MODULE 1 : INTRODUCTION TO

FLUID MACHINERY
Engr. Christine Mae Hernandez & Engr John Mame
INTRODUCTION
• Fluid machineries involve a collection of blades, buckets,
flow channels, or passages arranged around an axis of
rotation to form a rotor. Fluid machineries are mechanical
devices that either extract energy from a fluid (turbine) or
add energy to a fluid (pump) as a result of dynamic
interactions between the device and the fluid. The fluid
used can be either a gas or a liquid. The basic operating
principles are the same whether the fluid is a liquid or a
gas. This module includes discussion of the classification of
fluid machineries, principles of fluid flow and dimensional
analysis.
TOPIC 1: CLASSIFICATION OF FLUID
MACHINERY
Engr. Christine Mae Hernandez & Engr John Mame
Fluid Machines
• Are defined as those machines which convert
either hydraulic energy (energy possessed by
water) into mechanical energy (which is further
converted into electrical energy) or mechanical
energy into hydraulic energy.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF FLUID MACHINES

1. Classification Based on Direction of Energy Conversion
2. Classification Based on Principle of Operation
3. Classification Based on Fluid Used
 Turbines
A turbine is a rotary mechanical device
that extracts energy from a fluid flow
and converts it into useful work. The
work produced by a turbine can be
used for generating electrical power
when combined with a generator.
 Pumps
A pump is a device that moves fluids
(liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by
mechanical action, typically converted from
electrical energy into hydraulic energy.
 Compressors
Compressors are similar to pumps: both increase the pressure on
a fluid and both can transport the fluid through a pipe. As gases are
compressible, the compressor also reduces the volume of a gas. Liquids
are relatively incompressible; while some can be compressed, the main
action of a pump is to pressurize and transport liquids.
Classification Based on Direction of Energy
Conversion

• The device in which the kinetic, potential or

inter-molecular energy held by the fluid is
converted in the form of mechanical energy of
a rotating member is known as a turbine. The
machines, on the other hand, where the
mechanical energy from moving parts is
transferred to a fluid to increase its stored
energy by increasing either its pressure or
velocity are known as pumps, compressors,
fans or blowers.
Classification Based on Principle of Operation

• The machines whose functioning depends essentially on

the change of volume of a certain amount of fluid within
the machine are known as positive displacement machines.
The word positive displacement comes from the fact that
there is a physical displacement of the boundary of a
certain fluid mass as a closed system. This principle is
utilized in practice by the reciprocating motion of a piston
within a cylinder while entrapping a certain amount of fluid
in it. Therefore, the word reciprocating is commonly used
with the name of the machines of this kind. The machine
producing mechanical energy is known as reciprocating
engine while the machine developing energy of the fluid
from the mechanical energy is known as reciprocating
pump or reciprocating compressor.
Classification Based on Principle of Operation

• Rotodynamic machines- machines, functioning of

which depend basically on the principle of fluid
dynamics. They are distinguished from positive
displacement machines in requiring relative motion
between the fluid and the moving part of the machine.
• Rotor or impeller- rotating element of the machine
usually consisting of a number of vanes or blades
• Stator- The fixed part of the machine.
• Impeller- is the heart of rotodynamic machines, within
which a change of angular momentum of fluid occurs
imparting torque to the rotating member.
Types of Impeller

