Chemical Engineering Principles

Course I

Lecture 5
Dimensional Consistency

By
Prof. Alaa Kareem Mohammed

1
Dimensional Consistency:
Dimensional consistency is an important concept in physics and engineering that ensures
the correctness of equations by checking that the units on both sides of an equation match.
Here are some general rules for dimensional consistency of equations:
1. Every term in an equation must have the same dimensions or units on both sides. This
means that the dimensions of the variables and constants involved in the equation should
be the same on both sides.
2. Addition and subtraction can only be performed on quantities with the same dimensions.
For example, you can add or subtract lengths (meters) but not lengths and time
(seconds).
3. Multiplication and division of quantities involve the multiplication or division of their
dimensions as well. The resulting dimension of a product or quotient is the combination of
the dimensions of the individual quantities involved.
2
4. Exponents of quantities must be dimensionless.

5. if a variable is raised to a power, the unit will raise to the same power. For example, if a
length (L) is raised to the power of 2, the resulting dimension is 𝐿2 .

6. Trigonometric functions (such as sine, cosine, tangent) and logarithmic functions are
dimensionless.

7. Physical constants in equations must have the appropriate dimensions.

8. Units must be compatible within a given equation. It is important to use consistent units
throughout an equation and avoid mixing incompatible units. For instance, the units in all
terms of the equation are SI units only or American units only.

3
Checking the dimensional Consistency of equations
Let take the following equation of motion
𝟏 𝟐
𝑺 = 𝒖𝒕 + 𝒂𝒕
𝟐
Where:
𝑆: is the distance 𝑚
𝑢: is the velocity (𝑚/𝑠)
𝑎: is acceleration (𝑚/𝑠 2 )
𝑡: is the time s
L.H.S units: 𝑆=𝑚
𝑚
R.H.S 𝑢𝑡 = 𝑠 =𝑚
𝑠
2
𝑚
𝑎𝑡 = 2 𝑠2 = 𝑚
𝑠
∴ All terms have the same dimension with unit 𝑚 . The equation is dimensionally Consistent
4
Example 1
Consider the van Waals equation below

𝑎
𝑃+ 2 𝑣 − 𝑏 = 𝑅𝑇
𝑣
Where:
𝑃: the pressure in 𝑎𝑡𝑚

𝑐𝑚3
𝑣: Specific volume
𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑅: gass constant 𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑐𝑚3 /𝑚𝑜𝑙. 𝐾

𝑇: Temperature in 𝐾

𝑎, 𝑏: are constants
1. Find the units of the constants 𝑎 and 𝑏.
2. Check the dimensional Consistent of the equation.
5
Solution
1. L.H.S

𝑃 = 𝑎𝑡𝑚

2
𝑎 𝑐𝑚3 𝑐𝑚6
= 𝑎𝑡𝑚 → 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑡𝑚 𝑣 2 → 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑡𝑚 → 𝑎 = 𝑎𝑡𝑚 .
𝑣2 𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙 2

𝑐𝑚3 𝑐𝑚3
𝑣= , 𝑏=
𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑚𝑜𝑙

2.
𝑐𝑚3
𝐋. 𝐇. 𝐒 𝑎𝑡𝑚.
𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑎𝑡𝑚. 𝑐𝑚3
𝐑. 𝐇. 𝐒 𝑅=
𝑚𝑜𝑙. 𝐾
𝑇=𝐾
∴ 𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆 = 𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆 in units
6
Example 2
The microchip etching follows the relation

𝑑 = 16.2 − 16.2 𝑒 −0.02𝑡

Where: 𝑑 in 𝜇𝑚
𝑡 in 𝑠
What are the units associated with the numbers 16.2 and 0.02.
Solution
L.H.S unit of 𝑑 = 𝜇𝑚
R.H.S unit of 16.2 = 𝜇𝑚

𝑒 −0.02𝑡 is dimensionless −
0.02𝑡 = − dimensionless
0.02 t = −

1
unit of 16.2 =
𝑠
7
 Example 3 Solution
The flowrate is related to the pressure drop by an
L.H.S unit of 𝑢 = 𝑚/𝑠
equation of the form:
∆𝑃 𝑚
∆𝑃 R.H.S unit of 𝐶 =
𝑢=𝐶 𝜌 𝑠
𝜌 1
𝑃𝑎 ൗ2 𝑚
Where: 𝐶 =
𝑘𝑔 𝑠
𝑚 𝑚3
1ൗ
𝑢: is the velocity 𝑘𝑔 2
𝑠 2 𝑚
𝐶 𝑚. 𝑠 =
𝐶: is Constant ? 𝑘𝑔 𝑠
𝑚3
∆𝑃: is the pressure drop 𝑃𝑎
1ൗ
𝑚2 2 𝑚
𝑘𝑔 𝐶 =
𝜌: is the density 3 𝑠2 𝑠
𝑚
𝑚/𝑠
What is the unit of the constant 𝐶 𝐶= =1
𝑚/𝑠
∴ 𝐶 dimensionless
8
Example 4
The relation for predicting the coefficient of heat transfer is given below:

