IV. Applications and Examples of Non-isentropic Flow of Ideal Fluids.

APPLICATIONS OF NON-ISENTROPIC FLOW OF IDEAL FLUIDS

In fluid dynamics, non-isentropic flow refers to situations where entropy is not conserved along a
streamline, typically due to the presence of heat transfer, viscous dissipation, or shock waves.
Although ideal fluids are typically assumed to be inviscid and adiabatic (i.e., isentropic), the concept
of non-isentropic flow can still be meaningfully applied in an idealized context to analyze key flow
behaviors where entropy changes occur. The following are some significant applications of non-
isentropic flow of ideal fluids in engineering and physics:

 Nozzles and diffusers with heat transfer

In propulsion systems such as jet and rocket engines, flow through the nozzle is often subject to
external heating or cooling, violating the isentropic assumption. Similarly, in steam turbines, the
working fluid may experience heat loss or gain in blade passages, resulting in entropy changes. These
conditions require a non-isentropic treatment, even when ideal fluid models are used to simplify the
calculations.

 Flow with Shock Waves

When air flows around high-speed aircraft or through supersonic wind tunnels, shock waves form
and cause abrupt increases in pressure and temperature, along with a rise in entropy. These shock-
induced changes are inherently non-isentropic, and are analyzed using the Rankine-Hugoniot
relations, which are derived under the ideal gas assumption but account for entropy change across
the shock front.

 Combustion Chambers in Jet and Rocket Engines

The combustion process introduces significant heat and chemical energy into the flow, dramatically
increasing entropy. This occurs in gas turbine combustors, ramjet and scramjet inlets, and rocket
nozzles, where idealized flow models are used in preliminary design and performance prediction
despite the presence of irreversible thermodynamic effects.

 Atmospheric Re-entry Flows

spacecraft encounter hypersonic flow conditions where shock waves and intense aerodynamic
heating dominate the flow field. The flow around the re-entering body undergoes strong entropy
increases due to shock compression and heat transfer. While real-gas effects and viscous dissipation
are significant, ideal fluid models with non-isentropic corrections are still used in early design stages
or for simplified analysis.
  Heat Exchangers with Flow Acceleration

in thermodynamic cycle analysis involving Brayton or Rankine cycles, ideal gas flows experience
entropy change during heat exchange processes. Additionally, models such as Rayleigh flow (heat
addition in a constant-area duct) and Fanno flow (adiabatic flow with friction) provide theoretical
frameworks for analyzing non-isentropic behavior in ducts, despite the use of ideal fluid
assumptions.

EXAMPLES OF NON-ISENTROPIC FLOW OF IDEAL FLUIDS

1. Air (k=1.4) enters [section (1)] an insulated, constant cross-sectional area duct with the
following properties:
T0= 518.67 °R
T1=514.55 °R
P1=14.3 psia
For Fanno flow, determine corresponding values of fluid temperature and entropy change
for various values of downstream pressures and plot the related Fanno line.

Solution:

To plot the Fanno line we can use the equation:

( ρV )2 T 2
T+ =T 0=Constant
2 C p P2 Eqn (1)
2
R
And Equation:

T P
s−s 1=C p ln −Rln Eqn (2)
T1 P1

We need values of the ideal gas constant and the specific heat at constant pressure to use in Eqs. 1
and 2.

R = 1716 (ft-lb)/(slug-°R) = 53.3 (ft-lb)/(lbm-°R)

Calculating Cp:

Rk
C p= Eqn (3)
k−1
[53.3 (ft −lb)/(lbm−° R)](1.4)
CP=
1.4−1
C p=187(ft−lb)/(lbm−° R)
From the equation:
 ρ1
ρ 1 V 1= Ma1 √ RT 1 k Eqn (4)
RT 1
But:

T 1 514.55 ° F
= =0.992
T 0 518.67 ° R
From equation:
1/ 2
T0
Ma 1=( −1)/[(k−1)/2]}
T1

Or

M a1 = (
√ 1
0.992
−1)/0.2=0.2

Thus, with:

√ R T 1 k= √( 1.4 ) [53.3( ft ∙ lb)/( lbm⋅° R)(514.55 ° R)]

√ R T 1 k=1112 ft /s
From Eqn (4):

(114.3 psia)(21144 in .2 / f t 2)(0.2)(1112 ft /s 2)

