INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, KANPUR

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

MSE 202: RATE PROCESSES: 2023-2024: SPRING SEMESTER

Assignment 2 Submission due: 12 th Feb 2024 (before

noon)
Total Marks: 50 (Marks for individual questions in parentheses)

1. The viscosities of experimental molten glasses are being determined by measuring the
terminal velocity of a platinum sphere falling through a column of molten glass. When
dropped into a column of a standard glass of viscosity 10 Pa∙s and density 2500 kg/m 3,
the measured terminal velocity is 0.0258 m/s and when dropped into an experimental
glass of density 3000 kg/m3, the measured velocity is 0.0168 m/s. Calculate the viscosity
of the experimental molten glass. The density of platinum is 21450 kg/m3.
(5 marks)

2. For flow through past spheres, the following relations between friction factor ( f ) and
Reynolds Number (Re) are known:

}
24 / ℜ ( ℜ≤ 0.1 )
f = 18.5 ¿ ℜ3 /5 ( 2< ℜ<500 )
0.44 ( 500< ℜ<2 ×10 )
5

Calculate the terminal velocity attained by a steel sphere of diameter 0.01 m when it is
dropped in still air. The density of the steel ball is 7500 kg/m3, and the density of air is 1.177
kg/m3. The viscosity of air is 1.85×10-5 Pa∙s.
(7 marks)

3. A venturi meter is a device for measuring the flow rate of fluid in a pipe. It consists of a
smooth contraction and expansion of the flow channel, as shown below ( p1>> p2).

Pressure measurements at the throat and upstream then give the flow rate of fluid. For liquid
flowing through an ideal venturi (i.e. no frictional loss), show that the approach velocity is
given by the following equation:

( )
1/ 2
1 2(p 1− p2)
u1 = 4 1/ 2
∙
( α −1) ρ

where α =d 1 /d 2
ρ is the density of the fluid
 (6 marks)
4. A pump rated at 8kW pumps water from one holding tank to another at a rate of 0.015
m3/s. Both tanks are open to the atmosphere and the free surface in the receiving tank is
10 m higher than that in the supply tank. The diameter of the pipe connecting the tanks
has a diameter of 0.05 m and an equivalent length of 40 m. What is the efficiency of the
pump?
For flow through a pipe, refer to the graph below for determining the friction factor f , as a
function of the Reynold’s Number (Re). Read off values directly from the graph. Assume
the pipe to be smooth. Given: ρwater = 1000 kg/m3, μwtaer = 8.57×10-4 Pa∙s

(7 marks)

5. A cylindrical ladle having radius R contains liquid steel in it. The initial height
of the liquid steel column in the ladle is L and the ladle is being emptied through
a small nozzle of radius r at its base (R>>r). Based on the mechanical energy
balance, as discussed in class, derive an expression for the time required to
completely empty the ladle in terms of L , R , r and g (where g is the acceleration
due to gravity). Assume that the free surface of the liquid steel is open to
atmosphere and the nozzle is also discharging the liquid steel to the atmosphere.
Also, assume that no heat is exchanged by the ladle with its surroundings
(adiabatic system), it does not perform any external work and the frictional losses
are negligible.
(7 marks)

6. Hydraulic ram uses the kinetic energy of flowing fluid to raise part of that fluid to a
higher elevation. The principle of operation is as follows:
When water flowing down a supply tube is abruptly stopped, the pressure at the bottom of the
pipe surges and this allows some of the water to be raised above the feed level. With proper
valving, this pulsing repeats 15-20 times/minute, with pumping efficiencies as high as 90%.
This type of pump requires no motor and is convenient to use in far-away places. (See figure
below)

(a) Develop an expression relating the fraction of feed which can be delivered to a higher
elevation to the pertinent variables shown in the figure above. State the assumptions you
make, if any.
(b) A stream flows past my home and I want to use it for my domestic water supply. I do not
want to buy electricity to pump the water to my home, so I have decided to use a
hydraulic ram. If the fall of the stream is 3m, and the usable flow rate in the feed pipe is
2litre/s, the height from the ram to my storage tank is 8m, what delivery rate can I expect
at 50% efficiency if the efficiency is defined as the actual delivery rate divided by the
theoretical?
(4+4 = 8 marks)
7. In class, we have discussed and derived the momentum conservation equation in the
rectangular coordinate system. The same may also be derived in the cylindrical coordinate
(r ,θ ,z) system and the z -compoenent of the momentum conservation equation in the
cylindrical coordinate system, for a fluid of constant ρ may be expressed as follows:

ρ ( ∂∂vt +v ∂∂vr + vr ∂∂θv +v ∂∂vz )=−( 1r ∂∂r ( r τ )+ 1r ∂∂τθ + ∂∂τz )− ∂∂ pz + ρ g

z
r
z θ z
z
z
rz
θz zz
z

where symbols have their usual meaning.

Let us now consider a fully developed, incompressible, laminar, and steady-state flow of a
fluid having a constant µ through a vertical tube. Assume that flow is 1-dimensional and to be
taking place only along z-axis, where z is measured along the length of the tube.
(a) Show, using appropriate arguments, that for this flow the above equation reduces to

0=− ( 1r ∂∂r ( r τ ))− ∂∂ pz + ρ g

rz z
(b) Integrate the above equation with appropriate boundary condition(s) and obtain the
shear stress profile. Schematically plot the shear stress profile you obtained and
clearly label the axes.
(c) Use Newton’s law of viscosity to substitute for τ rz in the above equation in (a) and
obtain the differential equation for the variation of velocity along z ( v z ) as a function
of r . Integrate the equation with appropriate boundary conditions to obtain the
velocity profile. Schematically plot the velocity profile you obtained and clearly label
the axes.

(3+3+4= 10 marks)