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

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Problem 2B.12
Flow of a fluid in a network of tubes (see Fig. 2B.12). A fluid is flowing in laminar flow
from A to B through a network of tubes, as depicted in the figure. Obtain an expression for the
mass flow rate w of the fluid entering at A (or leaving at B) as a function of the modified
pressure drop PA − PB . Neglect the disturbances at the various tube junctions.

3π(PA − PB )R4 ρ
Answer: w =
20µL

Solution

The main idea with this problem is the law of conservation of mass; that is, mass is neither
created nor destroyed. Each of the corners in this network can be referred to as a node. The rate
of mass flowing into a node must be equal to the rate of mass flowing out of it, assuming no mass
accumulates there. Let wA be the rate of mass flowing into node A and let wB be the rate of
mass flowing out of node B. In addition, let wij be the rate of mass flowing from node i to node
j. As each tube is a cylinder with radius R and length L, the Hagen-Poiseuille equation can be
used for the mass flow rate,
π(Pi − Pj )R4 ρ
wij = ,
8µL
where Pi is the modified pressure at node i and Pj is the modified pressure at node j.

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 2 - Problem 2B.12 Page 2 of 3

Figure 1: The network with rates of mass flow wij labeled for each tube. The assumed direction
that the mass is flowing in each tube is shown as well.

Applying the law of conservation of mass to each node, we obtain the following eight equations.

At node A : wA = wA1 + wA2 + wA3

At node 1 : wA1 = w14 + w15
At node 2 : wA2 = w24 + w26
At node 3 : wA3 = w35 + w36
At node 4 : w14 + w24 = w4B
At node 5 : w15 + w35 = w5B
At node 6 : w26 + w36 = w6B
At node B : w4B + w5B + w6B = wB

Substitute the Hagen-Poiseuille equation into the equations from nodes 1-6.

π(PA − P1 )R4 ρ π(P1 − P4 )R4 ρ π(P1 − P5 )R4 ρ

wA1 = w14 + w15 → = +
8µL 8µL 8µL
π(PA − P2 )R ρ
4 π(P2 − P4 )R ρ π(P2 − P6 )R4 ρ
4
wA2 = w24 + w26 → = +
8µL 8µL 8µL
π(PA − P3 )R ρ
4 π(P3 − P5 )R ρ π(P3 − P6 )R4 ρ
4
wA3 = w35 + w36 → = +
8µL 8µL 8µL
π(P1 − P4 )R ρ π(P2 − P4 )R ρ
4 4 π(P4 − PB )R4 ρ
w14 + w24 = w4B → + =
8µL 8µL 8µL
π(P1 − P5 )R ρ π(P3 − P5 )R ρ
4 4 π(P5 − PB )R4 ρ
w15 + w35 = w5B → + =
8µL 8µL 8µL
π(P2 − P6 )R ρ π(P3 − P6 )R ρ
4 4 π(P6 − PB )R4 ρ
w26 + w36 = w6B → + =
8µL 8µL 8µL

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BSL Transport Phenomena 2e Revised: Chapter 2 - Problem 2B.12 Page 3 of 3

Multiply both sides of these equations by 8µL/πR4 ρ.

(PA − P1 ) = (P1 − P4 ) + (P1 − P5 )

(PA − P2 ) = (P2 − P4 ) + (P2 − P6 )
(PA − P3 ) = (P3 − P5 ) + (P3 − P6 )
(P1 − P4 ) + (P2 − P4 ) = (P4 − PB )
(P1 − P5 ) + (P3 − P5 ) = (P5 − PB )
(P2 − P6 ) + (P3 − P6 ) = (P6 − PB )

Solve this system of equations for the modified pressure at each numerical node in terms of the
modified pressures at A and B.
1
P1 = P2 = P3 = (3PA + 2PB )
5
1
P4 = P5 = P6 = (2PA + 3PB )
5
Now that these are known, the mass flow rate entering at A can be determined. Use the equation
from node A to do this.

wA = wA1 + wA2 + wA3

π(PA − P1 )R4 ρ π(PA − P2 )R4 ρ π(PA − P3 )R4 ρ
= + +
8µL 8µL 8µL
4
πR ρ
= (3PA − P1 − P2 − P3 )
8µL
πR4 ρ
 
1 1 1
= 3PA − (3PA + 2PB ) − (3PA + 2PB ) − (3PA + 2PB )
8µL 5 5 5
4
 
πR ρ 3
= 3PA − (3PA + 2PB )
8µL 5
4
 
πR ρ 9 6
= 3PA − PA − PB
8µL 5 5
4
 
πR ρ 6 6
= PA − PB
8µL 5 5
4
πR ρ 6
= · (PA − PB )
8µL 5
Therefore, the mass flow rate of fluid entering at A is

3π(PA − PB )R4 ρ
w= .
20µL
The same result is obtained for wB , the rate of mass flowing out of B.

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