Types of flow

1. Steady flow {a fluid travelling through a tapering pipe}

In steady flow fluid parameters such as velocity, density, pressure, acceleration etc.
at a point do not change with time.

Where v: velocity; P: Pressure; ρ: Density; a: acceleration; t: time

Some examples of steady-flow devices include pipes, nozzles, diffusers, and pumps.
Generally, the material flowing through the device is a gas or liquid, and if the device
in any way changes the velocity of the fluid then that fluid will exert a force on the
steady flow device in return.

2. Unsteady flow
In unsteady flow fluid parameters such as velocity, density, pressure, acceleration etc.
at a point changes with time.

e.g., Passage of a Flood Wave, Laminar flows may be unsteady as well.

3. Uniform flow
In uniform flow if the velocity at a given instant of time is same in both magnitude
and direction at all points in the flow, the flow is said to be uniform flow.
A steady flow through a long straight pipe of a constant diameter is an example of
Uniform flow

4. Non-uniform flow
When the velocity changes from point to point in a flow at any given instant of time,
the flow is described as non-uniform flow.
When a fluid flows through the environment, it does not move as one uniform body.
Rather, sections of the fluid move at different rates or velocities. For example, in a
river, water flowing along the channel walls moves slower due to friction than water
located in the center of the channel.

5. Compressible flow
The flow in which density of the fluid varies during the flow is called
compressible fluid flow. (i. e. ). This is applicable in gas
flow.
Compressible flows are usually high speed flows with Mach numbers greater than
 about 0.3. Examples include aerodynamic applications such as flow over a wing or
aircraft nacelle as well as industrial applications such as flow through high-
performance valves.
Daily Life Examples of Compressibility
The LPG cylinder: Natural gas is used as a fuel, but the gas occupies a lot of volume,
and for that, we'll require huge tanks or cylinders,
Shaving Cream, Pump, Oxygen cylinders
6. Incompressible flow
In case of in compressible fluid flow, the density of the fluid remains
constant during the flow. (i. e. ). Practically, all liquidsare
treated as incompressible.
Example of incompressible fluid flow: The stream of water flowing at high speed
from a garden hose pipe. Which tends to spread like a fountain when held vertically
up, but tends to narrow down when held vertically down? The reason being volume
flow rate of fluid remains constant.

7. Pressurized flow
Flow under pressure. e..g. liquid flowing in pipes with pressure.
Pressure flow is experienced when the flow front is moving due to pressure
differences. Fluids flow from a high pressure toward a lower pressure in a system. A
common example of this is found in the water faucet. Within the plastics industry,
pressure flow is found in injection-molding application

8. Gravity flow
Flow of fluid due to gravity.
The water goes down a pipe, flowing under the force of gravity. If the intake is very
high up compared with the end of the pipe, the pressure can increase to a level that
could cause damage.

9. One, two and three dimensional flow

a. One Dimensional: When the flow properties (e.g. velocity, densitypressure

etc) vary only in one direction.
b. Two Dimensional flows: When the flow properties (e.g. velocity,
density pressure etc) vary in only two directions.
c. Three Dimensional flows: When the flow properties (e.g. velocity,density
pressure etc) vary in all the three directions.
10. Rotational and irrotational flows:

Rotational flow: The fluid particles while flowing also rotate about theirown axis.
Irrotational flow: The fluid particles while flowing do not rotate abouttheir own
axis.
If the angle between the two intersecting lines of the boundary of the fluid element
changes while moving in the flow, then the flow is a Rotational Flow.
 Examples include (1) solid body rotation, (2) the bath tub vortex, (3) laminar flow in
a pipe, and (4) Wind above the atmospheric boundary layer where there is negligible
shear.
As there is no torque in the free vortex, so free vortex is an irrotational flow. For free
vortex, a moment of momentum is constant i.e. vr = constant. Examples: The flow of
liquid through a hole provided at the bottom of a container.

11. Laminar flow

In this type of fluid flow, particles move along well defined paths orsteam
lines. The fluid layers moves smoothly over the adjacent layer. The fluid particles
move in a definite path and their paths do not cross eachother (Fig. 11.1).

Fig. 11.1 Laminar flow

Laminar flow in a straight pipe may be considered as the relative motion of a set of
concentric cylinders of fluid, the outside one fixed at the pipe wall and the others
moving at increasing speeds as the centre of the pipe is approached. Smoke rising in a
straight path from a cigarette is undergoing laminar flow.

