Derivation of unsteady quasi-1D flow equations
Sint-Genesius-Rode, Mar 2018.


This page is in the "junk" directory! Make sure you check some better material as well, on the main page :-)

The quasi-1D isentropic expansion of a flow is a very well-studied problem, and its analytical solution can be found on a large number of textbooks, such as thermodynamics, turbo machines, rockets design and fluid mechanics books. However, the derivation of unsteady quasi-1D flows, although not really difficult, is somehow less common. In this page you can find a derivation that I made on the blackboard.

It is very likely that I put some mistakes in there. Right click on the images to make them larger. Take the derivation with grano salis and tell me if you spot some errors! :-)

Let's start with the final result (we will explain and derive it in the following):

all_equations

And let's start the derivation:

Step 0: prelude

Our goal is writing some differential equation along the axis of a channel, such as a nozzle. We will assume that quantities (density, velocity, pressure, temperature..) are constant on the cross section. This assumption is the core of the quasi-1D models and to be satisfied it requires that the duct changes relatively smoothly (abrupt changes of cross section would generate recirculations and the velocity would reverse etc etc). Note that the "uniformity over the cross section" assumption is not needed for the transverse velocity component, since it does not appear in the equations (in fact, the only way for the flow to follow the walls is having a non uniform transverse velocity.

We will start by writing down the quantities on a small volume "dV" that has a length (along the axis) equal to "dx", and we define an averaged value of a generic quantiti "psi" on that element (you can think at a finite volumes approach if you like):

prelude

Step 1: mass balance

Now that we defined that "average" over the (small) volume dV, we write down a balance of mass in it. I just call our small volume "V" in the following. The rate of change of mass in such volume is equal to the mass that enters/exits it by crossing its surface S:

mass_equation

As you can see, that average stuff disappeared by taking the limit for "dx" going to zero.

Step 2: momentum balance

Then we do the same for the momentum equation. Notice that the side walls enter in the game now, through the pressure term:

momentum_equation

Step 3: energy balance

And finally the energy equation, which is quite easy. Let us also introduce the ideal gas equation of state and the relation among energy and temperature.

energy_equation

If you are interested in a script solving the steady nozzle equations, click HERE
. Again, if you spot any mistake, please let me know!

Cheers!
Stefano