THE EQUATION OF CHANGE

1. The Equation of Continuity

A mass balance over a stationary volume element ∆x ∆y ∆z through which

the fluid is flowing:

{rate of mass accumulation} = {rate of mass in} – {rate of mass out}

The rate of mass through the face perpendicular to the x axis at x:
(ρv x ) x ∆y∆z
The rate of mass through the face perpendicular to the x axis at x+∆x:
(ρv x ) x + ∆x ∆y∆z
The rate of mass through the face perpendicular to the y axis at y:
(ρv )
y y ∆x∆z

The rate of mass through the face perpendicular to the y axis at y+∆y:
(ρv )
y y + ∆y ∆x∆z

The rate of mass through the face perpendicular to the z axis at z:

(ρv z ) z ∆x∆y
The rate of mass through the face perpendicular to the y axis at z+∆z:
(ρv z ) z + ∆z ∆x∆y

The mass balance then becomes:

∂ρ
∆x∆y∆z = (ρv x ) x ∆y∆z - (ρv x ) x + ∆x ∆y∆z + (ρv y ) y ∆x∆z - (ρv y ) y + ∆y ∆x∆z
∂t
+ (ρv z ) z ∆x∆y - (ρv z ) z + ∆z ∆x∆y

Dividing by ∆x ∆y ∆z

∂ρ ⎛∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞
= −⎜⎜ ρv x + ρv y + ρv z ⎟⎟
∂t ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠
 ∂ρ
Or = −(∇. ρv )
∂t
∂ρ ∂ρ ∂ρ ∂ρ ⎛ ∂v ∂v ∂v ⎞
+ vx + vy + vz = − ρ ⎜⎜ x + y + z ⎟⎟
Or ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠
Dρ
Or = − ρ (∇. v )
Dt

2. The Equation of Motion

A momentum balance over a stationary volume element ∆x ∆y ∆z through

which the fluid is flowing:
{rate of momentum accumulation} = {rate of momentum in} – {rate of
momentum out} + {sum of forces acting on system}

For x component of momentum:

∆x∆y∆z
∂ρv x
∂t
(
= ρv x v x x − ρv x v x x + ∆x )∆y∆z + (ρv v y x y − ρv y v x y + ∆y )∆x∆z +
(ρv v z x z − ρv z v x z + ∆z )∆x∆y + (τ xx x −τ xx x + ∆x )∆y∆z + (τ yx y −τ yx y + ∆y )∆x∆z +
(τ zx z −τ zx z + ∆z )∆x∆y + ( p x −p x + ∆x )∆y∆z + ρg x ∆x∆y∆z

Divided by ∆x ∆y ∆z and take the limit as ∆x, ∆y and ∆z approach zero:

∂ρv x ⎛∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞ ⎛∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞ ∂p
= −⎜⎜ ρv x v x + ρv y v x + ρv z v x ⎟⎟ − ⎜⎜ τ xx + τ yx + τ zx ⎟⎟ − + ρg x
∂t ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠ ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠ ∂x

For y and z components of momentum can be derived similarly:

∂ρv y ⎛∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞ ⎛∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞ ∂p
= −⎜⎜ ρv x v y + ρv y v y + ρv z v y ⎟⎟ − ⎜⎜ τ xy + τ yy + τ zy ⎟⎟ − + ρg y
∂t ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠ ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠ ∂y

∂ρv z ⎛∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞ ⎛∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞ ∂p
= −⎜⎜ ρv x v z + ρv y v z + ρv z v z ⎟⎟ − ⎜⎜ τ xz + τ yz + τ zz ⎟⎟ − + ρg z
∂t ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠ ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠ ∂z

In single vector equation:

∂
ρv = −[∇. ρvv ] − ∇p − [∇.τ ] + ρg
∂t

Utilizing the equation of continuity, x component of momentum can be

written as:
 Dv x ∂p ⎛ ∂τ ∂τ xy ∂τ zx ⎞
ρ = − − ⎜⎜ xx + + ⎟⎟ + ρg x
Dt ∂x ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠

Similar rearrangement can be made for y and z components, and adding the
three components results in:

Dv
ρ = −∇p − (∇τ. ) +ρ g
Dt
Application of Equation of continuity and Equation of motion in solving
previous problem (flow through a circular tube) :

∂v z ∂P ⎡ 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂v z ⎞ ∂ 2 v z ⎤
So: ρv z =− + µ⎢ ⎜r ⎟+ 2 ⎥
∂z ∂z ⎣ r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠ ∂z ⎦

From equation of continuity:

