Adiabatic conditions, compressible fluid flow

Compressible fluid flow occurs between the two extremes of isothermal and adiabatic conditions. For adiabatic flow the temperature decreases (normally) for decreases in pressure, and the condition is represented by p V (k) = constant. Adiabatic flow is often assumed in short and well-insulated pipe, supporting the assumption that no heat is transferred to or from the pipe contents, except for the small heat generated by fricdon during flow. Isothermal pVa = constant temperature, and is the mechanism usually (not always) assumed for most process piping design. This is in reality close to actual conditions for many process and utility service applications. 

Compressibility of a gas flowing in a pipe can have significant effect on the relation between flowrate and the pressures at the two ends. Changes in fluid density can arise as a result of changes in either temperature or pressure, or in both, and the flow will be affected by the rate of heat transfer between the pipe and the surroundings. Two limiting cases of particular interest are for isothermal and adiabatic conditions. 

The problems of micro-hydrodynamics were considered in different contexts (1) drag in micro-channels with a hydraulic diameter from 10 m to 10 m at laminar, transient and turbulent single-phase flows, (2) heat transfer in liquid and gas flows in small channels, and (3) two-phase flow in adiabatic and heated microchannels. The smdies performed in these directions encompass a vast class of problems related to flow of incompressible and compressible fluids in regular and irregular micro-channels under adiabatic conditions, heat transfer, as well as phase change. 

The mass flow rate under adiabatic conditions is always somewhat greater than that under isothermal conditions, but the difference is normally <20%. In fact, for long piping systems (L/D > 1000), the difference is usually less than 5% (see, e.g., Holland, 1973). The flow of compressible (as well as incompressible) fluids through nozzles and orifices will be considered in the following chapter on flow-measuring devices. 

The scope of coverage includes internal flows of Newtonian and non-Newtonian incompressible fluids, adiabatic and isothermal compressible flows (up to sonic or choking conditions), two-phase (gas-liquid, solid-liquid, and gas-solid) flows, external flows (e.g., drag), and flow in porous media. Applications include dimensional analysis and scale-up, piping systems with fittings for Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids (for unknown driving force, unknown flow rate, unknown diameter, or most economical diameter), compressible pipe flows up to choked flow, flow measurement and control, pumps, compressors, fluid-particle separation methods (e.g.,... 

Strictly speaking, most of the equations that are presented in the preceding part of this chapter apply only to incompressible fluids but practically, they may be used for all liquids and even for gases and vapors where the pressure differential is small relative to the total pressure. As in the case of incompressible fluids, equations may be derived for ideal frictionless flow and then a coefficient introduced to obtain a correct result. The ideal conditions that will be imposed for a compressible fluid are that it is frictionless and that there is to be no transfer of heat that is, the flow is adiabatic. This last is practically true for metering devices, as the time for the fluid to pass through is so short that very little heat transfer can take place. Because of the variation in density with both pressure and temperature, it is necessary to express rate of discharge in terms of weight rather than volume. Also, the continuity equation must now be... 

The flow of compressible fluids (e.g., gases and vapors) through pipelines and other restrictions is often affected by changing conditions of pressure, temperature, and physical properties. The densities of gases and vapors vary with temperature and pressure. During isothermal flow, i.e., constant temperature (PV = constant) density varies with pressure. Conversely, in adiabatic flow, i.e., no heat loss (PV " = constant), a decrease in temperature occurs when pressure decreases, resulting in a density increase. At high pressures and temperatures, the compressibility factor can be less than unity, which results in an increase in the fluid density. 

For a steady flow of an incompressible fluid in a uniform pipe, the only property that varies along the pipe is pressure. However, for a compressible fluid when the pressure varies (i.e., drops), the density also drops, which means that the velocity must increase for a given mass flow. The kinetic energy thus increases, which results in a decrease in the internal energy and the temperature. This process is usually described as adiabatic, or locally isentropic, with the effect of friction loss included separately. A limiting case is the isothermal condition, although special means are usually required to achieve constant temperature. Under isothermal conditions for an ideal gas. 

The temperature of the fluid in compressible flow through a conduit of constant cross section may be kept constant by a transfer of heat through the conduit wall. Long, small, uninsulated pipes in contact with air transmit suflicient heat to keep the flow nearly isothermal. Also, for small Mach numbers, the pressure pattern for isothermal flow is nearly the same as that for adiabatic flow for the same entrance conditions, and the simpler equations for isothermal flow may be used. The maximum velocity attainable in isothermal flow is... 

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