CHEE2003 Week 9 Tutorial

Compressible Flow

1. Useful Equations for Gas Flow

1.1. Bernoulli’s equation (adiabatic)
2 2
k P1 v 1 k P2 v 2
+ + z 1= + +z
k−1 ρ1 g 2 g k −1 ρ2 g 2 g 2

1.2. Ideal gas law

P= ρRT ⇔ ρ=
P P 2 ρ2 T 2
=
RT P 1 ρ1 T 1
⇔
ρ 1 P2 T 2
=
ρ 2 P1 T 1 ( )
1.3. Adiabatic process

P1 P2
k
= k
=constant
ρ1 ρ2

1.4. P, ρ, T relationships (ideal gas & adiabatic)

( ) ( )
k k
P 2 ρ2 T2 k −1
= =
P 1 ρ1 T1

( ) ( )
1 1
ρ2 T 2 k−1 P2 k
= =
ρ1 T 1 P1

( ) ( )
k −1 k−1
T 2 P2 k ρ2
= =
T 1 P1 ρ1

1.5. Hint for Q1 (a)

P 1 P2 P1
− =
ρ1 ρ2 ρ1 [
1−
ρ 1 P2 P 1
¿
P1 ρ 2 ρ 1 ] [ ( ) ] [ ]
ρ P P
ρ 2 P1 ρ 1
T
1− 1 2 ¿ 1 1− 2
T1

*Given by substituting the ideal gas law.

2. Useful Equations for Choked Flow
2.1. Critical pressure (when Ma = 1)

( )
Poutlet 2
k
= k−1
P reservoir k + 1

2.2. Mass flux

√ (( ) ( ) )
2 k+1
ṁ 2k P2 k P2 k
= P1 ρ 1 −
A k−1 P1 P1

ṁ=ρvA

2.3. Speed of sound

c= √ kRT

2.4. Mach number

v
Ma=
c

3. Compressor Power

ṁ c p ∆ T
P=
ε

4. List of symbols used

Symbol Description Unit
k Heat capacity ratio (Cp/Cv) Dimensionless
P Pressure Pa or N m−2
−3
ρ Density kg m
−2
g Gravitational acceleration ms
−1
v Velocity of gas flow ms
z Height m
−1 −1
R Gas constant Jk g K
T Temperature K
−1
ṁ Mass flowrate kg s
2
A Cross-sectional area m
−1
c Speed of sound ms
Ma Mach number Dimensionless
cp Specific heat capacity −1 −1
Jk g K
ε Compressor efficiency Dimensionless