chapter

1
BASIC CONCEPTS
OF
FLUID
MECHANICS

OBJECTIVES
After completing this chapter, student should
be able to;
Compare between a gas, liquid and solid
Describe pressure and temperature scales
Apply physical properties of fluids

INTRODUCTION TO FLUID
MECHANICS
Fluid Mechanics is a section of applied mechanics, concerned with
the static and dynamic of liquid and gases.
Knowledge of fluid mechanics is essential for the chemical engineer
because the majority of chemical processing operations are
conducted either partially or totally in fluid phase.
The handling of liquids is much simpler, cheaper and less troublesome
than handling solids. Even in many operations a solid is handled in a
finely divided state so that it stays in suspension in a fluid.

FLUID AND THEIR PROPERTIES

luid can be defined as a substance which can
deformed
continuously
when
being
subjected
to
shear
stress
at
any
magnitude.
In other words, it can flow
continuously as a result of shearing action.
This includes any liquid or gas.

FLUID AND THEIR PROPERTIES

Differences Between Solids And Fluids
The molecules of a solid are usually closer
together than those of a fluid. The attractive
forces between the molecules of a solid are so
large that a solid tends to retain its shape.
This is not the case for a fluid, where the
attractive forces between the molecules are
smaller.

FLUID AND THEIR PROPERTIES

Liquids and Gases
Fluids can be either liquids or gases.
A liquid is difficult to compress and for
many
purposes
may
be
regarded
as
incompressible.
A given mass of liquid
occupies a fixed volume, irrespective of the
size or shape of its container, and a free
surface is formed if the volume of container is
greater than that of liquid.

FLUID AND THEIR PROPERTIES

Liquids and Gases
A gas is comparatively easy to compress or
compressible.
Changes of volume with
pressure are large, cannot normally neglect
and are related to changes of temperature.
A given mass of a gas has no fixed volume
and
will
expand
continuously
unless
restrained by a containing vessel.
It will
completely fill any vessel in which it is placed
and therefore does not form a free surface

FLUID AND THEIR PROPERTIES

Solid, Liquids and Gases

PRESSURE
ressure is defined as the amount of force
exerted on a unit area of a substance. This
can be stated by the equation;

nits : Nm-2 or Pascal, Pa i.e. 1 Pa = 1Nm-2, 1

bar = 105Nm-2 , Pound per Square Inch (PSI),
mm Hg (Mercury)
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PRESSURE
Atmospheric Pressure, patm
The earth is surrounded by an atmosphere many miles
high. The pressure due to this atmosphere at the surface
of the earth depends upon the head of the air above
the surface.
The air is compressible; therefore the density is
different at different height. Due to the weight of
atmosphere or air above the surface of earth, it is difficult
to calculate the atmospheric pressure. So, atmospheric
pressure is measured by the height of column of liquid
that it can support.
Atmospheric pressure at sea level is about 101.325
kN/m2, which is equivalent to a head of 10.35 m of
water or 760 mm of mercury approximately, and it
decreases with altitude.
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PRESSURE
Atmospheric Pressure, patm

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PRESSURE
Gauge Pressure, pG
It is the pressure, measured with the help
of a pressure measuring instrument, in
which the atmospheric pressure is taken
as datum; in other words the atmospheric
pressure at the gauge scale is marked zero.
The gauge pressure can be either positive or
negative depending on whether the pressure
is above
atmospheric
pressure
(a
positive value) or below atmospheric
pressure (a negative value).

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PRESSURE
Absolute Pressure, pA
It is the pressure equal to the algebraic sum of
the atmospheric and gauge pressures.

Example 1
What is the pressure gauge of air in the cylinder if the atmospheric
gauge is 101.3 kN/m2 and absolute pressure is 460 kN/m2.
[Ans: 358.7 kN/m2]

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PRESSURE
Example 1
What is the pressure gauge of air in the cylinder if the atmospheric gauge is
101.3 kN/m2 and absolute pressure is 460 kN/m2.
Solution

14

TEMPERATURE
Temperature is a physical quantity that is a
measure of hotness and coldness on a
numerical scale.
By international agreement the standard
fixed point is the easily reproducible triple
point of water. These are represented by
the state of equilibrium between steam,
ice and liquid water.

15

TEMPERATURE

16

TEMPERATURE
Example 1.2
Convert the temperature
below:
i. 200C to K.
ii. 250 C to F
iii. 365 F to R
iv. 450 R to K
v. 410 K to F

17

TEMPERATURE

Example 1.2
Convert the temperature
below:
i. 200C to K.
ii. 250 C to F
iii. 365 F to R
iv. 450 R to K
v. 410 K to F

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS

20

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS

w @ 4oC = 9.81kN/m3
kg/m3

w @ 4oC = 1000

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS

Viscosity
A fluid at rest cannot resist shearing forces but
once it is in motion, shearing forces are set up
between layers of fluid moving at different
velocities.
The viscosity of the fluid determines the ability of
the fluid in resisting these shearing stresses.

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS

Surface tension
Surface tension is a property that results from the
attractive forces molecules.
Surface tension acts somewhat like a film at the
interface between the liquid water surface and
the air above it. The water molecules beneath the
surface are attracted to each other and to those at
the surface.
Quantitatively, surface tension is measured as the
work per unit area required to move lower
molecules to the surface of the liquid. The
resulting units are force per unit length, such as N/m.

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS
Surface tension

25

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS
Example 1.3
i.Determine mass density, of fluid (in kg/m3) if mass is 450 g and the volume is 9 cm3.
ii.
Determine specific weight, of fluid (in kN/m3) if the weight of fluid is 10N and the volume is 500 cm2.
iii.
Determine specific gravity of fluid in ii.
iv.
Determine specific volume, v of fluid in i.

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS
Example 1.3

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS
Example 1.3

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS
Example 1.3

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF
FLUIDS
Example 1.3

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