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Lecture 8 Continuity Equation

The document discusses the continuity equation in fluid dynamics. It can be summarized as: 1. The continuity equation states that the product of a pipe's cross-sectional area and the fluid velocity at any point along the pipe is constant. This product is equal to the volume flow rate or simply the flow rate. 2. It is derived by considering the mass flux at the lower and upper ends of a pipe with non-uniform cross-sectional areas. The mass flux must be equal since the flow is steady and incompressible. 3. This leads to the general form of the continuity equation: the density times the cross-sectional area times the velocity is constant along the pipe. For an incompress

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BAZIL HASSAN SAIF
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879 views7 pages

Lecture 8 Continuity Equation

The document discusses the continuity equation in fluid dynamics. It can be summarized as: 1. The continuity equation states that the product of a pipe's cross-sectional area and the fluid velocity at any point along the pipe is constant. This product is equal to the volume flow rate or simply the flow rate. 2. It is derived by considering the mass flux at the lower and upper ends of a pipe with non-uniform cross-sectional areas. The mass flux must be equal since the flow is steady and incompressible. 3. This leads to the general form of the continuity equation: the density times the cross-sectional area times the velocity is constant along the pipe. For an incompress

Uploaded by

BAZIL HASSAN SAIF
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Kinematics of Fluid Flow

Lecture -8
By
Hafiz Usman Tariq
Continuity Equation

“The product of cross sectional area of the pipe and


the fluid speed at any point along the pipe is
constant. This product is equal to the volume flow
per second or simply flow rate.”
Mathematically:
Area of X-section * Velocity = Constant
A*v = Q
Derivation

Consider a fluid flowing through a pipe of non uniform size. The


particles in the fluid move along the same lines in a steady flow.
If we consider the flow for a short interval of time Δt, the fluid at the
lower end of the pipe covers a distance Δx1 with a velocity v1 ,then:
Distance covered by the fluid = Δx1 = v1Δt
Let A1 be the area of cross section of the lower end then volume of
the fluid that flows into the pipe at the lower end :
V= A1 Δx1 = A1 v1 Δt
If ρ is the density of the fluid, then the mass of the fluid contained in the
shaded region of lower end of the pipe is:
Δm1=Density × volume
Δm1 = ρ1A1v1Δt ——–(1)
Now the mass flux, defined as the mass of the fluid per unit time passing
through any cross section, at lower end is:
Δm1/Δt =ρ1A1v1
Mass flux at lower end = ρ1A1v1 ———————(2)
If the fluid moves with velocity v2 through the upper end of pipe having cross
sectional area A2 in time Δt, then the mass flux at the upper end is given by:
Δm2/Δt = ρ2A2v2
Mass flux at upper end =ρ2A2v2 ———————–(3)
Since the flow is steady, so the density of the fluid between the lower and upper end of
the pipe does not change with time. Thus the mass flux at the lower end must be equal
to the mass flux at the upper end so:
ρ1A1v1 = ρ2A2v2 ———————-(4)

In more general form we can write :


ρ A v =constant
This relation describes the law of conservation of mass in fluid dynamics. If the fluid
is in compressible ,then density is constant for steady flow of in-compressible fluid so
ρ1 =ρ2
Now equation (4) can be written as:
A1 v1 = A2 v2
In general:
A v = constant If rate of flow = Q then,
A*v = Q
Continuity Equation
Application of Continuity Equation

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