BSLTPCH 3 P 3 B2

BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.
Page 1 of 5
Problem 3B.2
Laminar flow in a triangular duct (Fig. 3B.2).2 One type of compact heat exchanger
is
shown in Fig. 3B.2(a). In order to analyze the performance of such an apparatus, it
is necessary
to understand the flow in a duct whose cross section is an equilateral triangle.
This is done most
easily by installing a coordinate system as shown in Fig. 3B.2(b).
(a) Verify that the velocity distribution for the laminar flow of a Newtonian fluid
in a duct of
this type is given by
(P0 − PL)
4µLH
vz =
(y − H)(3x2 − y2)
(3B.2-1)
(b) From Eq. 3B.2-1 find the average velocity, maximum velocity, and mass flow
rate.
Answers: (b) (cid:104)vz(cid:105) =
w =
(P0 − PL)H 2
√
9
=
20
3(P0 − PL)H 4ρ
60µL
180µL
vz,max;
Solution
2An alternative formulation of the velocity profile is given by L. D. Landau and E.

M. Lifshitz, Fluid Mechanics,
Pergamon, Oxford, 2nd edition (1987), p. 54.
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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.2
Page 2 of 5
Part (a)
We assume that the fluid flows only in the z-direction and that the velocity varies
as a function of
x and y.
v = vz(x, y)ˆz
If we assume the fluid does not slip on the walls, then it has the wall’s velocity
at y = H,
y =
3x, and y = −√
3x.
Boundary Condition 1:
vz(x, H) = 0
√
vz(x,
3x) = 0
√
vz(x,−
3x) = 0
The equation of continuity results by considering a mass balance over a volume

element that the
fluid is flowing through. Assuming the fluid density ρ is constant, the equation
simplifies to
∇ · v = 0.
(1)
The equation of motion results by considering a momentum balance over a volume

element that
the fluid is flowing through. Assuming the fluid viscosity µ is also constant, the
equation
simplifies to the Navier-Stokes equation.
ρv + ∇ · ρvv = −∇p + µ∇2v + ρg
∂
∂t
(2)
As this is a vector equation, it actually represents three scalar equations—one for
each variable in
the chosen coordinate system. Using Cartesian coordinates is the appropriate choice
for this
problem, so equations (1) and (2) will be used in (x, y, z). From Appendix B.4 on
page 846, the
continuity equation becomes
which doesn’t tell us anything. From Appendix B.6 on page 848, the Navier-Stokes
equation
yields the following three scalar equations in Cartesian coordinates.
= 0,
∂vz
∂z(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
= 0
= − ∂p
∂x
+ µ
= − ∂p
∂y
+ µ
= 0
= 0
∂vy
∂vx
∂x(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
∂y(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:19)
(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)
(cid:19)
(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)
(cid:19)
(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)
∂vx
∂z
= 0
∂vy
∂z
= 0
∂vz
∂z
= 0
∂x2
= 0
(cid:20) ∂2vx
(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:20) ∂2vy
(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:20) ∂2vz
∂x2
= 0
∂2vx
∂y2
(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
= 0
∂2vy
∂y2
= 0
∂2vz
∂y2 +
(cid:21)
(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:21)
(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:21)
(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
∂2vx
∂z2
= 0
∂2vy
∂z2
= 0
∂2vz
∂z2
= 0
+ ρgx
+ ρgy
+ ρgz
= 0
(cid:18) ∂vx
∂t(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:18) ∂vy
∂t(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
(cid:18) ∂vz
∂t(cid:124)(cid:123)(cid:122)(cid:125)
= 0
= 0
+ vx
+ vy
+ vz
+ vx
+ vy
+ vz
(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)

(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)
(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)
∂vx
∂x
= 0
∂vy
∂x
= 0
∂vz
∂x
= 0
∂vx
∂y
= 0
∂vy
∂y
(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)

