BT 208

FLUID FLOW OPERATIONS IN

BIOPROCESSING
by
Dr. Selvaraju Narayanasamy
Associate Professor
Biochemical and Environmental Engineering Laboratory,
Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS
 Dimensional Analysis
• Dimensional analysis is often used to group the variables
in a given physical situation into dimensionless
parameters or numbers which can be useful in
experimentation and correlating data.

• Then a more general procedure is required which is

known as the Buckingham method.

• In this method the listing of the important variables in the

particular physical problem is done first.

• Then we determine the number of dimensionless

parameters into which the variables may be combined by
using the Buckingham pi theorem.
 Buckingham theorem
• The Buckingham theorem states that
– the functional relationship among ‘q’
quantities or variables whose units may be
given in terms of ‘u’ fundamental units or
dimensions may be written as (q – u )
independent dimensionless groups, often
called ’s.
– each  group is a function of ‘u’ governing or
repeating variables plus one of the remaining
variables.
• Let us consider the following example, to illustrate the use of this method.

• An incompressible fluid is flowing inside a circular tube of inside diameter D.

• The significant variables are pressure drop p, velocity v, diameter D, tube
length L, viscosity  and density .

• The total number of variables is q = 6.

• The fundamental units or dimensions are u = 3 and are mass M, length L, and
time t

• Therefore, the number of dimensionless groups or ’s is

• …..q – u = 6 – 3 = 3
Variable Units (SI) Dimensions

p N/m2 M/Lt2
D M L
v m/s L/t
L M L
 kg/m-s M/Lt
 kg/m3 M/L3
 Some rules which should be
followed to choose CORE!!!
• From the 2nd theorem number of repeating variables = u

• When combined, these repeating variables variable must

contain all of dimensions (M, L, T)
(That is not to say that each must contain M,L and T).

• A combination of the repeating variables must not form a

dimensionless group.

• The repeating variables should be chosen to be

measurable in an experimental investigation. They
should be of major interest to the designer. For example,
pipe diameter (dimension L) is more useful and
measurable than roughness height (also dimension L).
• 1 = f ()

• Next, We must select, a core group of u

(or 3) variables which will appear in each
group and among them contain all the
fundamental dimensions.

• Also, no two of the variables selected for

the core can have the same dimensions.

• In choosing the core, the variable whose

effect one desires to isolate is often
excluded (for example, p).
• This leaves us with the variables v, D, and  to
be used. (L and D have the same dimensions)

• We will select D, v and  to be the core variables

common to all three groups.

• Then three dimensionless groups are:

1 = Davb cp1
 = Ddve f L1
 = Dgvh i
• To be dimensionless, the variables must be
raised to certain exponents a,b,c etc.,

• First we consider the 1 group

• 1 = Davb cp1

• To evaluate these exponents, we write the

above eqn with actual dimensions….
b c
L M   M 
M L t 1 L    3   2 
0 0 0 a

 t   L   Lt 
• Next we equate the exponents of L on both sides of
this equation, of M, and finally of t….
• (L) 0 = a + b – 3c – 1
• (M) 0 = c + 1
• (t) 0 = – b – 2
• Solving these equations…..
• a=0
• b=–2
• c=–1
• Sub. These values into 1 P
1   Eu
v 
2
• Repeating the procedure for 2 and 3

L  1
2  3  
D Dv Re

• Then by sub. these expressions…….

 P  L   L 1 
 2   f  ,  Eu  f  , 
v    D Dv   D Re 

we know, f  PD
2 v 2 L

• Combining the ‘friction factor’ with the left-hand side of the

above eqn. shows that the friction factor is a function of the
Reynolds number (as was shown before in the empirical
correlation of friction factor and Reynolds number) and of
length/diameter ratio.
• In pipes with L/D >> 1 or pipes with fully developed flow, the
friction factor found to be independent of L/D.
• Wrong choice of physical properties.

• If, when defining the problem, extra - unimportant - variables are

introduced then extra  groups will be formed.

