Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

Angular Momentum Equation

13-45C The angular momentum equation is obtained by replacing B in the Reynolds transport theorem by
the total angular momentum , and b by the angular momentum per unit mass .

13-46C The angular momentum equation in this case is expressed as where is the
angular acceleration of the control volume, and is the position vector from the axis of rotation to any
point on the line of action of .

13-47C The angular momentum equation in this case is expressed as where is the
angular acceleration of the control volume, and is the position vector from the axis of rotation to any
point on the line of action of .

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-48 Water is pumped through a piping section. The moment acting on the elbow for the cases of
downward and upward discharge is to be determined.
Assumptions 1 The flow is steady and uniform. 2 The water is discharged to the atmosphere, and thus the
gage pressure at the outlet is zero. 3 Effects of water falling down during upward discharge is disregarded.
Properties We take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3.
Analysis We take the entire pipe as the control volume, and designate the inlet by 1 and the outlet by 2. We
also take the x and y coordinates as shown. The control volume and the reference frame are fixed.
The conservation of mass equation for this one-inlet one-outlet steady flow system is
, and since Ac = constant. The mass flow rate and the weight of the horizontal
section of the pipe are r2 = 1 m
r1 = 2 m
MA

A


W  m V 2
m V
(a) Downward discharge: To determine the moment acting on the pipe at point A, we 1need to take the
moment of all forces and momentum flows about that point. This is a steady and uniform flow problem,
and all forces and momentum flows are in the same plane. Therefore, the angular momentum equation in
this case can be expressed as where r is the moment arm, all moments in
the counterclockwise direction are positive, and all in the clockwise direction are negative.
The free body diagram of the pipe section is given in the figure. Noting that the moments of all
forces and momentum flows passing through point A are zero, the only force that will yield a moment about
point A is the weight W of the horizontal pipe section, and the only momentum flow that will yield a
moment is the exit stream (both are negative since both moments are in the clockwise direction). Then the
angular momentum equation about point A becomes

Solving for MA and substituting,

The negative sign indicates that the assumed direction for MA is wrong, and should be reversed. Therefore,
a moment of 70 Nm acts at the stem of the pipe in the clockwise direction.

(b) Upward discharge: The moment due to discharge stream is positive in this case, and the moment
acting on the pipe at point A is

Discussion Note direction of discharge can make a big difference in the moments applied on a piping
system. This problem also shows the importance of accounting for the moments of momentums of flow
streams when performing evaluating the stresses in pipe materials at critical cross-sections.

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-49E A two-armed sprinkler is used to generate electric power. For a specified flow rate and rotational
speed, the power produced is to be determined.
V jet
Electric
generator m nozzleV r

 Mshaft

r = 2 ft

V jet m nozzleV r
m total 8 gal/s
Assumptions 1 The flow is uniform and cyclically steady (i.e., steady from a frame of reference rotating
with the sprinkler head). 2 The water is discharged to the atmosphere, and thus the gage pressure at the
nozzle exit is zero. 3 Generator losses and air drag of rotating components are neglected.
Properties We take the density of water to be 62.4 lbm/ft3.
Analysis We take the disk that encloses the sprinkler arms as the control volume, which is a stationary
control volume. The conservation of mass equation for this steady flow system is . Noting
that the two nozzles are identical, we have or since the density of water is
constant. The average jet exit velocity relative to the nozzle is

The angular and tangential velocities of the nozzles are

The velocity of water jet relative to the control volume (or relative to a fixed location on earth) is

The angular momentum equation can be expressed as where all

moments in the counterclockwise direction are positive, and all in the clockwise direction are negative.
Then the angular momentum equation about the axis of rotation becomes
or
Substituting, the torque transmitted through the shaft is determined to be

since . Then the power

generated becomes

Therefore, this sprinkler-type turbine has the potential to produce 50 kW of power.

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-50E A two-armed sprinkler is used to generate electric power. For a specified flow rate and rotational
speed, the moment acting on the rotating head when the head is stuck is to be determined.
V jet
Electric
generator m nozzleV r

 Mshaft

r = 2 ft

V jet m nozzleV r
m total 8 gal/s
Assumptions 1 The flow is uniform and cyclically steady (i.e., steady from a frame of reference rotating
with the sprinkler head). 2 The water is discharged to the atmosphere, and thus the gage pressure at the
nozzle exit is zero.
Properties We take the density of water to be 62.4 lbm/ft3.
Analysis We take the disk that encloses the sprinkler arms as the control volume, which is a stationary
control volume. The conservation of mass equation for this steady flow system is . Noting
that the two nozzles are identical, we have or since the density of water is
constant. The average jet exit velocity relative to the nozzle is

The angular momentum equation can be expressed as where all

moments in the counterclockwise direction are positive, and all in the clockwise direction are negative.
Then the angular momentum equation about the axis of rotation becomes
or
Substituting, the torque transmitted through the shaft is determined to be

since .

