Fluid mechanics: Bernoulli's equation and conservation of mass

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a mechanical servo-mechanism involving fluid dynamics, specifically applying Bernoulli's equation and the conservation of mass to a system with a movable piston-cylinder setup connected to a venturi contraction in a pipe. The problem involves calculating the required diameter of the venturi throat based on flow rates and forces acting on the piston.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the application of Bernoulli's equation and conservation of mass, questioning the setup and the inclusion of gravitational effects in the calculations. There are attempts to clarify the relationship between pressure differences and flow velocities, as well as the implications of height differences in the system.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights into the equations used and questioning the assumptions made in the problem setup. Some participants suggest that neglecting hydrostatic effects could lead to significant errors, while others explore the implications of pressure distribution across the cross-section of the pipes.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem may not explicitly state the conditions under which the force on the piston is measured, particularly regarding the fluid's state (at rest vs. flowing). There is also mention of the geometry of the system affecting the pressure readings, indicating potential complexities in the analysis.

TimeRip496
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Homework Statement


A mechanical servo-mechanism comprising of a movable piston-cylinder within a vertical cylinder operates based on a venturi contraction in a horizontal 350mm diameter pipe that delivers a fluid of relative density 0.95. The upper end of the 100mm diameter vertical cylinder is connected by a pipe to the throat of the venturi, while the lower end of the cylinder is connected by a pipe to the pipe inlet. The piston in the cylinder is to be lifted vertically when the flow through the venturi exceeds 0.15m3 /s, such that it will activate a controller to throttle back the flow rate. Note that the piston rod is known to have a diameter of 20mm and that it passes through both ends of the vertical cylinder. Neglecting friction, calculate the diameter required of the venturi throat if the gross effective load on the piston rod is 180N.
Ans: 0.162m
upload_2018-8-24_16-8-57.png

Homework Equations


Benoulli equation & conservation of mass

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried solving using Bernoulli's equation and conservation of mass.

$$0.15=0.175^2\pi* v_p=r_t^2*\pi*v_t$$
where the subscript p represents location at pipe inlet while t represents location at throat

Area of cylinder is,$$(0.05^2-0.01^2)\pi = 0.00024\pi$$
Pressure difference in area of cylinder is,
$$P_p -P_t=180/(0.0024\pi)=23873$$
$$P_p + 0.5\rho v_p^2 = P_t + 0.5\rho v_t^2 +\rho *g(0.175-r_t)$$
$$\rho=950, \ \ g=9.81, \ \ v_p=1.56$$
$$r_t=\sqrt{\frac{0.15}{\pi*v_t}}$$
After subbing in, $$25028.96=475*v_t^2+9319.5(0.175-\sqrt{\frac{0.15}{\pi*v_t}})$$

I can only solved after I can get velocity at throat. But I am stuck at the above part.
 

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Your post would be easier to read if you'd use symbols without plugging in preliminary numbers.

What you've achieved so far:

1) Mass conservation:

$$\dot{V}=r_p^2 \pi v_p = r_t^2 \pi v_t $$

2) The necessary pressure difference to generate the required force ##F_{Piston}##:

$$p_p-p_t=\left( r_{out}^2-r_{in}^2\right)\pi F_{Piston}=A_{Piston} F_{Piston} $$

TimeRip496 said:

The Attempt at a Solution


I tried solving using Bernoulli's equation and conservation of mass.

$$P_p + 0.5\rho v_p^2 = P_t + 0.5\rho v_t^2 +\rho *g(0.175-r_t)$$

3) Bernoulli:

$$p_p+\frac{v_p^2\rho}{2}=p_t+\frac{v_t^2\rho}{2}\underbrace{+\rho g \left(r_p-r_t\right)}_{?}$$

Why did you add this last term to the RHS of the Bernoulli equation?
 
stockzahn said:
Your post would be easier to read if you'd use symbols without plugging in preliminary numbers.

What you've achieved so far:

1) Mass conservation:

$$\dot{V}=r_p^2 \pi v_p = r_t^2 \pi v_t $$

2) The necessary pressure difference to generate the required force ##F_{Piston}##:

$$p_p-p_t=\left( r_{out}^2-r_{in}^2\right)\pi F_{Piston}=A_{Piston} F_{Piston} $$
3) Bernoulli:

$$p_p+\frac{v_p^2\rho}{2}=p_t+\frac{v_t^2\rho}{2}\underbrace{+\rho g \left(r_p-r_t\right)}_{?}$$

Why did you add this last term to the RHS of the Bernoulli equation?
I think because the height difference for the tube at the throat compared to the tube at the pipe inlet will have gravitational energy which will affect the flow in the system. The rp is supposed to be on the LHS and I bring it to the RHS to include the gravitational effects due to height difference.
 
