Fluid dynamics laminar velocity profile

For laminar flow (ReD < 2100) that is fully developed, both hydro-dynamically and thermally, the Nusselt number has a constant value. For a uniform wall temperature, NuD = 3.66. For a uniform heat flux through the tube wall, NuD = 4.36. In both cases, the thermal conductivity of the fluid in NuD is evaluated at Tb. The distance x required for a fully developed laminar velocity profile is given by [(x/D)/ReD] 0.05. The distance x required for fully developed velocity and thermal profiles is obtained from [(x/D)/(ReD Pr)] = 0.05. 

This transition has profound effects in all fluid dynamics, and certainly so in aerodynamics. The velocity profile in (he boundary layer becomes fuller neat the surface on account of Ihe higher average kinetic energy of the layer created by turbulent energy exchange from layer lo layer. The effective viscosity is therefore larger in turbulent than laminar flow, ihe turbulent boundary layer thickens more rapidly downstream, the skin friction increases. 

In macroscopic reactors, knowledge of the velocity profile in the channel cross-section is a necessary and sufficient prerequisite to describe the material transport. In microscopic dimensions down to a few micrometers, diffusion also has to be considered. In fact, without the influence of diffusion, extremely broad residence time distributions would be found because of the laminar flow conditions. Superposition of convection and diffusion is called dispersion. Taylor [91] was among the first to notice this strong dominating effect in laminar flow. It is possible to transfer his deduction to rectangular channels. A complete fluid dynamic description has been given of the flow, including effects such as the influence of the wall, the aspect ratio and a chemical wall reaction on the concentration field in the cross-section [37]. 

E/N, f(u) as well as of the fluid dynamics of the chemical discharge reactor i.e., type of flow (plug, laminar, turbulent) and related dimensionless quantities relevant to the definition of (a) velocity profiles and corresponding effective residence times,... 

Consider the case of a Newtonian fluid undergoing laminar, pressure-driven flow between two parallel, infinite flat plates separated by a distance B (Figure 1.10). The bottom plate is stationary and the top plate moves at a constant velocity Fup. For a constant dynamic pressure gradient, AP/Ax, P = p - g -r,-we wish to calculate the resulting velocity profile. 

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