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Chemical Engineering. Solutions to the Problems in Chemical Engineering

Richardson J.F., Backhurst J.R., Harker J.H.

Chapter 11

The Boundary Layer - all with Video Answers

Educators


Chapter Questions

10:27

Problem 1

Calculate the thickness of the boundary layer at a distance of 75 mm from the leading edge of a plane surface over which water is flowing at a rate of $3 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$. Assume that the flow in the boundary layer is streamline and that the velocity $u$ of the fluid at a distance $y$ from the surface can be represented by the relation $u=a+b y+c y^2+d y^3$, where the coefficients $a, b, c$, and $d$ are independent of $y$. The viscosity of water is $1 \mathrm{mN} \mathrm{s} / \mathrm{m}^2$.

Khoobchandra Agrawal
Khoobchandra Agrawal
Numerade Educator
04:12

Problem 2

Water flows at a velocity of $1 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$ over a plane surface 0.6 m wide and 1 m long. Calculate the total drag force acting on the surface if the transition from streamline to turbulent flow in the boundary layer occurs when the Reynolds group $R e_x=10^5$.

Chai Santi
Chai Santi
Numerade Educator
02:04

Problem 3

Calculate the thickness of the boundary layer at a distance of 150 mm from the leading edge of a surface over which oil, of viscosity $50 \mathrm{mN} \mathrm{s} / \mathrm{m}^2$ and density $990 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^3$, flows with a velocity of $0.3 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$. What is the displacement thickness of the boundary layer?

Narayan Hari
Narayan Hari
Numerade Educator
02:42

Problem 4

Calculate the thickness of the laminar sub-layer when benzene flows through a pipe 50 mm diameter at $0.003 \mathrm{~m}^3 / \mathrm{s}$. What is the velocity of the benzene at the edge of the laminar sub-layer? Assume fully developed flow exists within the pipe.

Kudakwashe Mapiki
Kudakwashe Mapiki
Numerade Educator
03:11

Problem 5

Air is flowing at a velocity of $5 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}$ over a plane surface. Derive an expression for the thickness of the laminar sub-layer and calculate its value at a distance of 1 m from the leading edge of the surface.

Assume that within the boundary layer outside the laminar sub-layer, the velocity of flow is proportional to the one-seventh power of the distance from the surface and that the shear stress $R$ at the surface is given by:

$$
\left(R / \rho u_s^2\right)=0.03\left(u_s \rho x / \mu\right)^{-0.2}
$$

where $\rho$ is the density of the fluid ( $1.3 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^3$ for air), $\mu$ is the viscosity of the fluid $\left(17 \times 10^{-6} \mathrm{~N} \mathrm{~s} / \mathrm{m}^2\right.$ for air), $u_s$ is the stream velocity $(\mathrm{m} / \mathrm{s})$, and $x$ is the distance from the leading edge $(\mathrm{m})$.

Chai Santi
Chai Santi
Numerade Educator
00:57

Problem 6

Obtain the momentum equation for an element of the boundary layer. If the velocity profile in the laminar region can be represented approximately by a sine function, calculate the boundary layer thickness in terms of distance from the leading edge of the surface.

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator
03:58

Problem 7

Explain the concepts of "momentum thickness" and "displacement thickness" for the boundary layer formed during flow over a plane surface. Develop a similar concept to displacement thickness in relation to heat flux across the surface for laminar flow and heat transfer by thermal conduction, for the case where the surface has a constant temperature and the thermal boundary layer is always thinner than the velocity boundary layer. Obtain an expression for this 'thermal thickness' in terms of the thicknesses of the velocity and temperature boundary layers.

Similar forms of cubic equations may be used to express velocity and temperature variations with distance from the surface.

For a Prandtl number, $P r$, less than unity, the ratio of the temperature to the velocity boundary layer thickness is equal to $\mathrm{Pr}^{-1 / 3}$. Work out the 'thermal thickness' in terms of the thickness of the velocity boundary layer for a value of $\operatorname{Pr}=0.7$.

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator
03:58

Problem 8

Explain why it is necessary to use concepts, such as the displacement thickness and the momentum thickness, for a boundary layer in order to obtain a boundary layer thickness which is largely independent of the approximation used for the velocity profile in the neighbourhood of the surface.

It is found that the velocity $u$ at a distance $y$ from the surface can be expressed as a simple power function $\left(u \propto y^n\right)$ for the turbulent boundary layer at a plane surface. What is the value of $n$ if the ratio of the momentum thickness to the displacement thickness is 1.78 ?

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator
00:57

Problem 9

Derive the momentum equation for the flow of a fluid over a plane surface for conditions where the pressure gradient along the surface is negligible. By assuming a sine function for the variation of velocity with distance from the surface (within the boundary layer) for streamline flow, obtain an expression for the boundary layer thickness as a function of distance from the leading edge of the surface.

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator
00:57

Problem 10

Derive the momentum equation for the flow of a viscous fluid over a small plane surface.
Show that the velocity profile in the neighbourhood of the surface can be expressed as a sine function which satisfies the boundary conditions at the surface and at the outer edge of the boundary layer.

Obtain the boundary layer thickness and its displacement thickness as a function of the distance from the leading edge of the surface, when the velocity profile is expressed as a sine function.

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator
00:57

Problem 11

Derive the momentum equation for the flow of a fluid over a plane surface for conditions where the pressure gradient along the surface is negligible. By assuming a sine function for the variation of velocity with distance from the surface (within the boundary layer) for streamline flow, obtain an expression for the boundary layer thickness as a function of distance from the leading edge of the surface.

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator
00:57

Problem 12

Derive the momentum equation for the flow of a viscous fluid over a small plane surface. Show that the velocity profile in the neighbourhood of the surface may be expressed as a sine function which satisfies the boundary conditions at the surface and at the outer edge of the boundary layer.

Obtain the boundary layer thickness and its displacement thickness as a function of the distance from the leading edge of the surface, when the velocity profile is expressed as a sine function.

James Kiss
James Kiss
Numerade Educator