Discussion When the sprinkler is stuck and thus the angular velocity is zero, the torque developed is
maximum since and thus , giving . But
the power generated is zero in this case since the shaft does not rotate.

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-51 A three-armed sprinkler is used to water a garden. For a specified flow rate and resistance torque, the
angular velocity of the sprinkler head is to be determined.

Electric
generator

 To = 50
Nm

r = 40 cm

Assumptions 1 The flow is uniform and cyclically steady (i.e., steady from a frame of reference rotating
with the sprinkler head). 2 The water is discharged to the atmosphere, and thus the gage pressure at the
nozzle exit is zero. 3 Air drag of rotating components are neglected.
Properties We take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3 = 1 kg/L.
Analysis We take the disk that encloses the sprinkler arms as the control volume, which is a stationary
control volume. The conservation of mass equation for this steady flow system is . Noting
that the three nozzles are identical, we have or since the density of water is
constant. The average jet exit velocity relative to the nozzle and the mass flow rate are

The angular momentum equation can be expressed as where all moments

in the counterclockwise direction are positive, and all in the clockwise direction are negative. Then the
angular momentum equation about the axis of rotation becomes
or
Solving for the relative velocity Vr and substituting,

Then the tangential and angular velocity of the nozzles become

Therefore, this sprinkler will rotate at 2741 revolutions per minute.

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-52 A Pelton wheel is considered for power generation in a hydroelectric power plant. A relation is to be
obtained for power generation, and its numerical value is to be obtained.

Mshaft Vj - r
r

Shaft

Vj - r
Nozzle

Vj r

Assumptions 1 The flow is uniform and cyclically steady. 2 The water is discharged to the atmosphere, and
thus the gage pressure at the nozzle exit is zero. 3 Generator losses and air drag of rotating components are
neglected.
Properties We take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3 = 1 kg/L.
Analysis The tangential velocity of buckets corresponding to an angular velocity of is
. Then the relative velocity of the jet (relative to the bucket) becomes

We take the imaginary disk that contains the Pelton wheel as the control volume. The inlet velocity of the
fluid into this control volume is Vr, and the component of outlet velocity normal to the moment arm is
Vrcos. The angular momentum equation can be expressed as where all
moments in the counterclockwise direction are positive, and all in the clockwise direction are negative.
Then the angular momentum equation about the axis of rotation becomes
or

Noting that and , the power output of a Pelton turbine becomes

which is the desired relation. For given values, the power output is determined to be

where

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-53 Problem 13-52 is reconsidered. The effect of  on the power generation as  varies from 0 to 180 is
to be determined, and the fraction of power loss at 160 is to be assessed.
rho=1000 "kg/m3"
r=2 "m"
V_dot=10 "m3/s"
V_jet=50 "m/s"
n_dot=150 "rpm"
omega=2*pi*n_dot/60
V_r=V_jet-r*omega
m_dot=rho*V_dot
W_dot_shaft=m_dot*omega*r*V_r*(1-cos(Beta))/1E6 "MW"
W_dot_max=m_dot*omega*r*V_r*2/1E6 "MW"
Effectiveness=W_dot_shaft/W_dot_max

Angle, Max power, Actual power, Effectiveness,

 , MW , MW 
0 11.7 0.00 0.000
10 11.7 0.09 0.008
20 11.7 0.35 0.030
30 11.7 0.78 0.067
40 11.7 1.37 0.117
50 11.7 2.09 0.179
60 11.7 2.92 0.250
70 11.7 3.84 0.329
80 11.7 4.82 0.413
90 11.7 5.84 0.500
100 11.7 6.85 0.587
110 11.7 7.84 0.671
120 11.7 8.76 0.750
130 11.7 9.59 0.821
140 11.7 10.31 0.883
150 11.7 10.89 0.933
160 11.7 11.32 0.970
170 11.7 11.59 0.992
180 11.7 11.68 1.000

12
Wmax
10

8
Wshaft
Wshaft

The effectiveness 0 of Pelton wheel

for  =160 is 0.97. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 Therefore, at
this angle, only 3%  of power is
lost.

