Reynolds Transport Theorem

October 1, 2003
Consider a system and a control volume (C.V.) as follows: the system occupies C.V. (I+II) at time t the same system occupies volume (II+III) at t + t uid particles are free to enter and leave C.V. C.V. may move as time passes but does not deform

Reynolds Transport Theorem: The total rate of change of any extensive property Ns (= dm = d) of a system occupying a control volume C.V. at time t is equal to the sum of a) the temporal rate of change of N within the C.V. b) the net ux of N through the control surface C.S. that surrounds the C.V. ZZ ZZZ dNs d + V rel d A (1) = dt t
C.V. C.S.

This theorem applies to any transportable property, including mass, momentum and energy. 1

Proof: The change of property Ns of system during t is Ns = Ns |t+t Ns |t = (NII + NIII ) |t+t (NI + NII ) |t [add and subtract NI |t+t ] = (NII + NIII ) |t+t (NI + NII ) |t + NI |t+t NI |t+t = (NI + NII ) |t+t (NI + NII ) |t + NIII |t+t NI |t+t = NC.V. |t+t NC.V. |t + NIII |t+t NI |t+t

The rate of change of property Ns of the system is dNs dt NC.V. |t+t NC.V. |t NIII |t+t NI |t+t + lim lim t0 t0 t t t = a+b+c (2) =
t0

lim

We will evaluate the three terms a, b, c separately. First term: This is the rate of change of property N contained within the C.V. ZZZ NC.V. NC.V. |t+t NC.V. |t d (3) = a = lim t0 t t t
C.V.

Second term: This refers to the amount of property N contained in the volume III, which is the part of the volume occupied by the system at time t + t, which is outside the original C.V. Consider a uid element in the C.V., in contact with an elementary area dA on the part of the control surface (C.S.I) which is between the C.V. and volume III. During a small t, this element will move through volume III and reach its surface on the other side, moving by a distance l = Vrel t, thus dening a volume d = l (dA cos ) = (Vrel cos dA) t = V rel n dA t = V rel dA t

This volume contains uid that leaves the C.V. during t (outow). Thus, 2 < < 2 , so that 0 < cos and the volume d is positive, as it should be. The amount of property N within d at time t + t is dNIII |t+t = d|t+t while the total amount of N within volume III at time t + t is ZZZ ZZZ ZZ NIII |t+t = dNIII = d = V rel dA t
III III C.S.III

Then,

NIII |t+t b = lim = t0 t

C.S.III

ZZ

V rel dA

This term represents the outow of property N from the C.V. Third term: This refers to the amount of property N contained in volume I at t + t; volume I is the part of the C.V. that is occupied by new uid (not part of the original system) at time t + t. This uid enters the volume from outside (inow), so that 2 < < , or < < 2 , which means that cos < 0. Consider a uid element in the C.V., in contact with an elementary area dA on the part of the control surface (C.S.I) which will remain outside volume II during time t. During a small t, this element will move through volume I and reach the interface between volumes I and II, moving by a distance l = Vrel t, thus dening a volume (volume must always be positive) d = l (dA cos ) = (Vrel cos dA) t = V rel n dA t = V rel dA t

The amount of property N within d at time t + t is dNI |t+t = d|t+t 3

The total amount of N within volume I at t + t, which represents the total inow of uid into the C.V. during t, is ZZZ ZZZ NI |t+t = dNI = d
I

= Then, c = lim

C.S.I

ZZ

V rel dAt ZZ

NI |t+t =+ t0 t

V rel dA

C.S.I

The sum b + c represents the total ux of uid through the entire surface C.S. of the C.V., i.e. ZZ ZZ b+c = V rel dA + V rel dA
C.S.III

ZZ

C.S.I

V rel dA

(4)

C.S.

Substituting equations (3) and (4) into equation (2), we get equation (1), which proves the Reynolds transport theorem.