• Rotor or impeller- rotating element of the

machine usually consisting of a number of vanes
or blades
• For turbines, the work is done by the
fluid on the rotor.
• For pump, compressor, fan or blower,
the work is done by the rotor on the
fluid element.
Radial flow or Axial flow machine
• Radial flow turbines- the flow is
towards the center of the rotor.
– are sometimes referred to as radially
inward flow machines
• Radial flow pumps and compressors-
the flow is away from the center.
– as radially outward flow machines
Radial flow or Axial flow machine
• Radial flow turbines- the flow is towards the
center of the rotor.
– are sometimes referred to as radially
inward flow machines
• Radial flow pumps and compressors- the flow
is away from the center.
– as radially outward flow machines
• Axial Flow machine- the main direction of
flow in the rotor is axial.
• Radial Flow machine- the main direction of
flow in the rotor is radial.
Examples:
• Radial Flow
– Francis turbines
– Centrifugal pumps or compressors
• Axial Flow
– Kaplan Turbines
– Axial flow compressor
Classification Based on Fluid Used
• The fluid machines use either liquid or gas
as the working fluid depending upon the
purpose.
• Pump- machine transferring mechanical
energy of rotor to the energy of fluid when
it uses liquid
• Compressor or a Fan or a Blower-
machine transferring mechanical energy of
rotor to the energy of fluid when it uses
gas.
• Compressor- is a machine where the
main objective is to increase the static
pressure of a gas.
• Fans or blowers- mainly cause a high
flow of gas, and hence utilize the
mechanical energy of the rotor to
increase mostly the kinetic energy of
the fluid. In these machines, the
change in static pressure is quite small.
• Water turbines or hydraulic turbines-
liquid used by the turbines producing
power is water.
• Steam turbine, gas turbine, and air
turbine- Turbines handling gases in
practical fields, depending upon
whether they use steam, gas (the
mixture of air and products of burnt
fuel in air) or air. Engr. Christine Mae Hernandez & Engr. John Mame
Turbine Classifications
TOPIC 2: PRINCIPLES OF FLUID FLOW
ME - 411
VISCOSITY
• Viscosity is a measure of resistance to flow of
a fluid; or it may be defined as the ratio of the
shearing stress or force between adjacent
layers of fluid to the rate of change of velocity
perpendicular to the direction of motion.
1. ABSOLUTE VISCOSITY, µ - If the absolute viscosity is
measured in metric system, the unit is poise and is measured in grams
mass per centimeter-second. In the English system, the units are slugs per

foot-second. The following relation is useful for conversions.

µ in slugs per foot second = 0.002089 (µ in poises)
VISCOSITY
2. KINEMATIC VISCOSITY, ν - It is absolute viscosity divided by mass
density. In the metric system, the units are called stokes, which are
centimeters squared per second; in English system the units are feet
squared per second. For conversion purposes:
ν in feet squared per second = 0.001076 (ν in stokes)

3. SAYBOLT SECOND- A Saybolt second is the time t’ in seconds required

for 60 cc. of liquid to pass through an opening of standard size. To convert
this kinematic viscosity the following relationships may be used.
ν = 0.0022t’ – (1.8/t’) cm2 per sec. or stokes
ν = [0.236t’ – (194/t’)] 10-5 ft2 per sec.
VISCOSITY
4. HELMHOLTZ’ EQUATION
µ in poises =

5. GRINDLEY AND GIBSON EQUATION - Grindley and Gibson

found the viscosity of air to be
µ in poises = 0.0001702 (1 + 0.00329t + 0.000007t2 )
where t in equations 5.4 and 5.5 is the temperature in degrees
centigrade.
REYNOLD’S NUMBER, NR
It is desirable to be able to compare the flow of fluids under different
conditions of velocity, viscosity, density and passage size for similarly
shaped channels. It has been found that resistance to flow of the fluid, or
of an object moved through a body of fluid, is a function of
dimensionless ratio known as Reynolds’ number. Large Reynolds
numbers indicate turbulent flow, whereas low values indicate laminar
flow. The critical flow generally occurs at a Reynolds number of about
2300.
NR =

where
γ = specific weight of the fluid
V = velocity of fluid or body
µ = absolute viscosity of fluid
ν = kinematic viscosity
d = some characteristic dimension of the passage or of an object in the path (as
diameter)
TYPES OF FLUID FLOW
• LAMINAR FLOW - Type of flow in which the
velocity of a fluid flowing through a pipe is low,
the particles move in parallel layers and the
velocity at any point is constant in magnitude and
direction.
• TURBULENT FLOW - Type of flow in which the
velocity of fluid is high, the motion is not steady
but varies in both magnitude and direction at any
given point.
• CRITICAL VELOCITY- The transition point from
laminar flow to turbulent flow.
TYPES OF FLOW
• Nr < 2000 it is LAMINAR FLOW
• Nr > 2000 it is TURBULENT FLOW
• Between 2000 and 4000, it is
TRANSITIONAL FLOW
TYPES OF FLOW
• NR < 2000 it is LAMINAR FLOW
• NR > 2000 it is TURBULENT FLOW
• Between 2000 and 4000, it is
TRANSITIONAL FLOW
Sample Problem:

