Experiment no: 5

NAME OF THE EXPERIMENT:Study of Pressure-Flow Characteristics of Compressible Fluid Flow

Through a Converging-Diverging Duct.

INTRODUCTION:

The flow of compressible fluids (e.g., gases and vapors) through pipelines and other restrictions
is often affected by changing conditions of pressure, temperature, and physical properties. The densities
of gases and vapors vary with temperature and pressure (PV = constant). Conversely, in adiabatic flow,
that is no heat loss, a decrease in temperature occurs when pressure decreases, resulting in a density
increase. At high pressures and temperatures, the compressibility factor can be less than unity, which
results in an increase in the fluid density.The condition of high pressure drop (ΔP) in compressible flow
frequently occurs in venting systems, vacuum distillation equipment, and long pipelines. Such cases are
vapor expanding through a valve, high speed vapor flows in narrow pipes, and vapors flowing in process
lines under vacuum conditions. ΔP, in many cases, is critical and requires accurate analysis and design.
This limit is to prevent the rapid opening and closing of the valve, resulting in lowered fluid capacity and
subsequent damage of the valve seating surfaces.

OBJECTIVES:

P2
a) To observe the choked condition that is, plot m Vs ,
P0
P0
b) To plot m against , ratio of total head pressure and exit pressure in absolute,
P3
P2 P0
c) To plot against
P0 P3
APPARATUS REQUIRED:
a) Compressible flow bench,

b) Convergent-Divergent Duct,

c) Inclined Manometer’

d) U-tube Mercury Manometer.

THEORY:

For a subsonic isentropic flow, when the fluid enters the converging-diverging duct from
stagnation the pressure of the fluid decreases along the converging duct according to the equation,

dA dP 2
= (1−Ma )
A ρV 2
 dA
And the velocity increases as < 0. The pressure continues to decrease until at throat the fluid
dV
velocity reaches sonic speed and the flow rate becomes maximum. Now, in a hypothetical condition, if
the pressure at the throat falls below the critical value then the fluid will reach supersonic velocity at the
throat and somewhere at the converging duct velocity will reach sonic speed which is impossible and
known as choked condition. So, the duct will be choked when the value of pressure will be lower than
the value of at the maximum flow rate in the diverging section.

Therefore, the flow rate will be maximum at, r =¿

24mm 9.5mm 24mm