CL 305: TRANSPORT PHENOMENA

Equations of Change for Isothermal Systems - IV

AMIT KUMAR
26 February 2021
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2: Flow Near a Slowly Rotating
Sphere

A solid sphere of radius R is rotating slowly at a constant angular velocity

Ω in a large body of quiescent fluid. Develop expressions for the pressure
and velocity distributions in the fluid and for the torque Tz required to
maintain the motion. Assume that the sphere rotates sufficiently slowly
that the equation of motion for creeping flow can be used.

Taken from Transport Phenomena by Bird, Stewart, Lightfoot 1

EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2

Spherical Coordinates (r, θ, φ): The coordinates of any point P are

represented by the radial position r, and angles θ and φ, as shown below.

Taken from Transport Phenomena by Bird, Stewart, Lightfoot 2

EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2

Let the postulate the velocity distribution to have the form

v = δφ vφ (r, θ) and the modified pressure to have the form P = P(r, θ).
The equation of continuity in spherical coordinates is:

∂ρ 1 ∂ 1 ∂ 1 ∂
+ 2 (ρr2 vr ) + (ρvθ sin θ) + (ρvφ ) = 0
∂t r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ

The postulated velocity distribution exactly satisfied the continuity

equation.
Let’s consider the equations of motion next.

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 EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2
Equation of Motion for Newtonian Fluid with Constant ρ and µ in Spherical Coordinates:

vθ2 + vφ2
!
∂vr ∂vr vθ ∂vr vφ ∂vr ∂p
r−component : ρ + vr + + − =−
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r ∂r

1 ∂ 2 1 ∂

∂vr

1 ∂vr

+ µ 2 2 (r2 vr ) + 2 sin θ + 2 + ρgr
r ∂r r sin θ ∂θ ∂θ r sin2 θ ∂φ
2 cot θ
!
∂vθ ∂vθ vθ ∂vθ vφ ∂vθ vr vθ − vφ 1 ∂p
θ − component : ρ + vr + + + =−
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r r ∂θ

1 ∂ 2 1 ∂

1 ∂

1 ∂ 2 vθ
+ µ 2 2 (r2 vθ ) + 2 (vθ sin θ) + 2 2
r ∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ2

2 ∂vr 2 cot θ ∂vφ
+ 2 − 2 + ρgθ
r ∂θ r sin θ ∂θ
!
∂vφ ∂vφ vθ ∂vφ vφ ∂vφ vφ vr + vθ vφ cot θ 1 ∂p
φ − component : ρ + vr + + + =−
∂t ∂r r ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ r r sin θ ∂φ

1 ∂2 ∂ 2 vφ
  
1 ∂ 1 ∂ 1
+ µ 2 2 (r2 vφ ) + 2 (vφ sin θ) + 2 2
r ∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ r sin θ ∂φ2

2 ∂vr 2 cot θ ∂vθ
+ 2 + 2 + ρgφ 4
r sin θ ∂φ r sin θ ∂φ
EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2

∂P
r−component : 0=−
∂r

1 ∂P
θ−component : 0=−
r ∂θ

   
1 ∂ 2 ∂vφ 1 ∂ 1 ∂
φ−component : 0 = 2 r + 2 (vφ sin θ)
r ∂r ∂r r ∂θ sin θ ∂θ

Boundary Conditions:

• At r = R, vr = 0, vθ = 0, vφ = RΩ sin θ
• As r → ∞, vr → 0, vθ → 0, vφ → 0
• As r → ∞, P = p0

where p0 is the pressure far from the sphere at z = 0, and P = p + ρgz.

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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2

The φ-component of the equation of motion can be solved to obtain the

following velocity distribution:

 2
R
vφ = ΩR sin θ
r

The torque needed to maintain the rotation of the sphere is given by

Z 2π Z π
Tz = (τrφ )|r=R (R sin θ)R2 sin θ dθ dφ
0 0

Now, for a Newtonian fluid

   3
1 ∂vr ∂  vφ  ∂  vφ  R
τrφ = −µ +r = −µr = 3µΩ sin θ
r sin θ ∂φ ∂r r ∂r r r

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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2

Differential Volume Element in Spherical Coordinates:

Taken from Appendix A of Transport Phenomena by Bird, Stewart, Lightfoot

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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 2

Z 2π Z π
Tz = (τrφ )|r=R (R sin θ)R2 sin θ dθ dφ
0 0

 3 !
R 
(τrφ )|r=R = 3µΩ sin θ  = 3µΩ sin θ

r 
r=R

So,

Z 2π Z π
Tz = (3µΩ sin θ)(R sin θ)R2 sin θ dθ dφ = 8πµΩR3
0 0

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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 3: Shape of the Surface of a Rotating
Liquid

A liquid of constant density and viscosity is in cylindrical container of

radius R. The container is rotated about its own axis at an angular
velocity Ω. The axis of the cylinder is vertical. Find the shape of the free
surface of the liquid when steady state has been established.
We will use cylindrical coordinates. The flow is axisymmetric. So, we
postulate that pressure and velocity are independent of θ.
We further postulate vr = 0, vz = 0 and vθ = f (r).
With these assumptions, the equation of continuity is exactly satisfied.

∂ρ 1 ∂ 1 ∂ ∂(ρvz )
+ (ρrvr ) + (ρvθ ) + =0 ⇒ 0=0
∂t r ∂r r ∂θ ∂z

As the axis of the cylinder is vertical, gr = 0, gθ = 0, gz = −g, where we

have taken the positive z axis to be pointing vertically upward.
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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 3

Equation of Motion for Newtonian Fluid with Constant ρ and µ:

Taken from Appendix B of Transport Phenomena by Bird, Stewart, Lightfoot

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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 3

vθ2 ∂p
r−component : −ρ =−
r ∂r
 
∂ 1 ∂
θ−component : 0=µ (rvθ )
∂r r ∂r

∂p
z−component : 0=− − ρg
∂z
We can integrate the θ-component of the equation of motion to get:

C1 C2
vθ = r+
2 r
We have C2 = 0.
Using the boundary condition vθ = RΩ at r = R, we get C1 = 2Ω.
So, vθ = Ωr
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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 3

vθ = Ωr

Using this in the r-component of the equation of motion, we get

∂p ρr2 Ω2
−ρrΩ2 = − ⇒ p= + f1 (θ, z)
∂r 2
Using the z-component of the equation of motion, we get
∂p
0=− − ρg ⇒ p = −ρgz + f2 (r, θ)
∂z
As p is not a function of θ, we have
ρr2 Ω2
p= + f1 (z) = −ρgz + f2 (r)
2
Therefore,
ρr2 Ω2
p= − ρgz + C
2
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EXAMPLE PROBLEM - 3

ρr2 Ω2
p= − ρgz + C
2
Let the elevation of the liquid surface at the axis of the cylinder (i.e., at
r = 0) be z0 .
We have p = patm at r = 0, z = z0 .
So, C = patm + ρgz0 and
ρr2 Ω2
p − patm = − ρg(z − z0 )
2
Now, at the surface of the liquid (air-liquid interface), p = patm .
Setting p = patm in the equation above (for the pressure in the liquid),
the shape of the surface of the rotating liquid is defined by
ρr2 Ω2 Ω2 2
ρg(z − z0 ) = ⇒ z = z0 + r
2 2g
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