipe.
 Pitot static tube
 It is a device used for measuring the velocity of flow at
any point in a pipe or channel. It is based on the principle
that if the velocity of flow at a point becomes zero, the
pressure there is increased due to the conversion of the
kinetic energy into pressure energy. In its simplest form, it
consists of a glass tube, bent at right angles. The lower
end, which is bent through 90 º, is directed in the upstream
direction. The liquid rises up in the tube due to the
conversion of kinetic energy into pressure energy. The
velocity is determined by measuring the rise of liquid in
the tube. The use of the pitot tube is restricted to point
SCL
A horizontal Venturimeter with inlet diameter 200 mm and throat diameter
100 mm is used to measure the flow of water. The pressure at inlet is 0.18
N/mm2 and the vacuum pressure at the throat is 280 mm of mercury. Find
the rate of flow. The value of cd may be taken as 0.98