Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering

(7th Edition)

Chapter 4, Problem 2P

Problem

For a given fluid and a given distance between plates in a system like that shown in Fig. 4.5,
velocity v0 must be large enough to counteract the effect of gravity; otherwise, some of the fluid
will flow downward. In a particular system, the distance between plates is 1 mm, and the fluid is
an oil with a density of 900 kg/m3 and a viscosity of 50 mPa · s. The pressure drop dp/dy is
negligible compared with the term ρg. (a) What is the minimum upward velocity of the moving
plate so that all the fluid moves upward? (b) If v0 is set at this minimum value, what is the fluid
velocity midway between the plates? (c) What is the shear rate in the fluid at the stationary
plate, at the moving plate, and midway between them? Use the equations in Example 4.3.

FIGURE 4.5 Flow between vertical plates in Example 4.3

EXAMPLE 4.3
 Step-by-step solution

Step 1 of 6

Navier- stokes theorem describes the motion of a particle. Use the Navier-Stokes equation for
the y coordinate,

At Steady state the value of is and flow is in the y direction only. Hence the velocities

and are both zero. From equation of continuity and are both zero.

Also,

And,

The partial derivatives become derivatives, and equation becomes

The term is negligible compared with the term , so equation is

Integrate this equation

…… (1)

The boundary conditions are as follows:

At

And at

Solve for the constants shows that is and is

Substitute in equation (1) gives

…… (2)

Step 2 of 6

(a)

For all the fluid moves upward, must be greater than or equal to the zero at x equals to

zero.

So, by equation (2)

At,

And

Rearrange above relation

…… (3)

Substitute for , for , for Band for in equation

(3)

Therefore, minimum upward velocity of the moving plate so that all the fluid moves upward is
.

Step 3 of 6

(b)

Velocity at the midway of the plates for minimum upward velocity of the moving plate

Substitute for in equation (2)

Substitute 0.0088 for in above expression

Therefore, the velocity at the midway point is

Step 4 of 6

(c)

Shear rate for fluid flowing between two parallel plates is given by

…… (4)

Here, is the velocity of the fluid and is the distance between the stationary plate and the
point

Shear rate at stationary plate is zero because velocity is zero;

Step 5 of 6

Shear rate at the moving plate from equation (4) is as follows:

Therefore, shear rate at the moving plate is

 Step 6 of 6

And shear rate at the midway point from equation (4) is as follows:

Therefore, the shear rate at the midway point is

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