(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)
(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)
= 0
∂vz
∂y
= 0
+ vx
+ vy
+ vz
= − ∂p
∂z
+ µ
∂x2 +
The relevant equation for the velocity is the z-equation, which has simplified
considerably from
the assumption that v = vz(x, y)ˆz.
0 = − ∂p
∂z
+ µ
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(cid:20) ∂2vz
(cid:21)
∂x2 +
∂2vz
∂y2
+ ρgz
Page 3 of 5
The sum of −∂p/∂z and ρgz is the modified pressure gradient across the duct.
(cid:20) ∂2vz
(cid:21)
0 = − (PL − P0)
L − 0
+ µ
∂x2 +
∂2vz
∂y2
The velocity distribution thus satisfies the following PDE.
∂2vz
∂x2 +
∂2vz
∂y2 =
(PL − P0)
µL
We’re asked to verify that the solution for it and its associated boundary
conditions is
vz =
(P0 − PL)
(P0 − PL)
4µLH
4µLH
(y − H)(3x2 − y2)
(3x2y − y3 − 3Hx2 + Hy2).
Find the second derivatives of vz with respect to x and y.
∂vz
∂x
∂2vz
∂x2 =
∂vz
∂y
∂2vz
∂y2 =
4µLH
(P0 − PL)
(P0 − PL)
(P0 − PL)
(P0 − PL)
4µLH
4µLH
4µLH
(6xy − 6Hx)
(6y − 6H)
(3x2 − 3y2 + 2Hy)
(−6y + 2H)
Adding them together, we have
∂2vz
∂x2 +
∂2vz
∂y2 =
4µLH
(P0 − PL)
(P0 − PL)
(PL − P0)
4µLH
µL
(6y − 6H − 6y + 2H)
(−4H)
so the velocity distribution satisfies the PDE. Setting y = H or y = ±√
3x gives vz = 0, which
means the boundary conditions are satisfied as well.
Part (b)
Average Velocity
To find the average velocity, integrate the velocity distribution over the cross-
sectional area that
the fluid flows through and then divide by that area.
(cid:104)vz(cid:105) =
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ˆ
ˆ
vz dA
dA
Page 4 of 5
For the equilateral triangle in Fig. 3B.2(b), dA = 2x dy = 2y√

3
dy.
(cid:104)vz(cid:105) =
vz(x, y) dx dy
2y√
3
dy
3
H 2
√
vz(x, y) dx dy
2√
3
H 2
2
vz(x, y) dx dy
(P0 − PL)
¨
3
√
H 2
4µLH
3(P0 − PL)
4µLH 3
(y − H)(3x2 − y2) dx dy
(y − H)(3x2 − y2) dx dy
(cid:35)
(y − H)(3x2 − y2) dx dy
(cid:21)
(cid:12)(cid:12)(cid:12)(cid:12)y/
(cid:19)
dy
dy
(cid:21)
(y − H)(x3 − xy2)
(cid:18) y3√
(y − H)
− y3√
3
27
Now the double integral will be evaluated over the triangle.

(cid:104)vz(cid:105) =
ˆ
√
−y/
(y − H)(3x2 − y2) dx dy +
ˆ
y/
(cid:34)ˆ
(cid:20)ˆ
(cid:20)ˆ
(cid:20)
(cid:20)
(cid:20)
√
3(P0 − PL)
4µLH 3
√
3(P0 − PL)
4µLH 3
√
3(P0 − PL)
4µLH 3
√
3(P0 − PL)
4µLH 3
√
3(P0 − PL)
4µLH 3
√
3(P0 − PL)
4µLH 3
(cid:12)(cid:12)(cid:12)(cid:12)0
−y/
(cid:19)
(cid:19)
dy +
(cid:21)
dy +
dy
− y3√
3
− y3√
3
(cid:21)
27
(y − H)(x3 − xy2)
27
(cid:18) y3√
(cid:18) y3√
(cid:19)(cid:21)
(y − H)
H
(y − H)
ˆ
(cid:18)
− H 5
20
√
− 4
3
√
− 4
3
(y4 − Hy3) dy
Therefore, the average velocity in the triangular duct is
(cid:104)vz(cid:105) =
(P0 − PL)H 2
60µL
Maximum Velocity
To find the absolute maximum of vz(x, y) over the triangular duct, find the
function’s critical
points, that is, where the first derivatives with respect to x and y vanish.
∂vz
∂x
∂vz
∂y
(P0 − PL)
(P0 − PL)
4µLH
4µLH
(6xy − 6Hx) = 0
(3x2 − 3y2 + 2Hy) = 0
The first equation is satisfied if x = 0 or y = H. Plugging x = 0 into the second

