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Fluid Dynamics in Concentric Cylinders

The document presents a tutorial on fluid dynamics involving concentric cylinders and parallel disks, focusing on momentum balance equations, velocity fields, and torque calculations. It discusses the application of the Navier-Stokes equations under specific conditions, including the use of a Couette rheometer to measure viscosity. Additionally, it covers the setup for analyzing radial flow in parallel disks, emphasizing the appropriate coordinate systems and simplifications for solving the equations.

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3 views2 pages

Fluid Dynamics in Concentric Cylinders

The document presents a tutorial on fluid dynamics involving concentric cylinders and parallel disks, focusing on momentum balance equations, velocity fields, and torque calculations. It discusses the application of the Navier-Stokes equations under specific conditions, including the use of a Couette rheometer to measure viscosity. Additionally, it covers the setup for analyzing radial flow in parallel disks, emphasizing the appropriate coordinate systems and simplifications for solving the equations.

Uploaded by

parthrajput.iit
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Tutorial 7b - CLL110B

1. Consider the concentric cylinder setup shown below. The outer cylinder is rotating
at a constant angular velocity Ω. Assuming a unidirectional flow with 𝑣𝑟 = 𝑣𝑧 = 0:
a) Write down all the components of the fluid momentum balance equations
for a constant density and viscosity fluid – The Navier-Stokes equations.
b) What approximation do you get when the length 𝐿
in 𝑧-direction is much larger than any other length scale in
the problem? That is, when 𝐿 ≫ 𝑅.
c) Solve for the velocity field 𝑣𝜃 using appropriate
boundary conditions. These are based on the no-slip at
both inner and outer cylinder. However, note that the outer
cylinder is moving.
d) Sketch the velocity profile.
e) Obtain the torque 𝑇𝑧 on the inner cylinder. For this
you’ll need to evaluate the negative of the force acting on
the inner cylinder and multiply with the moment arm: 𝜅𝑅.
The force is the stress acting on the inner surface times
the area: 2𝜋𝑅𝐿.

Side Note: This device is used commercially to measure


viscosity. It is called as a Couette rheometer. The torque
on the inner cylinder is used to measure the viscosity of the fluid sandwiched
between the two concentric cylinders. In principle, the inner cylinder is
connected to a wire along the center axis (shown by dotted lines in the figure).
The rotation of the inner cylinder then translates to a torsion on the wire, which
gives it an angular deflection. Therefore, by measuring the angular deflection
of the wire of a known torsion constant 𝑘𝑏 gives a torque 𝑇𝑧 = 𝑘𝑏 Δ𝜃 which is
related to the viscous torque you derived above.

2. Consider the parallel disk setup shown below. In the middle of the upper disk, there
is an orifice of radius 𝑟1 that is connected to a tube, from
which liquid is entering the region between the parallel
disks. Assuming only radially outward flow, for a constant
density and viscosity fluid,
a) What coordinate system would be appropriate for
solving this problem?
b) Write down the continuity equation and the Navier-
Stokes equations (all components. What can you deduce
from the 𝜃 -component balance?
c) Simplify the 𝑟-component and express in terms of
𝜙 = 𝑟𝑣𝑟 . Which equation have you relied on to make this
simplification? Is 𝜙 a function of 𝑟?
d) Solve for 𝜙 in the limit of Stokes equations. To do
so, you can integrate out the equation you have in 𝑟 first,
where the limits of integration are from 𝑟1 to 𝑟2 .
e) Write down the velocity field you get.
f) Obtain the mass flow rate and draw a sketch of the element across which
you are calculating the mass flow rate along with integral limits.

This is an example of a unidirectional flow where the 𝑣𝑟 is a function of both 𝑟, 𝑧 and


yet it satisfies the incompressible continuity equation. In a Cartesian coordinate
system, we would not have encountered such a scenario.

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