BAIBU CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Fluid Mechanics
Homework Problem Set-II
Due on March, 27th
Assoc. Prof. Tezel

1. Reynolds Number for a Petroleum Pipeline. The Keystone pipeline is a network of pipes
and pumps used to transport Canadian crude oil to the United States. The average diameter
of the pipeline can be assumed to be 30 inches in diameter and a maximum of 132,000 m 3 of
crude oil can be transported per day through the pipes.

a. Although the composition of crude oil can greatly affect its properties, if we assume the
density of medium crude oil to be 0.85 g/cm3 and the viscosity to be 10 cP, what is the velocity
of crude oil flowing through the pipeline? What is the associated Reynolds number and is the
flow in the laminar or turbulent flow regime?

b. Suppose now that heavy crude oil with a density of 0.95 g/cm3 and viscosity of 800 cP is
being transported; calculate the Reynolds number and determine if the flow is in the laminar
or turbulent regime.

2. Pipe Diameter and Reynolds Number. An oil is being pumped inside a 10.0 mm diameter
pipe. The oil’s density is 855 kg/m3 and its viscosity is 2.1 × 10–2 Pa · s. It is required that the
flow remain in the laminar regime and thus the Reynolds number cannot exceed
2100.
a. What is the maximum allowed velocity in the pipe?
b. It is desired to maintain the same Reynolds number of 2100 and the same velocity as in part
(a) using a second fluid with a density of 925 kg/m3 and a viscosity of 1.5 × 10–2 Pa · s. What
pipe diameter should be used?

3. Shear Stress and Shear Rate in Fluids. Using Fig. 3.1-1, (Geankoplis, 5th Edition) the
lower plate is being pulled at a relative velocity of 0.40 m/s greater than the top plate. The fluid
used is water at 24°C.
a. How far apart should the two plates be placed so that the shear stress τ is 0.30 N/m2? Also,
calculate the shear rate.
b. If oil with a viscosity of 2.0 × 10–2 Pa · s is used instead at the same plate spacing and
velocity as in part (a), what are the new shear stress and the shear rate?

4. We have described how fluid velocity can greatly affect whether a fluid is flowing in the
laminar or turbulent flow regime. However, other properties may affect fluid behavior. Consider
the area of microfluidics—a branch of fluid dynamics that deals with fluids being transported in
small chambers, often on the micro- or nano- scale. For these systems, what flow regime
usually dominates—laminar or turbulent flow? Explain your reasoning.