1ൗ
𝑘 3 𝜌2 𝑔 𝜆 4
ℎ = 0.943
𝐿 𝜇 ∆𝑇

Where:
𝐵𝑡𝑢
ℎ: mean heat transfer coefficient
ℎ𝑟 . 𝑓𝑡 2 . 𝐹
𝐵𝑡𝑢
𝑘: Thermal conductivity
ℎ𝑟 . 𝑓𝑡. 𝐹
𝜌: density 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡 3
𝑔: acceleration of gravity 4.17 × 108 𝑓𝑡/ℎ𝑟 2
𝜆: Enthalpy change 𝐵𝑡𝑢/𝑙𝑏
𝐿: length of tube 𝑓𝑡
𝜇: viscosity 𝑙𝑏𝑚 /ℎ𝑟. 𝑓𝑡
∆𝑇: temperature 𝐹
9
Solution
𝐵𝑡𝑢
L.H.S ℎ=
ℎ𝑟 . 𝑓𝑡 2 . 𝐹
R.H.S
1ൗ 1ൗ
3 2 4
𝐵𝑡𝑢 𝑙𝑏 𝑓𝑡 𝐵𝑡𝑢 𝐵𝑡𝑢3 𝑙𝑏2 𝑓𝑡 𝐵𝑡𝑢 4
. . .
ℎ𝑟 . 𝑓𝑡. 𝐹 𝑓𝑡 3 ℎ𝑟 2 𝑙𝑏 ℎ𝑟 3 . 𝑓𝑡 3 . 𝐹 3 𝑓𝑡 6 ℎ𝑟 2 𝑙𝑏
= 0.943 = 0.943
𝑙𝑏𝑚 𝑙𝑏𝑚
𝑓𝑡 𝐹 𝑓𝑡. .𝐹
ℎ𝑟. 𝑓𝑡 ℎ𝑟. 𝑓𝑡
1ൗ
𝐵𝑡𝑢4 . 𝑙𝑏 4
1ൗ
ℎ𝑟 5 . 𝑓𝑡 9 . 𝐹3 𝐵𝑡𝑢4 4
= 0.943 = 0.943
𝑙𝑏𝑚 . 𝐹 ℎ𝑟 4 . 𝑓𝑡 8 . 𝐹 4
ℎ𝑟. 𝑓𝑡
𝐵𝑡𝑢
𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆 = 0.943
𝑓𝑡 2 . ℎ𝑟. 𝐹
L.H.S= R.H.S
𝐵𝑡𝑢 𝐵𝑡𝑢
= 0.943
𝑓𝑡 2 . ℎ𝑟. 𝐹 𝑓𝑡 2 . ℎ𝑟. 𝐹
∴ unit of 0.943 is dimensionless 10
Example 5
The equation for the velocity of a fluid stream measured with a Pitot Tube is

2 ∆𝑃
𝑢=
𝜌

Where:
𝑢: is the velocity
∆𝑃: is the pressure drop
𝜌: is the density of the fluid

1. Is the equation dimensionally consistent?

2. If the pressure drop is 15 𝑚𝑚 𝐻𝑔, and the density of the fluid is 1.2 𝑔/𝑐𝑚3 , calculate the velocity in 𝑓𝑡/𝑠
Solution
1. To check consistency of the equation, we will choose SI unit

𝑢 = 𝑚/𝑠

𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
∆𝑃 = 𝑃𝑎 = , 𝜌= 3
𝑚. 𝑠 2 𝑚 11
𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆 = 𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆
𝑘𝑔
𝑚 𝑚. 𝑠 2
=
𝑠 𝑘𝑔
𝑚3
𝑚 𝑚2 𝑚
= 2
= ∴ The equation is dimensionally consistency
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
2 ∆𝑃
2. 𝑢 =
𝜌
1.013 × 105 𝑃𝑎
∆𝑃 = 15 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔 ∗ = 2000 𝑃𝑎
760 𝑚𝑚𝐻𝑔
𝑘𝑔
𝑔 1000 𝑘𝑔
𝜌 = 1.2 ∗ 𝑚3 = 1200
𝑐𝑚3 𝑔 𝑚3
1 3
𝑐𝑚
2 2000
𝑢= = 1.825 𝑚/𝑠
1200
𝑚 3.28 𝑓𝑡
𝑢 = 1.825 ∗ = 5.98 𝑓𝑡/𝑠
𝑠 𝑚 12
Homework 1
Q1: Check the dimensional consistency of the following equation

𝒒 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟏𝟓 𝑳 − 𝟎. 𝟐 𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒐 𝟏.𝟓 𝟐𝒈
Where
𝑞: volumetric flowrate 𝑓𝑡 3 /𝑠

𝐿: crest height 𝑓𝑡

ℎ𝑜 : eeir head 𝑓𝑡

𝑔: acceleration of gravity 32.2 𝑓𝑡/𝑠 2

13
14