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Compressible flow across a varying area passage

Aim

To study the compressible flow characteristics across a varying area passage in the subsonic and
supersonic flow regime by the measurement of static pressure distribution across it.

Introduction

One of the varying area passages that are chiefly used in engineering applications is nozzle. Flow
through a nozzle is a variant of internal flow with additional effects of compressibility and possible
presence of shocks. Such situations arise in gas or vapor flows when there is a constriction in a passage
across which there is a pressure difference, e.g. operation of safety valves, rupture of a high-pressure
vessel or a tyre, flow through turbine / compressor blades and nozzles. The simplest analysis of these
flows is based on 1-dimensional flow without boundary layer effect. The working fluid is usually taken as
an ideal gas. The presence of shocks, and their interaction with a surface/boundary layer, is an
important aspect of this class of flows.

Nozzle is an energy transformation device which converts the pressure energy into kinetic
energy, i.e., increase in the velocity of flow. It is used in many applications such as propulsion devices,
flow measurement devices, wind tunnels etc. In most of the applications, the nozzle is operated
continuously by keeping fixed end states and hence it is also called as steady flow energy device. For an
ideal nozzle, the irreversibilities caused by friction, boundary layer separation, shock wave interaction
with boundary layer are absent which results in complete transformation of change in pressure energy
to kinetic energy without losses. In the ideal case, the change in the entropy internal to the system is
zero and hence the entropy at the initial and end state of the nozzle is constant and such a nozzle is
called isentropic nozzle. Actual or real nozzle deviates from ideal nozzle due to the presence of
irreversibilities and results in lower level of energy transformation and results in the positive change in
the entropy internal to the system. The Mollier diagram of a nozzle operating at both ideal and real
conditions are shown in Figure 1.


Figure 1. Mollier diagram of nozzle operating at both ideal conditions and real conditions with losses [1]

Figure 2: Effect of back pressure on the flow through a CD nozzle [1]




Figure 3. Experimental rig for nozzle studies

The geometry of the nozzle can be either convergent or convergent-divergent according to the
requirement. In propulsion devices, thrust is directly related to the nozzle performance. Hence it is
mandatory to transform the highest possible pressure energy into kinetic energy. As it plays a pivotal
role in the propulsion devices, in the present experiment, the nozzle performance will be investigated by
measuring the static pressure distribution across a convergent or CD nozzle. The flow across the nozzle
can be either subsonic or supersonic according to the need of the application. In the present
experiment, a CD nozzle will be analyzed. The typical pressure and Mach number profile across the CD
nozzle for different back pressure by keeping the inlet stagnation pressure constant is shown in Figure 2.

Experimental rig and procedure:
The experimental rig comprises of air compressor, feeding pipe lines, pressure regulator, ball valve,
nozzle with pressure tapping points along its profile, bourdon pressure gauge and rotameter. Three
different nozzles such as two different CD nozzles with different divergent angle and a convergent type
nozzle are available. The experimental rig is shown in Figure 3. The area ratios of all the existing nozzles
are shown in Table 1.
One of the nozzles is mounted and it is ensured that there are no leakages. The exit flow regulating
valve will be fully closed. Pressure regulator at the exit of the compressor storage tank is set slightly
above the desired pressure. The readings at all the pressure gauges are noted down and all the pressure
values should be same as there is no flow. Then the exit flow regulating valve is opened in such a fashion
that the outlet pressure is reduced of 50 kPa than the inlet pressure. After ensuring no change in the
readings in the pressure gauges, all the readings are recorded. As there is flow across the nozzle, the
mass flow rate across the nozzle is measured using a rotameter and it is recorded. Similarly, the exit flow
regulating valve is opened and for different outlet or back pressures, the pressure profile across the
nozzle is recorded. Once the outlet pressure becomes atmospheric, the experiment is completed. All the
measurements need to be recorded in the observation sheet format shown in Table 2.

Table 1 Area ratio across the nozzles A, B and C

















CD Nozzle A
Nominal throat diameter
= 2 mm
Tapping Area ratio
(Local/Throat)
1 1.44
2 1
3 1.13
4 1.28
5 1.42
6 1.59
7 1.77
8 1.94
CD Nozzle B
Nominal throat diameter
= 2 mm
Tapping Area ratio
(Local/Throat)
1 1.44
2 1
3 1.13
4 1.28
5 1.42
Convergent Nozzle C
Nominal throat diameter
= 2 mm
Tapping Area ratio
(Local/Throat)
1 2.05
2 1.75
3 1.48
4 1.2
5 1.03
6 1
Table 2 Observation sheet for pressure distribution across the varying passage area
T
i

(C)
T
o

(C)
p
i

(kPa)
p
o

(kPa)
p
1

(kPa)
p
2

(kPa)
p
3

(kPa)
p
4

(kPa)
p
5

(kPa)
p
6

(kPa)
p
7

(kPa)
p
8

(kPa)
air
m
(g/s)



Results and discussion:
1. Calculate the critical pressure ratio?
2. Estimate the theoretical mass flow rate at the exit of the nozzle for each back pressure condition
and compare it with theoretical calculations?
3. Estimate the Mach number from the measured pressure profile if possible?
4. Draw the pressure profile across the nozzle for each back pressure condition in a single plot and
comment on each line reg. the type of flow in the convergent and divergent (if it exists)?


1. Thermodynamics (5
th
edition), Y.A. Cengel and M.A. Boles

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