ChE435 – Momentum Transfer

Examples
(Fluid flow phenomena, Boundary Layer theory, Newton’s law of viscosity, cavitation)

1. Water is moving through the pipe. The velocity profile at some section is shown is shown below and
   d 
2

mathematically expressed as v   
.  r 2 
 4.u   4  where v = velocity of water at any position r, beta is a

constant, u =viscosity, d = pipe diameter and r= radial distance from centerline.

a. What is the shear stress at the wall of the pipe due to water?
b. What is the shear stress at position r = d/4
c. If the profile persists a distance L along the pipe, what drag is induced on the pipe by the water in the
direction of flow over this distance?


2. For a laminar flow through the circular pipe, the velocity distribution takes the form v   
 2
. ro  r
2

u  .
a. o
Determine the maximum velocity in terms of beta, velocity and r .
b. o
Determine the mass flowrate in terms of beta, velocity and r .

3. A disk of radius ro rotates at angular velocity w inside an oil bath of viscosity u. assuming linear velocity profile
and neglecting shear at the outer disk edges, derive an expression for the viscous torque on the disk.

4. Water at 20C is flowing past a flat plate at 0.914 m/s. The plate is 0.305 m wide.
a. Calculate Nre 0.305m from the leading edge
b. Calculate boundary layer thickness at x = 0.305m from the leading edge

5. Calculate the pressure when cavitation will occur at the inlet of a pump that is drawing water at 25C.

6. For problems and examples in fluid flow phenomena, answer problems at the end of chapter for McCabe and
Geankoplis book.

McCabe, chapter 3 answers

3.2 – Nre = 1.74x103 to 9.5x103
3.4 – transition length a) 43mm b) 11 ft.
3.5 – a) Nre = 29,700; b) 10mm
Geankoplis (with answers)
2.6-1
2.6-3

------------------------------------------ END --------------------------------------------------