• Water is flowing in a pipe with a radius

of 25.4 cm at a velocity of 3m/s. The
viscosity of water is 1.13 Pa-s. What is
the Reynolds Number?
Sample Problem :
•
Sample Problem :
•
CONTINUITY EQUATION
After steady conditions have been established, the weight
of fluid per unit of time passing any point is constant. The
weight of fluid equals γAV where V is the average velocity
across the section, A is the area and γ is the weight per
unit volume or specific weight. For any two sections, a and
b, γaAaVa = γbAbVb, or for any section
γAV = constant = weight flow in pounds per second
For liquids such as water, γ is practically constant and the equation
reduces to
Q = AV
where Q is the quantity flowing per unit time. Hence, as the
cross-sectional area of a pipe is decreased gradually the velocity will
increase, and vice versa.
HEAD
• The head is the height to which a column of the fluid must
rise to contain the same amount of energy as is contained in
one unit weight of the fluid under the conditions considered
– POTENTIAL OR ACTUAL HEAD- Form of head which is
based upon the elevation of the fluid above some
arbitrarily chosen datum plane
– KINETIC OR VELOCITY HEAD- Form of head which is a
measure of the kinetic energy contained in a unit weight
of the fluid due to its velocity and is given by the familiar
expression for kinetic energy, V2 /2g.
– PRESSURE HEAD - Form of head which is the energy
contained in the fluid as a result of its pressure, and is
equal to P/γ
BERNOULLI’S THEOREM
• The total energy of the fluid is equal to the sum of
the three heads,
P/γ + V2 /2g + z = H
and, since energy cannot be created or destroyed, H
is constant (neglecting losses). This equation is known
as Bernoulli’s Theorem.
In actual passages and for pump analysis, the head
does not remain constant because of the friction and
turbulence losses. Hence, the equation may be
written:
P1/γ + V1 2 /2g + z1 + HP = P2/γ + V2 2 /2g + z2 + HL
HP = (P2 - P1)/γ + (V2 2 - V1 2 )/2g + (z2 - z1) + HL
BERNOULLI’S THEOREM
Where:
• HP = Net Pump Head or Total Dynamic Head
• z1 = Elevation Head (+) for Static Suction Head;
above pump centerline (-) for Static Suction Lift;
below pump centerline
• z2 = Elevation Head or Static Discharge Head
• HL = Head Loss or Friction Head
• P1/γ + V1 2 /2g = Dynamic Suction Head or
Dynamic Suction Lift
• P2/γ + V2 2 /2g = Dynamic Discharge Head
• P1/γ + V1 2 /2g + z1 = Total Suction Head
• P2/γ + V2 2 /2g + z2 = Total Discharge Head
Sample Problem :
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Sample Problem :
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Sample Problem :
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Sample Problem :
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LOSS OF HEAD

The loss of head in a passage may be due either to friction

or to the turbulence occurring when the fluid passes an
obstruction, sudden change of section, etc.
10.1 FRICTION LOSS IN PASSAGE (DARCY EQUATION)
HL =

where f = empirical coefficient dependent on Reynolds Number L = path

length D = pipe inside diameter V = average fluid velocity in feet per
second If the passage is not circular, or if it has an annular shape (i.e. if
the flow takes place between two pipes one of which is inside the other),
the hydraulic radius Rm may be used in place of d in calculating the
Reynolds Number and in the Darcy Equation.
For Turbulent Flow:
•
Sample Problem :
• The flow rate of water through a cast
iron pipe is 10,000 GPM. The pipe is 18
inches diameter and the coefficient of
friction f = 0.02. What is the pressure
drop over a 500 ft length of pipe?
Sample Problem :
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Sample Problem :
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Sample Problem :
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Hydraulic Radius

Rm =

Since for a circular pipe,

Rm = (π/4)d2 x (1/ πd) = d/4
Or
d = 4 Rm

10.2 CHANGE OF SECTION, FITTINGS, ETC. The total lost head in

various types of fittings may be given by:
Hf = C x (V2 /2g)
where C is a coefficient dependent on the type of fitting.
CMRH