EDEXCEL NATIONAL CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA

PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS of FLUID MECHANICS UNIT 13

NQF LEVEL 3

OUTCOME 3 - HYDRODYNAMICS

TUTORIAL 2 - FLUID JETS

CONTENT

Be able to determine the parameters of pipeline flow and impact of a fluid jet

Pipeline flow: fluid principles e.g. equation of continuity of mass, equation of continuity
of volume for incompressible flow, Bernoullis equation, DArcys equation; systems and
devices e.g. pipes of varying section and level (such as an inclined tapering pipe),
differential pressure flow measuring devices (venturi meter, orifice meter, Pitot-static
tube)

Fluid jets: force exerted by a jet issuing from a stationary nozzle that impinges normally
on a stationary vane e.g. flat plate, hemispherical cup; reaction of jet nozzle

D.J.Dunn freestudy.co.uk 1
 NOZZLE THEORY

A nozzle is a device for converting

pressure into velocity. The diagram
illustrates a nozzle with liquid at gauge
pressure p1 entering through a pipe of
bore D. The area of the cross section is
reduced smoothly by the nozzle so that
the jet exits at diameter d into
atmosphere.
v12 v 2
Apply Bernoulli between the inlet and outlet and p1 p2 2
2 2
2p1 p 2 2 2p
hence v 22 v1 v12

Since p2 = 0 gauge then p = p1 Usually the velocity in the pipe (the approach velocity) is
2p
regarded as small so that squaring it makes it very small and so v 2

If there is friction then we might introduce a coefficient of discharge but in this section we
will ignore it.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 1

A nozzle is supplied with water at 0.2 m/s and 500 kPa gauge pressure. Calculate the
velocity at exit. Take the density as 1000 kg/m 3.

The nozzle is 10 mm diameter at exit. Calculate the mass flow rate.

SOLUTION

If we include the approach velocity

2 p 2 x 500000
v2 v12 0.22 31.663 m/s
1000
If we ignore the approach velocity
2 p 2 x 500000
v2 31.623 m/s
1000
x 0.012
Av 1000 x
m x 31.663 2.497 kg/s
4

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No. 1

A nozzle with an exit diameter of 15 mm is supplied with water at 400 kPa gauge
pressure and exits at atmospheric pressure. Calculate the mass flow rate. Assume the
approach velocity is small and that the density is 1000 kg/m 3.
(5 kg/s)

D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 2
 MOMENTUM FORCES

When a fluid speeds up or slows down, inertial forces come into play. Such forces may be
produced by either a change in the magnitude or the direction of the velocity since either
change in this vector quantity produces acceleration. For this section, we will ignore pressure
forces and just study the forces due to velocity changes.

NEWTON'S 2nd LAW OF MOTION

This states that the change in momentum of a mass is equal to the impulse given to it.

Impulse = Force x time

Momentum = mass x velocity
Change in momentum = mv

Newtons second law may be written as mv = Ft

Rearrange to make F the subject. F = mv/t

Since v/t = acceleration a we get the usual form of the law F = ma but this is not used
= m/t (regarded as constant in this section).
here. Instead we say the mass flow rate is m

In fluids we usually express the second law in the following form. F = (m/t) v = m
v

v is the rate of change of momentum so the second law may be restated as

m

v
F = Rate of change of momentum= m

F is the impulsive force resulting from the change. v is a vector quantity.

APPLICATIONS TO A NOZZLE

In our nozzle studied earlier, we

learned that the liquid accelerates
through the nozzle from inlet to exit so
a force is needed to do this. The
reaction to this force pushes the nozzle
in the opposite direction to the flow.

The force is simply F = m (v2 - v1)

And v1 is often taken as negligible.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 2

Calculate the reaction force due to the change in momentum for the nozzle in example 1.

SOLUTION

v1 = 1 m/s v2 = 31.663 m/s = 2.497 kg/s

m

(v2 - v1) = 2.497(31.663 - 1) = 76.57 N

F= m

D.J.Dunn www.freestudy.co.uk 3
APPLICATIONS TO STATIONARY VANES

When a jet of fluid strikes a stationary vane, the vane decelerates the fluid in a given
direction. Even if the speed of the fluid is unchanged, a change in direction produces
changes in the velocity vectors and hence momentum forces are produced. The resulting
force on the vane being struck by the fluid is an impulsive force. Since the fluid is at
atmospheric pressure at all times after leaving the nozzle, there are no forces due to pressure
change.

FLAT PLATE NORMAL TO JET

The velocity of the jet leaving the nozzle is v1. The jet is decelerated to zero velocity in the
original direction. Usually the liquid flows off sideways with equal velocity in all radial
directions with no splashing occurring. The fluid is accelerated from zero in the radial
directions but since the flow is equally divided no resultant force is produced in the radial
directions. This means the only force on the plate is the one produced normal to the plate.
This is found as follows.

m = mass flow rate.

Initial velocity = v1
Final velocity in the original direction = v2 = 0.
Change in velocity =v = v2 v1= - v1
Force = m v = - m v1

This is the force required to produce the momentum changes in the fluid. The force on the
plate must be equal and opposite so

v1 = A v1
F= m

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 3

A jet of water exiting a nozzle is moving at 27.72 m/s and 15 mm diameter. The jet hits
a stationary flat plate normal to its direction. Determine the force on the plate. The
density of the water is 1000 kg/m3.

SOLUTION

v1 = 27.72 m/s
The nozzle exit area A = x 0.0152/4 = 176.7 x 10-6 m2.
The mass flow rate is Av1 = 1000 x 176.7 x 10-6 x 27.72 = 4.898 kg/s.
The force on the vane = 4.898 x 27.72 = 135.8 N

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HEMISPHERICAL CUP

If a jet of water is aimed at the middle of a hemispherical cup as shown, the liquid is
deflected back in the opposite direction at the same velocity.

The change in velocity is v = v2 - v1

The velocities are numerically equal but opposite in direction so v2 = - v1

v = -v2 - v1 = -2 v1 say - 2v where v is the velocity exiting the nozzle. The force acting on
the cup is :
F = -2 mv
The minus indicates that it is acting to the left as illustrated.

WORKED EXAMPLE No. 4

A jet of water travels horizontally at 16 m/s with a flow rate of 2 kg/s. It is deflected
180o by a hemispherical cup. Calculate resulting force on the cup.

SOLUTION

v = 2 x 2 x 16 = 64 N
The resulting force on the vane is F = 2 m

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No. 2

1. A jet of water travelling with a velocity of 25 m/s and flow rate 0.4 kg/s is deflected by a
flat stationary vane in a radial direction. Calculate the force on the vane acting.
(10 N)

2. A nozzle produces a jet of water. The gauge pressure behind the nozzle is 2 MPa. The
exit diameter is 100 mm. The approach velocity is negligible. The jet of water is
deflected 180o from its initial direction by a hemispherical cup. Calculate the resultant
force on the nozzle and on the vane due to momentum changes only.
(31.5 kN and 63 kN)

3. A jet of water discharges from a nozzle 30 mm diameter with a flow rate of 15 dm3/s
into the atmosphere. The inlet to the nozzle is large in comparison. The jet strikes a flat
stationary plate normal to it. Calculate the following.

a) The jet velocity. (21.221 m/s)

b) The gauge pressure at inlet. (225.158 kPa)
c) The force on the nozzle. (318.3 N)
d) The force on the plate. (318.3 N)

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