Reynolds number analysis

The dimensional analysis reported in the previous section does not include the influence of channel aspect ratio or size. We try to bring the effect of channel cross-section size in this section. In comparison to the example discussed in the last section, most systems are characterized by more than one length scale, which leads to a more involved Reynolds number analysis. As an example, consider a section of length L and width w of the infinite, parallel-plate channel with height h shown in Figure 2.5. The system is translation invariant... 

The phenomena are quite complex even for pipe flow. Efforts to predict the onset of instabiHty have been made using linear stabiHty theory. The analysis predicts that laminar flow in pipes is stable at all values of the Reynolds number. In practice, the laminar—turbulent transition is found to occur at a Reynolds number of about 2000, although by careful design of the pipe inlet it can be postponed to as high as 40,000. It appears that linear stabiHty analysis is not appHcable in this situation. 

Dimensional analysis (qv) shows that is generally a function of the particle Reynolds number ... 

Suppose that an experiment were set up to determine the values of drag for various combinations of O, p, and ]1. If each variable is to be tested at ten values, then it would require lO" = 10, 000 tests for all combinations of these values. On the other hand, as a result of dimensional analysis the drag can be calculated by means of the drag coefficient, which, being a function of the Reynolds number Ke, can be uniquely determined by the values of Ke. Thus, for data of equal accuracy, it now requires only 10 tests at ten different values of Ke instead of 10,000, a remarkable saving in experiments. 

In addition, dimensional analysis can be used in the design of scale experiments. For example, if a spherical storage tank of diameter dis to be constmcted, the problem is to determine windload at a velocity p. Equations 34 and 36 indicate that, once the drag coefficient Cg is known, the drag can be calculated from Cg immediately. But Cg is uniquely determined by the value of the Reynolds number Ke. Thus, a scale model can be set up to simulate the Reynolds number of the spherical tank. To this end, let a sphere of diameter tC be immersed in a fluid of density p and viscosity ]1 and towed at the speed of p o. Requiting that this model experiment have the same Reynolds number as the spherical storage tank gives... 

The existing data indicate that fcja is proportional to the square root of the solute-diffusion coefficient, and since the interfacial area a does not depend on Dl, it follows that /cl is proportional to Dl. An analysis of the design variables involved indicates that /cl should be proportional to Nsc when the Reynolds number is held constant. 

Friction Factor and Reynolds Number For a Newtonian fluid in a smooth pipe, dimensional analysis relates the frictional pressure drop per unit length AP/L to the pipe diameter D, density p, and average velocity V through two dimensionless groups, the Fanning friction factor/and the Reynolds number Re. 

Damkdhler (1936) studied the above subjects with the help of dimensional analysis. He concluded from the differential equations, describing chemical reactions in a flow system, that four dimensionless numbers can be derived as criteria for similarity. These four and the Reynolds number are needed to characterize reacting flow systems. He realized that scale-up on this basis can only be achieved by giving up complete similarity. The recognition that these basic dimensionless numbers have general and wider applicability came only in the 1960s. The Damkdhler numbers will be used for the basis of discussion of the subject presented here as follows ... 

Dimensional analysis leads to various dimensionless parameters, wliieli are based on the dimension s mass (M), length (L), and time T). Based on these elements, one ean obtain various independent parameters sueh as density (p), viseosity (/i), speed (A ), diameter ( )), and veloeity (V). The independent parameters lead to forming various dimensionless groups, whieh are used in fluid meehanies of turbomaehines. Reynolds number is the ratio of the inertia forees to the viseous forees... 

The result is a modified Euler number. You can prove to yourself that the pressure drop over the particle can be obtained by accounting for the projected area of the particle through particle size, S, in the denominator. Thus, by application of dimensional analysis to the force balance expression, a relationship between the dimensionless complexes of the Euler and Reynolds numbers, we obtain ... 

Figure 5-11 [28] presents an analysis of pumping number versus Reynolds Number for various vessel dimensional relationships, for turbine mixers. 

The hypothesis on the earlier transition from laminar to turbulent flow in micro-tubes is based on analysis of the dependence of pressure gradient on Reynolds number. As shown by the experimental data by Mala and Li (1999), this dependence may be approximated by three power functions AP Re (Re < 600),... 

All available experimental data (except the data by Peng and Peterson 1996 Peng and Wang 1998) show that the friction factor is inversely proportional to the Reynolds number, i.e., A = const/Re. The constant depends on the micro-channel shape only and agrees fairly well with the result of a dimensional analysis carried... 

Heat transfer in micro-channels occurs under superposition of hydrodynamic and thermal effects, determining the main characteristics of this process. Experimental study of the heat transfer in micro-channels is problematic because of their small size, which makes a direct diagnostics of temperature field in the fluid and the wall difficult. Certain information on mechanisms of this phenomenon can be obtained by analysis of the experimental data, in particular, by comparison of measurements with predictions that are based on several models of heat transfer in circular, rectangular and trapezoidal micro-channels. This approach makes it possible to estimate the applicability of the conventional theory, and the correctness of several hypotheses related to the mechanism of heat transfer. It is possible to reveal the effects of the Reynolds number, axial conduction, energy dissipation, heat losses to the environment, etc., on the heat transfer. 

The above analysis is restricted to high Reynolds numbers, although the definition of high is different in a stirred tank than in a circular pipe. The Reynolds number for a conventionally agitated vessel is defined as... 

The analysis of two-phase tubular contactors and pipelines is complicated because of the variety of configurations that the two-phase mixture may assume in these systems. The design engineer must have knowledge of the flow pattern that results from a given set of operating conditions if the in situ quantities such as pressure drop, holdup of each phase, phase Reynolds numbers, and interfacial area are to be determined. These in situ quantities must be known if the rate of heat transfer is to be predicted. 

For gas-liquid flows in Regime I, the Lockhart and Martinelli analysis described in Section I,B can be used to calculate the pressure drop, phase holdups, hydraulic diameters, and phase Reynolds numbers. Once these quantities are known, the liquid phase may be treated as a single-phase fluid flowing in an open channel, and the liquid-phase wall heat-transfer coefficient and Peclet number may be calculated in the same manner as in Section lI,B,l,a. The gas-phase Reynolds number is always larger than the liquid-phase Reynolds number, and it is probable that the gas phase is well mixed at any axial position therefore, Pei is assumed to be infinite. The dimensionless group M is easily evaluated from the operating conditions and physical properties. 

All models for turbulent flows are semiempirical in nature, so it is necessary to rely upon empirical observations (e.g., data) for a quantitative description of friction loss in such flows. For Newtonian fluids in long tubes, we have shown from dimensional analysis that the friction factor should be a unique function of the Reynolds number and the relative roughness of the tube wall. This result has been used to correlate a wide range of measurements for a range of tube sizes, with a variety of fluids, and for a wide range of flow rates in terms of a generalized plot of/ versus /VRe- with e/D as a parameter. This correlation, shown in Fig. 6-4, is called a Moody diagram. 

It should be noted that a dimensional analysis of this problem results in one more dimensionless group than for the Newtonian fluid, because there is one more fluid rheological property (e.g., m and n for the power law fluid, versus fi for the Newtonian fluid). However, the parameter n is itself dimensionless and thus constitutes the additional dimensionless group, even though it is integrated into the Reynolds number as it has been defined. Note also that because n is an empirical parameter and can take on any value, the units in expressions for power law fluids can be complex. Thus, the calculations are simplified if a scientific system of dimensional units is used (e.g., SI or cgs), which avoids the necessity of introducing the conversion factor gc. In fact, the evaluation of most dimensionless groups is usually simplified by the use of such units. 

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