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-54 A centrifugal blower is used to deliver atmospheric air. For a given angular speed and power input,
the volume flow rate of air is to be determined.

r2

r1


Impeller region

Assumptions 1 The flow is steady in the mean. 2 Irreversible losses are negligible. 3 The tangential
components of air velocity at the inlet and the outlet are said to be equal to the impeller velocity at
respective locations.
Properties The gas constant of air is 0.287 kPam3/kgK. The density of air at 20C and 95 kPa is

Analysis In the idealized case of the tangential fluid velocity being equal to the blade angular velocity both
at the inlet and the exit, we have and , and the torque is expressed as

where the angular velocity is

Then the shaft power becomes

Solving for and substituting, the volumetric flow rate of air is determined to

The normal velocity components at the inlet and the outlet are

Discussion Note that the irreversible losses are not considered in analysis. In reality, the flow rate and the
normal components of velocities will be smaller.

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-55 A centrifugal blower is used to deliver atmospheric air at a specified rate and angular speed. The
minimum power consumption of the blower is to be determined.



V2
r2 
V1
r1


Impeller region

Assumptions 1 The flow is steady in the mean. 2 Irreversible losses are negligible.
Properties The density of air is given to be 1.25 kg/m3.
Analysis We take the impeller region as the control volume. The normal velocity components at the inlet
and the outlet are

The tangential components of absolute velocity are:




The angular velocity of the propeller is

Normal velocity components V1,n and V2,n as well pressure acting on the inner and outer circumferential
areas pass through the shaft center, and thus they do not contribute to torque. Only the tangential velocity
components contribute to torque, and the application of the angular momentum equation gives

Then the shaft power becomes

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-56 Problem 13-55 is reconsidered. The effect of discharge angle 2 on the minimum power input
requirements as 2 varies from 0 to 85 in increments of 5 is to be investigated.
rho=1.25 "kg/m3"
r1=0.20 "m"
b1=0.082 "m"
r2=0.45 "m"
b2=0.056 "m"
V_dot=0.70 "m3/s"
V1n=V_dot/(2*pi*r1*b1) "m/s"
V2n=V_dot/(2*pi*r2*b2) "m/s"
Alpha1=0
V1t=V1n*tan(Alpha1) "m/s"
V2t=V2n*tan(Alpha2) "m/s"
n_dot=700 "rpm"
omega=2*pi*n_dot/60 "rad/s"
m_dot=rho*V_dot "kg/s"
T_shaft=m_dot*(r2*V2t-r1*V1t) "Nm"
W_dot_shaft=omega*T_shaft "W"
Angle, V2,t, Torque, Shaft power,
2 m/s Tshaft, Nm ,W
0 0.00 0.00 0
5 0.39 0.15 11
10 0.78 0.31 23
15 1.18 0.47 34
20 1.61 0.63 46
25 2.06 0.81 60
30 2.55 1.01 74
35 3.10 1.22 89
40 3.71 1.46 107
45 4.42 1.74 128
50 5.27 2.07 152
55 6.31 2.49 182
60 7.66 3.02 221
65 9.48 3.73 274
70 12.15 4.78 351
75 16.50 6.50 476
80 25.07 9.87 724
85 50.53 19.90 1459

1600

1400

1200

1000
Wshaft, W

800

600

400

200

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
2

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-57E Water enters the impeller of a centrifugal pump radially at a specified flow rate and angular speed.
The torque applied to the impeller is to be determined.

r2

r1


Impeller region

Assumptions 1 The flow is steady in the mean. 2 Irreversible losses are negligible.
Properties We take the density of water to be 62.4 lbm/ft3.
Analysis Water enters the impeller normally, and thus . The tangential component of fluid
velocity at the outlet is given to be . The inlet radius r1 is unknown, but the outlet radius is
given to be r2 = 1 ft. The angular velocity of the propeller is

The mass flow rate is

Only the tangential velocity components contribute to torque, and the application of the angular momentum
equation gives

Discussion This shaft power input corresponding to this torque is

Therefore, the minimum power input to this pump should be 33 kW.

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 Chapter 13 Momentum Analysis of Flow Systems

13-58 A centrifugal pump is used to supply water at a specified rate and angular speed. The minimum
power consumption of the pump is to be determined.



V2
r2 
V1
r1


Impeller region

Assumptions 1 The flow is steady in the mean. 2 Irreversible losses are negligible.
Properties We take the density of water to be 1000 kg/m3.
Analysis We take the impeller region as the control volume. The normal velocity components at the inlet
and the outlet are

The tangential components of absolute velocity are:




The angular velocity of the propeller is

Normal velocity components V1,n and V2,n as well pressure acting on the inner and outer circumferential
areas pass through the shaft center, and thus they do not contribute to torque. Only the tangential velocity
components contribute to torque, and the application of the angular momentum equation gives

Then the shaft power becomes

Discussion Note that the irreversible losses are not considered in analysis. In reality, the required power
input will be larger.

13-39