Transport Phenomena Fluid Mechanics Problem Solution BSL - Flow Between Two Concentric Rotating Spheres

4/18/2018 Transport phenomena fluid mechanics problem solution BSL : Flow between two concentric rotating spheres
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Transport Phenomena - Fluid Mechanics Problem :

Flow between two concentric rotating spheres
Problem.
Consider an incompressible isothermal fluid in laminar flow between two concentric spheres, whose
inner and outer wetted surfaces have radii of kR and R, respectively. The inner and outer spheres are
rotating at constant angular velocities Wi and Wo, respectively. The spheres rotate slowly enough that
the creeping flow assumption is valid.
Figure. Flow between two slowly rotating spheres.
a) Determine the steady-state velocity distribution in the fluid (for small values of Wi and Wo).
b) Find the torques on the two spheres required to maintain the flow of a Newtonian fluid.
c) Simplify the velocity and torque expressions for the case of a single solid sphere of radius Ri
rotating slowly at a constant angular velocity Wi in a very large body of quiescent fluid.
Solution.
Click here for stepwise solution
a)
Step. Simplification of continuity equation
In steady laminar flow, the fluid is expected to travel in a circular motion (for low values of Wi and Wo).
So, vr = 0 and vq = 0.
For an incompressible fluid, the continuity equation gives .v = 0.
In spherical coordinates,
(1)
https://www.syvum.com/cgi/online/serve.cgi/eng/fluid/fluid302.html 1/5
So, vf = vf (r, q).
Step. Simplification of equation of motion
When the flow is very slow, the term rv. v in the equation of motion can be neglected because it is
quadratic in the velocity. This is referred to as the creeping flow assumption. Thus, for steady creeping
flow, the entire left-hand side of the equation of motion is zero and we get
0=- p+m 2v + rg = - P + m 2v (2)
where P is the modified pressure given by P = p + rgh and h is the elevation in the gravitational field
(i.e., the distance upward in the direction opposite to gravity from some chosen reference plane). In
this problem, h = z = r cos q. The above equation is referred to as the Stokes flow equation or the
creeping flow equation of motion. The components of the creeping flow equation in spherical
coordinates simplify to
(3)
(4)
(5)
There is no dependence on the angle f due to symmetry about the vertical axis. The above partial
differential equation must be solved for the velocity distribution vf (r, q).
Step. Velocity profile by solving differential equation
The no-slip boundary conditions at the two spherical surfaces are
(6)
(7)
From the boundary conditions, the form vf (r, q) = f(r) sin q appears to be an educated guess to solve
the partial differential equation for the velocity profile. On substituting this form in the f-component of
the equation of motion and simplifying, we get
(8)
The above ordinary differential equation may be solved by substituting f(r) = rn. The resulting
characteristic equation is n2 + n - 2 = 0, whose solution is n = 1, -2. Thus,
(9)
On imposing the boundary conditions,
(10)
The integration constants are thus given by
(11)
On substituting for C1 and C2, the velocity profile is obtained as
(12)
The velocity distribution given by the above expression can be written in the following alternative form:
(13)
In the above form, the first term on the right-hand-side corresponds to the velocity profile when the
inner sphere is held stationary and the outer sphere is rotating with an angular velocity Wo. The
second term on the right-hand-side of the above equation corresponds to the velocity profile when the
outer sphere is fixed and the inner sphere is rotating with an angular velocity Wi.
b)
Step. Determination of momentum flux
From the velocity profile, the momentum flux (shear stress) is determined as
(14)
Step. Determination of torque
The torque required to rotate the inner sphere is obtained as the integral over the sphere surface of
the product of the force exerted on the fluid by the solid surface element and the lever arm kR sin q.
The force required on the inner sphere is the product of the outward momentum flux and the wetted
surface area of the inner sphere. Thus, the differential torque on the inner sphere surface element is
(15)
On integrating from 0 to p, the torque needed on the inner sphere is
(16)
Note that the integral above evaluates to 4/3.
Similarly, the differential torque needed on the outer sphere surface element is obtained as the
product of the inward momentum flux, the wetted surface area of the outer sphere, and the lever arm.
Thus,
(17)
On integrating from 0 to p, the torque needed on the outer sphere is
(18)
c)
Step. Limiting case of single rotating sphere
For the case of a single solid sphere of radius Ri rotating slowly at a constant angular velocity Wi in a
very large body of quiescent fluid, let R = Ro and k = Ri / Ro. Then, on letting Wo = 0, Eqs. (13) and
(16) give
(19)
The above equations hold when the outer sphere of radius Ro is stationary and the inner sphere of
radius Ri is rotating at an angular velocity Wi. In the limit as Ro tends to infinity, the results for a single
rotating sphere in an infinite body of quiescent fluid are obtained as
(20)
Related Problems in Transport Phenomena - Fluid Mechanics :
Transport Phenomena - Fluid Mechanics Problem : Tangential annular flow between two coaxial
rotating cylinders
- Determination of velocity profile and torque for two rotating cylinders rather than spheres
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4/18/2018 Transport phenomena fluid mechanics problem solution BSL : Flow between two concentric rotating spheres

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Transport Phenomena - Fluid Mechanics Problem :

Figure. Flow between two slowly rotating spheres.

Step. Simplification of continuity equation

For an incompressible fluid, the continuity equation gives .v = 0.

So, vf = vf (r, q).

Step. Simplification of equation of motion

0=- p+m 2v + rg = - P + m 2v (2)

Step. Velocity profile by solving differential equation

The no-slip boundary conditions at the two spherical surfaces are

On imposing the boundary conditions,

The integration constants are thus given by

On substituting for C1 and C2, the velocity profile is obtained as

Step. Determination of momentum flux

Step. Determination of torque

On integrating from 0 to p, the torque needed on the inner sphere is

Note that the integral above evaluates to 4/3.

On integrating from 0 to p, the torque needed on the outer sphere is

Step. Limiting case of single rotating sphere

Related Problems in Transport Phenomena - Fluid Mechanics :

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