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Continuity Equation

This document discusses the continuity equation, which expresses mass conservation in fluid dynamics. It presents both the integral and differential forms of the continuity equation. The integral form considers the rate of change of mass within a control volume equal to the net mass flux through the control volume boundary. The differential form is derived by taking the limit of the integral form as the control volume size approaches zero. This yields a partial differential equation relating the fluid density and velocity field. Solutions of the continuity equation ensure conservation of mass in fluid flow simulations.

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Franklin Praveen
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663 views3 pages

Continuity Equation

This document discusses the continuity equation, which expresses mass conservation in fluid dynamics. It presents both the integral and differential forms of the continuity equation. The integral form considers the rate of change of mass within a control volume equal to the net mass flux through the control volume boundary. The differential form is derived by taking the limit of the integral form as the control volume size approaches zero. This yields a partial differential equation relating the fluid density and velocity field. Solutions of the continuity equation ensure conservation of mass in fluid flow simulations.

Uploaded by

Franklin Praveen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS: Continuity Equation

Dr K M Singh, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee NPTEL L5.1


Lecture 5
CONTINUITY EQUATION

5.1 MASS CONSERVATION EQUATION: INTEGRAL FORM
For a system, its mass is conserved, i.e. d / d 0 M t = . Since .1 d M
O
= O
}
, hence 1 | , and
Reynolds transport theorem (L4.22) yields the following integral form for the mass
conservation (or continuity) equation for a stationary control volume:
d d 0
S
t

O
c
O + =
c
} }
v A (5.1)


5.2 MASS CONSERVATION EQUATION: DIFFERENTIAL FORM

For a fixed control volume, order of temporal differentiation and integration in Eq. (5.1) can
be interchanged. Further, the convective term can be transformed into a volume integral by
applying Gauss divergence theorem, i.e.

d d and d ( )d
S
t t


O O O
c c
O = O = V O
c c
} } } }
v A v (5.2)

Substitution of Eq. (5.2) into Eq. (5.1) yields

d ( )d 0 ( ) d 0
t t


O O O
c c (
O + V O = + V O =
(
c c

} } }
v v (5.3)

The preceding equation holds for any control volume which is possible only if the integrand
vanishes everywhere, i.e.

( ) . 0
t


c
+V =
c
v (5.4)

Equation (5.4) represents the differential form of continuity equation in vector notation. In
Cartesian coordinates with usual notation of velocity components (i.e.
i i
u v w v = + + v i j k i ),
the continuity equation becomes


( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
0
i
i
u v w v
t x y z t x


c c c c
c c
+ + + + =
c c c c c c
(5.5)
The differential form (5.4) or (5.5) can be also derived by considering mass conservation for
an infinitesimal differential control volume (see Example 5.1 below). Expanded form of
continuity equation in cylindrical polar and spherical polar coordinates can be found in any
text on fluid mechanics, e.g. Kundu and Cohen (2008) and Panton (2005).




COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS: Continuity Equation
Dr K M Singh, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee NPTEL L5.2


Example 5.1
Derive the differential form of continuity equation using an infinitesimal differential control
volume in Cartesian coordinates.

Solution
Let us consider flow of a fluid through an infinitesimal differential control volume of
dimensions dx, dy and dz. For the sake of clarity, Figure 5.1 depicts the flow through a two-
dimensional control volume. The mass flow rate of fluid entering from the left face (negative
x-face) of the CV is d d u y z and the mass flow rate leaving the positive x-face of the CV is
( )
d d d .
u
u x y z
x

c (
+
(
c

Further, the mass flow rate entering from the bottom face (negative y-
face) of the CV is d d v x z and the mass flow rate leaving the top face (positive y-face) of the
CV is
( )
d d d .
v
v y x z
y

c (
+
(
c

Therefore,
Net mass efflux rate through x-faces =
( )
d d d d d
u
u x y z u y z
x


c (
+
(
c


=
( )
d d d
u
x y z
x
c
c

Net mass efflux rate through y-faces =
( )
d d d d d
v
v y x z v x z
y


c (
+
(
c


=
( )
d d d
v
x y z
y
c
c



Figure 5.1 Mass fluxes through two-dimensional differential control volume

Similarly, for a three-dimensional control volume

Net mass efflux rate through z-faces =
( )
d d d
w
x y z
z
c
c

Hence, the net mass efflux rate =
( ) ( ) ( )
d d d
u v w
x y z
x y z
c c c (
+ +
(
c c c


( )
d
u
u x
x

c
+
c
x
y
u
v
( )
d
v
v y
y

c
+
c
dx
d
y



COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS: Continuity Equation
Dr K M Singh, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee NPTEL L5.3
Rate of accumulation of mass inside the CV = d d d x y z
t
c
c

For mass conservation, the rate of mass accumulation in the control volume must be negative
of the net mass efflux rate, i.e.
( ) ( ) ( )
d d d d d d
u v w
x y z x y z
t x y z
c c c ( c
= + +
(
c c c c


Dividing both sides by the differential volume dxdydz and transferring all the terms on one
side gives the following equation for mass conservation:
( ) ( ) ( )
0
u v w
t x y z
c c c c
+ + + =
c c c c

which is same as the continuity equation (5.5) derived from the integral form of the continuity
equation.


Exercise 5.1: Derive the differential form of continuity equation in polar coordinates by take
an infinitesimal control volume in (a) cylindrical polar coordinates and (b) spherical polar
coordinates.

REFERENCES

Kundu, P. K. and Cohen, I. M. (2008). Fluid Mechanics, 4
th
Ed., Academic Press.
Panton, R. L. (2005). Incompressible Flow, 3
rd
Ed., Wiley.

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