TimeRip496 said:
I think because the height difference for the tube at the throat compared to the tube at the pipe inlet will have gravitational energy which will affect the flow in the system. The rp is supposed to be on the LHS and I bring it to the RHS to include the gravitational effects due to height difference.

Where is (the line of) the center of mass of the flow at the entrance (position ##p##) and where is it at the most narrow cross section (position ##t##)?

Edit: In the drawing it is marked very well...
 
stockzahn said:
Where is (the line of) the center of mass of the flow at the entrance (position ##p##) and where is it at the most narrow cross section (position ##t##)?

Edit: In the drawing it is marked very well...
Thanks! However, in reality, it is supposed to include the gravitational effects right? This is because the tubes used to measure the pressure are not placed in the center!
 
TimeRip496 said:
Thanks! However, in reality, it is supposed to include the gravitational effects right? This is because the tubes used to measure the pressure are not placed in the center!

If you want to take into account the pressure distribution over the cross section - yes. But since you treat the problem as 1-dimensional to solve the Bernoulli equation you don't take it into account. I suppose you could use the difference of the fluid height to correct the pressures at the small pipes connected with the piston:

$$p_p + \rho g 2 r_p - \left(p_t+\rho g 2 r_t\right)= p_p-p_t+\rho g 2 \left(r_p-r_t\right)=\left( r_{out}^2-r_{in}^2\right)\pi F_{Piston}=A_{Piston} F_{Piston} $$

This would lead to the same problem you had (a equation you have to solve numerically). However neglecting the hydrostatic head with the given geometry results in a mistake of about 10 % (a little less).

Edit: If there is no flow the difference in hydrostatic head exists as well, therefore it cancels out before and during the measurement. So maybe the problem statement should say: a force of 180 N compared to the fluid at rest.
 
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stockzahn said:
If you want to take into account the pressure distribution over the cross section - yes. But since you treat the problem as 1-dimensional to solve the Bernoulli equation you don't take it into account. I suppose you could use the difference of the fluid height to correct the pressures at the small pipes connected with the piston:

$$p_p + \rho g 2 r_p - \left(p_t+\rho g 2 r_t\right)= p_p-p_t+\rho g 2 \left(r_p-r_t\right)=\left( r_{out}^2-r_{in}^2\right)\pi F_{Piston}=A_{Piston} F_{Piston} $$

This would lead to the same problem you had (a equation you have to solve numerically). However neglecting the hydrostatic head with the given geometry results in a mistake of about 10 % (a little less).

Edit: If there is no flow the difference in hydrostatic head exists as well, therefore it cancels out before and during the measurement. So maybe the problem statement should say: a force of 180 N compared to the fluid at rest.
Thanks a lot!
 
stockzahn said:
If you want to take into account the pressure distribution over the cross section - yes. But since you treat the problem as 1-dimensional to solve the Bernoulli equation you don't take it into account. I suppose you could use the difference of the fluid height to correct the pressures at the small pipes connected with the piston:

$$p_p + \rho g 2 r_p - \left(p_t+\rho g 2 r_t\right)= p_p-p_t+\rho g 2 \left(r_p-r_t\right)=\left( r_{out}^2-r_{in}^2\right)\pi F_{Piston}=A_{Piston} F_{Piston} $$

This would lead to the same problem you had (a equation you have to solve numerically). However neglecting the hydrostatic head with the given geometry results in a mistake of about 10 % (a little less).

Edit: If there is no flow the difference in hydrostatic head exists as well, therefore it cancels out before and during the measurement. So maybe the problem statement should say: a force of 180 N compared to the fluid at rest.
The system is hydroststic in the vertical direction, so the vertical pressure variations cancel out.
 
Chestermiller said:
The system is hydroststic in the vertical direction, so the vertical pressure variations cancel out.

I think that's what I tried to say with my last sentence:

stockzahn said:
Edit: If there is no flow the difference in hydrostatic head exists as well, therefore it cancels out before and during the measurement. So maybe the problem statement should say: a force of 180 N compared to the fluid at rest.

Or do you mean something else and I did get it wrong?
 
  • #10
I didn't quite follow, so I thought I would clarify a little more.
 

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