Fanno Flow Theory

The wall friction generated because of viscosity is the major factor affecting the flow and hence bringing
about changes to fluid flow properties. This invokes an additional influence in the momentum equation.
Using the other governing equations (energy, continuity and entropy) the general Fanno line equation
can be derived.

For a steady one-dimensional flow for a flow in a constant area duct, the mass conservation equation
can be expressed as:

𝑚̇
𝜌𝑢 = 𝑀 = = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝐴

Taking the energy conservation law into consideration, where no energy transfer takes place:

𝑢2
ℎ0 = ℎ + = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
2

From mass conservation, the energy equation can be written as:

𝐺2
ℎ0 = ℎ + = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
2𝜌2

For subsonic and supersonic flows where the wall friction is the driving force, there is a limit which the
flow can advance. That limiting condition is the maximum limit of entropy and concerns the second law
of thermodynamics. At this limit, where the entropy is maximum the Mach number is said to unity.

Chocking in Fanno Flow

The governing laws of friction state that an increase in length of a control volume pipe will induce more
resistance to the flow due to the added friction in a long pipe. Carrying this logic, it is clear that the
entropy also has to change (increase). However, due to the added friction there will be a loss of mass
flux. To maintain the conservation of mass, a different set of initial condition needs to be assessed. The
change of initial condition required to conserve mass flux is a new initial pressure condition. Considering
subsonic flow, reducing exit pressure won’t affect the back pressure and the flow will remain subsonic.

However, as the back pressure is reduced, the exit velocity of the flow is increased and it reaches a sonic
velocity where the back pressure is equal to P* and the Mach number is 1. Reducing the back pressure
below P* will have no affect on the mass flux or the Mach number, and with no change in Mach
number, no change in fluid property will occur. The flow is said to be chocked. For a specific inlet
condition, where is a specific length that will ensure the flow chokes and is defined as “critical length” of
the duct denoted Lmax. If the length of the duct is more than Lmax, there is an adjustment made by the
flow. For a subsonic flow, this adjustments comes is the reduction of mass flux so the Mach number
unity is achieved at the new exit. For a supersonic flow the adjustment comes in the form of a
shockwave appearing at a location that turns the flow into subsonic.
The critical state where the Mach number is unity can be used as a reference point to derive the fluid
property change relations for Fanno flow.

Considering a finite control volume, the fluid properties will be denoted subscripts P1, P2 & P* for inlet,
outlet and the critical section respectively. The critical section of the duct can be used as a reference and
is elongated as to represent the exit where Mach number becomes unity.

1 2
*

P2 P*
P1 T*
T2 V*
T1 V1 V1 ρ*
ρ2 Ma=1
ρ1 Ma1 Ma1 h*
h2
h1 P*0
P02
=T01 =T01
P01 T*0
T02

L Lmax2
Lmax1

Fig. 1. Defined control volume

Temperature ratio

The adiabatic flow where changes in elevation is negligible, from the energy equation, it is clear that
stagnation enthalpy is constant. Moreover for a perfect gas it follows that the stagnation temperature
will also be constant.

The stagnation temperature at any region in the control volume can be written as:

𝛾+1
𝑇0 = 𝑇 (1 + 𝑀𝑎2 )
2

Using the above equation, the temperature ratio for two sections can be expressed as:

𝛾+1 𝛾+1
𝑇1 (1 + 𝑀𝑎2 ) = 𝑇2 (1 + 𝑀𝑎2 )
2 2
𝛾−1 2
𝑇2 1 + 2 𝑀𝑎1
=
𝑇1 1 + 𝛾 − 1 𝑀𝑎2
2 2

This ratio can also be expressed with reference to critical temperature and Mach number at unity
 𝑇 𝛾+1
=
𝑇 ∗ 2 (1 + 𝛾 − 1 𝑀𝑎2 )
2

Pressure Ratio

To derive the pressure ratio between two sections, the temperature/pressure relation for Fanno flow
can be used. To begin with, the continuity equation combined with the perfect gas relationship (P=ρRT)
can be combined to give:

𝜌1 𝑢1 = 𝜌2 𝑢

𝑃1 𝑃2
𝑢1 = 𝑢
𝑅𝑇1 𝑅𝑇2 2

The velocity identity, u=Ma (ϒRT)0.5, can be substituted to the above equation:

𝑃1 𝑃2
𝑀𝑎1 √𝛾𝑅𝑇1 = 𝑀𝑎2 √𝛾𝑅𝑇2
𝑅𝑇1 𝑅𝑇2

Therefore, the pressure ratio between two sections becomes,

1
𝑃1 𝑀𝑎1 𝑇2 2
= ( )
𝑃2 𝑀𝑎2 𝑇1

Substituting the temperature ratio equation derived earlier into the above equation gives,
1
𝛾−1 2 2
𝑃1 𝑀𝑎1 1 + 2 𝑀𝑎1
= ( )
𝑃2 𝑀𝑎2 1 + 𝛾 − 1 𝑀𝑎2
2 2

Again, non-dimensionalising the pressure ratio equation using the reference critical pressure, we get,
1
2
𝑃 1 (𝛾 + 1)
= [ ]
𝑃 ∗ 𝑀𝑎 2 (1 + 𝛾 − 1 𝑀𝑎2 )
2

Maximum length of duct

Assuming the force from gravity is negligible, the only driving force influencing the flow is the shear
force acting on the wall. The shear force is given by:

𝐹𝑠 = −𝜏𝑤 𝜋𝐷∆𝑧
For any given pipe, there is a given friction factor. The shear stress can be expressed as,

𝑓𝜌𝑢2
𝜏𝑤 =
2

To deduce the nature of the variation of Mach number in Fanno flow, the momentum equation is
introduced,

𝑑𝑝 𝑑𝑢 𝜏𝑤
= −𝜌𝑢 −4
𝑑𝑧 𝑑𝑧 𝐷

Since the momentum equation is simplified and expressed in a differential equation, the use of initial
condition is vital to solve it. Since subsonic flow is accelerated until the flow chokes and supersonic flow
decelerates until the flow chokes, the boundary condition chosen is that the flow will choke at the exit.
This allows the equation to solve for the critical length (Lc), defined as the length from the current point
to the length where the flow chokes.

After integrating with the given boundary integration and further manipulation the final equation is
given by,

(𝛾 + 1) 2
𝐿𝑐 1
4𝑓 ̅ = − (1 −
1
) +
(𝛾 + 1)
𝑙𝑛 [ 2 𝑀𝑎 ]
𝐷 𝛾 𝑀𝑎2 2𝛾 (𝛾 + 1)
1+ 𝑀𝑎2
2

The equation can be used to determine the length required to choke a flow for a given upstream Mach
number.

Methodology & Assumptions

For a one-dimensional steady flow where the only driving entity is friction making the flow adiabatic.
The study of this type of flow is significant as they exist in engineering industries related to aerospace
population systems, air conditioning systems, chemical and petrochemical gas plants and
thermal/nuclear power plants. To analyze “Fanno flow” the following assumption were made:

 There is not heat or work exchange with the surroundings.

 The subject fluid flows through a duct with constant area.
 There is a conservation of mass flow.
 There are no bodily forces involved in the fluid flow.
 There is no external interruption to the flow.
 The fluid is steady and one-dimensional.
 The fluid is a perfect gas.
 Wall friction is the only factor affecting the flow.