continuity_03

Derive the continuity equation in cylindrical coordinates:

¶r 1 ¶ 1 ¶ ( r uq ) ¶ ( r u z )
+ ( r r ur ) + + =0
¶t r ¶r r ¶q ¶z
by considering the mass flux through an infinitesimal control volume which is fixed in space.

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 continuity_03

SOLUTION:

dz

dr dq

Let the density and velocity at the center of the control volume be r and u, respectively. First determine
the mass fluxes through each side of the control volume.
é ¶ ù
min,bottom = ê( r u z ) + ( r u z ) ( - 12 dz ) ú ( rdrdq )
ë ¶z û
é ¶ ù
mout,top = ê( r u z ) + ( r u z ) ( 12 dz ) ú ( rdrdq )
ë ¶z û
é ¶ ù
min,front = ê( r ur ) + ( r ur ) ( - 12 dr ) ú éë( r - 12 dr ) dq dz ùû
ë ¶ r û
é ¶ ù
mout,back = ê( r ur ) + ( r ur ) ( 12 dr ) ú éë( r + 12 dr ) dq dz ùû
ë ¶r û
é ¶
min,RHS = ê( r uq ) + ( r uq ) ( - 12 dq )ùú ( drdz )
ë ¶q û
é ¶
mout,LHS = ê( r uq ) + ( r uq ) ( 12 dq )ùú ( drdz )
ë ¶q û

The net mass flux out of the control volume is:

mout,net = mout,top - min,bottom + mout,back - min,front + mout,LHS - min,RHS
é ¶ ù é ¶ ù
= ê( r u z ) + ( r u z ) ( 12 dz ) ú ( rdrdq ) - ê( r u z ) + ( r u z ) ( - 12 dz ) ú ( rdrdq )
ë ¶z û ë ¶ z û
é ¶ ù é ¶ ù
+ ê( r ur ) + ( r ur ) ( 12 dr ) ú éë( r + 12 dr ) dq dz ùû - ê( r ur ) + ( r ur ) ( - 12 dr ) ú éë( r - 12 dr ) dq dz ùû
ë ¶r û ë ¶r û
é ¶ ¶
+ ê( r uq ) + ( r uq ) ( 12 dq )ùú ( drdz ) - éê( r uq ) + ( r uq ) ( - 12 dq )ùú ( drdz )
ë ¶q û ë ¶q û
é¶ ù é ¶ ù é ¶ ù
= ê ( r u z )( dz ) ú ( rdrdq ) + ê( r ur dr ) + ( r ur ) rdr ú ( dq dz ) + ê ( r uq ) ( dq ) ú ( drdz )
ë ¶z û ë ¶ r û ë ¶q û
é¶ 1 ¶ ¶ ru ù
\ mout,net = ê ( r ur ) + ( r uq ) + ( r u z ) + æç r ö÷ ú ( rdrdq dz ) (1)
ë ¶r r ¶q ¶z è r øû

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 continuity_03

The rate of increase of mass within the control volume is:

dm ¶ ¶r
= ( r rdrdq dz ) = ( rdrdq dz ) (2)
dt within CV ¶t ¶t

From conservation of mass, the rate at which the mass inside the control volume increases plus the net rate
at which mass leaves the control volume must be zero, i.e.:
dm
+ mout,net = 0
dt within CV
¶r é¶ 1 ¶ ¶ ru ù
( rdrdq dz ) + ê ( r ur ) + ( r uq ) + ( r u z ) + æç r ö÷ ú ( rdrdq dz ) = 0
¶t ë ¶r r ¶q ¶z è r øû

Hence:
¶r ¶ 1 ¶ ¶ ru
+ ( r ur ) + ( r uq ) + ( r u z ) + æç r ö÷ = 0 (3)
¶t ¶r r ¶q ¶z è r ø
nd
or, by combining the 2 and last terms on the LHS:
¶r 1 ¶ 1 ¶ ¶
+ ( r r ur ) + ( r uq ) + ( r u z ) = 0 (4)
¶t r ¶r r ¶q ¶z

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