ρV =
[53.3 (ft ⋅lb)/(lbm ⋅° R)](514.55 ° R)
2
ρV =16.7 lbm /( f t ⋅ s)
For P=7 psia we have from eq.(1)

T+¿¿
T =518.67 ° R
Thus, since 1 lb=32.2 lbm⋅ft/s2, we obtain:
−5 2
6.5 x 10 T +T −518.67+0
T =502.3 ° R
From Eq. (2), we obtain

s−s 1+
[ lbm ⋅° R ]
187 ( ft ⋅lb )
ln ⁡(
502.3 ° R
514.55 ° R
)

s−s 1=33.6(ft ⋅lb)/(lbm ⋅° R)

Proceeding as outlined above, we construct the table of values shown below and
graphed as the Fanno line

550

500

450
T, °R

400

350

300
30 35 40 45 50 55 60
s-s1, (ft-lb)/(lbm-°R)

maximum entropy difference occurs at a pressure of 2.62 psia and a

temperature of 432.1°R
 2. Air (k=1.4) enters [section (1)] a frictionless, constant flow cross-
sectional area duct with the following properties:
T0= 518.67 °R
T1=514.55 °R
P1=14.3 psia
For Rayleigh flow, determine corresponding values of fluid temperature and entropy change
for various levels of downstream pressure and plot the related Rayleigh line.

Solution:

To plot the Rayleigh line asked for, use Equation:

Eqn (1)
( ρV )2 RT
P+ =constant
P

And equation:

Eqn (2)
T P
s−s 1=C p ln −Rln
T1 P1

to construct a table of values of temperature and entropy change corresponding

to different levels of pressure downstream in a Rayleigh flow. to construct a
table of values of temperature and entropy change corresponding to different
levels of pressure downstream in a Rayleigh flow.

R = 1716 (ft-lb)/(slug-°R) = 53.3 (ft-lb)/(lbm-°R)

Calculating Cp:

Rk
C p= Eqn (3)
k−1
[53.3 (ft −lb)/(lbm−° R)](1.4)
CP=
1.4−1
C p=187(ft−lb)/(lbm−° R)

Also, from the previous example, ρ V = 16.7 lbm/(ft2°s). For the given inlet
[section (1)] condition, we get:
 R T 1 [ 53.3 ( ft ⋅lb ) ∕ ( l bm⋅° R ) ] ( 514.55 R )
= =13.3 f t 3 /lbm
P1 2
1 psi a(144.∈. / f t )
2

Thus, from Eqn. (1):

( ρv )2 RT
[ ]
2
16.7 lbm
P+ =14.3 Psⅈa + 2
(13.3 f t 3 /lbm)
P f t ⋅s
2
14.3 psia+3720 lbm /(ft ⋅ s )=constant
Or, since 1 lbm/(ft⋅s2) = [(1/32.2)(lb⋅s2/ft)]/(ft⋅s2) = (1/32.2)lb/ft2

( ρv )2 RT
P+ =14.3 Psⅈa +[(93720/32.2)lb / f t 2 ](1 f t 2 /144∈.2)
P
¿ 15.10 psia=constant

With the downstream pressure of P=13.5 psia, we can obtain the downstream
temperature by using Eq. 3 with the fact that:

[ ]
2
lbm ft ⋅ lb
16.7 2 [53.3 ]
( ρV )2 R f t ⋅s lbm ⋅° R
= 2 2
P (144∈. / f t )13.5 psia
2 2
¿ 7.65[lbm/(ft ⋅s )]/° R [1 lb /(32.2 lbm⋅ ft / s )]
2 2 2
¿ 0.238(lb/ f t )/° R(1 f t /144∈. )
−3 2
¿ 1.65 x 10 (lb/¿ . )/° R
Hence, from Eqn. (3)
−3 2
13.5 psia+[1.65 x 10 (lb / ¿ . )/° R]
P=15.10 psia
Or
T =969 ° R
From Eq. (2) with the downstream pressure P=13.5 psia and temperature
T=969°R we get:
969 ° R
s−s 1=[187(ft ⋅lb)/(lbm⋅° R)]ln ⁡( )
514.55 ° R
s−s 1=121(ft ⋅lb)/(lbm ⋅° R)
REFERENCES

Fundamentals of fluid mechanics / Bruce R. Munson, Theodore H. Okiishi, Wade

W. Huebsch, Alric P. Rothmayer—7th edition.