equation gives
which is satisfied if and only if −3y2 + 2Hy = 0 or y = {0, 2H/3}. Two critical
points are
consequently (0, 0) and (0, 2H/3). Plugging y = H into the second equation gives
(P0 − PL)
4µLH
(−3y2 + 2Hy) = 0,
(P0 − PL)
(3x2 − H 2) = 0,
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4µLH
Page 5 of 5
√
which is satisfied if and only if 3x2 − H 2 = 0 or x = {−H/
√
are then (−H/
boundary of the triangular duct, where the velocity is assumed to be zero. As a
result, the
maximum must be at (0, 2H/3).
3}. Two more critical points

√
3, H), and (H/
√
3, H). (0, 0), (−H/
√
3, H) and (H/
3, H) all lie on the
3, H/
vz,max = vz(0, 2H/3) =
=
(P0 − PL)
4µLH
(P0 − PL)
4µLH
(cid:18) 2H
(cid:18)
3
− H
3
(cid:19)(cid:18)
(cid:19)
− H
(cid:19)(cid:18)
− 4H 2
9
(cid:19)
− 4H 2
9
Therefore, the maximum velocity in the triangular duct is
vz,max =
(P0 − PL)H 2
27µL
Mass Flow Rate
The volumetric flow rate is given by the integral of the velocity field over the
cross-sectional area
the fluid is flowing through.
dV
dt
vz dA
To get the mass flow rate, multiply both sides by the fluid density ρ.
¨
dV
dt
= ρ
vz(x, y) dx dy
Since ρ is assumed to be constant, it can be brought inside the derivative on the

left side. Density
times volume gives mass.
¨
¨
dm
dt
= ρ
vz(x, y) dx dy
(P0 − PL)
¨
4µLH
(P0 − PL)ρ
= ρ
4µLH
(y − H)(3x2 − y2) dx dy
(y − H)(3x2 − y2) dx dy
This double integral was already evaluated when calculating the average velocity.
(cid:20)
(cid:18)
(cid:19)(cid:21)
√
− 4
3
− H 5
20
(P0 − PL)ρ
(P0 − PL)H 4ρ
4µLH
√
3µL
60
Therefore, letting w = dm/dt, the mass flow rate in the triangular duct is
√
3(P0 − PL)H 4ρ
180µL
w =
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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.

this type is given by

Answers: (b) (cid:104)vz(cid:105) =

2An alternative formulation of the velocity profile is given by L. D. Landau and E.

Pergamon, Oxford, 2nd edition (1987), p. 54.

The equation of continuity results by considering a mass balance over a volume

The equation of motion results by considering a momentum balance over a volume

ρv + ∇ · ρvv = −∇p + µ∇2v + ρg

(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)

(cid:124) (cid:123)(cid:122) (cid:125)

BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.2

The velocity distribution thus satisfies the following PDE.

(3x2y − y3 − 3Hx2 + Hy2).

Find the second derivatives of vz with respect to x and y.

(3x2 − 3y2 + 2Hy)

Adding them together, we have

so the velocity distribution satisfies the PDE. Setting y = H or y = ±√

means the boundary conditions are satisfied as well.

BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.2

For the equilateral triangle in Fig. 3B.2(b), dA = 2x dy = 2y√

Now the double integral will be evaluated over the triangle.

Therefore, the average velocity in the triangular duct is

(3x2 − 3y2 + 2Hy) = 0

The first equation is satisfied if x = 0 or y = H. Plugging x = 0 into the second

BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 3 - Problem 3B.2

3}. Two more critical points

3, H) all lie on the

vz,max = vz(0, 2H/3) =

Therefore, the maximum velocity in the triangular duct is

Mass Flow Rate

Since ρ is assumed to be constant, it can be brought inside the derivative on the

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