∂v z
Î =0
∂z
 ∂P ⎡ 1 ∂ ⎛ ∂v z ⎞⎤
Therefore: 0=− + µ⎢ ⎜r ⎟⎥
∂z ⎣ r ∂r ⎝ ∂r ⎠⎦

dv z ⎛ Ρ − ΡL ⎞ 2
First integration: r = −⎜⎜ 0 ⎟⎟r + C1
dr ⎝ 2 µL ⎠
dv z
But = 0 at r = 0 Î C1 = 0
dr

⎛ Ρ − ΡL ⎞ 2
Second integration: v z = −⎜⎜ 0 ⎟⎟r + C 2
⎝ 4 µL ⎠

⎛Ρ −Ρ ⎞
But v z = 0 at r = R Î C 2 = ⎜⎜ 0 L ⎟⎟ R 2
⎝ 4µL ⎠

⎛ Ρ − ΡL ⎞ 2
So: v z = ⎜⎜ 0 (
⎟⎟ R − r 2 )
⎝ 4 µL ⎠

3. The Equations of Energy

{rate of accumulation of internal and kinetic energy} = {rate of internal and

kinetic energy in by convection} – {rate of internal and kinetic energy out by
convection} + {net rate of heat addition by conduction}- {net rate of work
done by the system on surroundings}
 ⎛ ∂
∂
∂t
( ) ( )∂
(
ρU + 12 ρv 2 = −⎜⎜ v x ρU + 12 ρv 2 + v y ρU + 12 ρv 2 + v z ρU + 12 ρv 2
∂
) ( )⎞⎟⎟
⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠
⎛ ∂q ∂q y ∂q z ⎞ ⎛ ∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞
− ⎜⎜ x + + ⎟⎟ + ρ (v x g x + v y g y + v z g z ) − ⎜⎜ pv x + pv y + pv z ⎟⎟
⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠ ⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠
⎛ ∂ ∂ ∂ ⎞
− ⎜⎜ (τ xx v x + τ xy v y + τ xz v z ) + (τ yx v x + τ yy v y + τ yz v z ) + (τ zx v x + τ zy v y + τ zz v z )⎟⎟
⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠

This equation can be written:

∂
∂t
( ) ( ( ))
ρ U + 12 v 2 = − ∇. ρv U + 12 v 2 − (∇. q ) + ρ (v. g ) − (∇. pv ) − (∇. [τ . v ])

Or

⎡∂
ρ⎢ ( ) ( ( ⎤
U + 12 v 2 + v. ∇ U + 12 v 2 ⎥ + U + 12 v 2 )) ( )⎡⎢ ∂∂t + (∇. ρv)⎤⎥
⎣ ∂t ⎦ ⎣ ⎦
= −(∇. q ) + ρ (v. g ) − (∇. pv ) − (∇. [τ . v])

Using Equation of continuity, can be rewritten:

ρ
D
Dt
( )
U + 12 v 2 = −(∇. q ) + ρ (v. g ) − (∇. pv ) − (∇. [τ . v ])

Subtract by equation of change for kinetic energy results:

= −(∇. q ) + p (∇. v ) − (τ : ∇v )
DU
ρ
Dt
 ∂U ⎞ ⎛ ∂U ⎞ ⎡ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ ⎤
Remember: dU = ⎛⎜ ⎟ +⎜ ⎟ dT = ⎢− p + T ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ dV + C v dT
⎝ ∂V ⎠ T ⎝ ∂T ⎠V ⎣ ⎝ ∂T ⎠V ⎦

⎛ DU ⎞ ⎡ ⎛ ∂p ⎞ ⎤ DV DT
Therefore: ρ⎜ ⎟ = ⎢− p + T ⎜ ⎟ ⎥ρ + ρC v
⎝ Dt ⎠ ⎣ ⎝ ∂T ⎠V ⎦ Dt Dt

D ⎛1⎞ 1 Dρ
= (∇ . v )
DV
But ρ =ρ ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ = −
Dt Dt ⎝ ρ ⎠ ρ Dt

⎛ ∂p ⎞
= −(∇. q ) − T ⎜ ⎟ (∇. v ) − (τ : ∇v )
DT
So: ρC v
Dt ⎝ ∂T ⎠V
(Equation of energy in terms of temperature)
Examples:
A flat plate heated to a temperature To is suspended in a large body of fluid,
which is at temperature T1. In the neighborhood of the heated plate the fluid
rises because of the buoyancy force. From the equation of change, deduce
the dependency of the heat loss on the system variables. The physical
properties of the fluid may be considered constant, except that the free
convection form of equation of motion should be used.
Note: In free convection, ρ is dependent on temperature, and equation of
motion can be modified:

= −(∇.τ ) + ρ β g (T − T )
Dv
ρ
Dt

Answer:
Gr =

Pr =

4. The Equations of Continuity for A Binary Mixture