12. Turbulent Flow

In turbulent fluid flow, fluid particles move in a random and zigzag way(Fig. 11.2).
Turbulence is characterized by the formation of eddies.

Fig. 11.2 Turbulent flow

Common examples of turbulent flow are blood flow in arteries, oil transport in pipelines,
lava flow, atmosphere and ocean currents, the flow through pumps and turbines, and the
flow in boat wakes and around aircraft-wing tips.
The typical examples of laminar flow are oil flow through a thin tube, blood
flow through capillaries, and smoke rising in a straight path from the incense stick.
However, the smoke changes into the turbulent flow after rising to a small height as it
eddies from its regular path.
Example: A well-known example of irrotational motion is that of the carriages of the
Ferris wheel (giant wheel).
 The type of flow is determined by Reynold s Number.

Reynolds Number

It is defined as the ratio of inertia force of the flowing fluid to the viscosity force ofthe
fluid. In case of pipe flow, it is determined by using the following equation.

Where, Re=Reynolds Number

ρ= Density of fluid
V=Velocity of fluid
D= Diameter of pipe
μ= Viscosity of fluid

Reynolds Number(Re) Flow type

Re < 2100 Laminar flow

2100 < Re < 4000 Transitional (flow can be laminar or
turbulent)
Re > 4000 Turbulent

Streamline: Is an imaginary line and velocity vector at any point on a stream line is tangent to
the streamline (Fig. 11.3).

Fig. 11.3 Streamline

Path line is the path traced by a fluid particles.

Streaklines are obtained by joining the locus of points of all the fluid particles that have passed
continuously through a fixed point during time t. Dye steadily injected into the fluid at a fixed
point extends along a streakline.

Why is fluid technology important?

Fluid power systems generally can transmit equivalent power within a much smaller space than
mechanical or electrical drives can, especially when extremely high force or torque is required.
Fluid power systems also offer simple and effective control of direction, speed, force, and torque
using simple control valves.How are fluids used in technology?
Hydraulic systems are fluid systems that use liquid, such as water or oil, as the enclosed fluid.
Pneumatic systems are fluid systems that use gas (usually air) as theenclosed fluid. Fluids can be
transported within a fluid system by pumps and valves. You can observe how pressure is
transferred through a liquid.
 What is the importance of studying fluids in engineering?
Fluid mechanics helps us understand the behavior of fluid under various forces andat different
atmospheric conditions, and to select the proper fluid for various applications. This field is
studied in detail within Civil Engineering and also to great extent in Mechanical Engineering and
Chemical Engineering.
What are 7 advantages of fluid power?
The advantages of fluid power
 Easy, accurate control
 Multi-function control
 High horsepower, low weight ratio
 Low speed torque
 Safety in hazardous environments
 Established standards and engineering
 Mobile
 Industrial

Viscous and Inviscid flow: The fluid flow in which frictional effects become signification, are
treated as viscous flow. Boundary layer flows are the example viscous flow. Neglecting the
viscous terms in the governing equation, the flow canbe treated as inviscid flow.

What is the difference between viscous and inviscid flow?

Quite simply, a viscous flow is a flow where viscosity is important, while an inviscid flow is a
flow where viscosity is not important. Gases and liquids alike areconsidered fluids and any fluid
has a viscosity.

What is viscous flow?

flow of a fluid in which its velocity at any point is constant or varies in a regular manner. It can be
represented by streamlines. Also called: viscous flow. Compareturbulent flow, See also laminar
flow.
The fluid that has more flow resistance is referred to as viscous fluid. Viscosity is afluid factor,
that is the degree of the amount of resistance between the fluid layers. Non-viscous fluids are
classified as fluids that have no resistance or negligible resistance to internal friction.

What does inviscid flow imply?

Inviscid flow is the flow of an inviscid fluid, in which the viscosity of the fluid is equal to zero.
When viscous forces are neglected, such as the case of inviscid flow,the Navier–Stokes equation
can be simplified to a form known as the Euler equation.
What are some examples of viscosity?
Let's discuss a few examples of viscosity in daily life.
 Honey.
 Engine Oil.
 Brake Oil.
 Lubricant.
 Cooking Oil.
 Liquid Soap.
 Printing Ink.
 Super Glue.