• They will play very little role influencing the physical behaviour of the
problem concerned and should be identified during experimental
work.

• If an important / influential variable was missed then a  group would

be missing.

• Experimental analysis based on these results may miss significant

changes.

• It is therefore, very important that the initial choice of variables is

carried out with great care.
 DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS IN
HEAT TRANSFER
• As seen in many of the correlations for fluid flow and
heat transfer, many dimensionless groups, such as the
Reynolds number and Prandtl number, occur in the
correlations.

• Dimensional analysis is often used to group the variables

in a given physical situation into dimensionless
parameters or numbers which can be useful in
experimentation and correlating data.

• By Buckingham method, in which the listing of the

significant variables in the particular physical problem is
done first.

• Then we determine the number of dimensionless

parameters into which the variables may be combined.
 Heat transfer inside a pipe
• The Buckingham theorem states that the function relationship
among ‘q’ quantities or variables whose units may be given in
terms of ‘u’ fundamental units or dimensions may be written
as (q – u ) dimensionless groups.

• Let us consider a fluid flowing in turbulent flow at velocity ‘v’

inside a pipe of diameter D and undergoing heat transfer to
the wall.

• We wish to predict the dimensionless groups relating the heat

transfer coefficient ‘h’ to the variables D, , , cp, k, and v. The
total number of variables q = 7.

• The fundamental units or dimensions are u = 4 and are mass

M, length L, time t and temperature T.

• The units of the variables in terms of these fundamental units

are as follows
Variable Units (SI) Dimensions

h W/m2K M/t3T
v m/s L/t
D m L
 kg/m-s M/Lt
 kg/m3 M/L3
Cp J/kg K L2/t2T
k W/m K ML/t3T
• Therefore, the number of dimensionless groups
or ’s is q – u = 7 – 4 = 3

• We will choose the four variables D, k, , and v

to be common to all the dimensionless groups.

• Then three dimensionless groups are:

1 = Da kb cvd h
 = De kf gvh cp
 = Di kj kvl 
• To be dimensionless, the variables must be
raised to certain exponents a,b,c etc.,

• First we consider the 1 group

• 1 = Da kb cvd h

• To evaluate these exponents, we write the

above eqn with actual dimensions….
b c d
 ML   M   L   M 
M L t T 1 L  3       3 
0 0 0 0 a

 t T   Lt   t   Tt 
• Next we equate the exponents of L on both sides of
this equation, of M, and finally of t….
• (L) 0 = a + b – c + d
• (M) 0 = b + c + 1
• (t) 0 = – 3b – c – d – 3
• (T) 0 = – b – 1
• Solving these equations…..
• a=1
• b=–1
• c=0
• d=0
hD
• Sub. These values into 1 1   Nu
k
• Repeating the procedure for 2 and 3

cp Dv
2  3   Re
k 

• Then by sub. These expressions…….

 Nu  f Re, Pr 
 hD   Dv c p  
  f  , , 
 k    k 

• This is in the form of the familiar equation for heat

transfer inside pipes.
 Natural convection heat transfer
outside a vertical plane
• In the case of natural convection heat transfer from a
vertical plane wall of length L to an adjacent fluid,…..

• The buoyant force due to the difference in density

between the cold and heated fluid should be a factor.

• As we know…..buoyancy force depends upon the

variables , g,  and T.

• Hence, the list of to be Considered and their

fundamental units are as follows:
Variable Units Dimensions

h W/m2K M/t3T
L M L
T K T
 kg/m-s M/Lt
 kg/m3 M/L3
Cp J/kg K L2/t2T
k W/m K ML/t3T
 1/K 1/T
g m/s2 L/t2
• The total number of variables q = 9.

• The fundamental units or dimensions are u = 4 and

are mass M, length L, time t and temperature T.

• Since, u = 4…..the number of dimensionless

groups or ’s = 9 – 4 = 5

• 1 = f ()

• Choose L, , k and g to be core group

• Then 5 dimensionless groups are:
1 = La b kcgd 
 = Le f kggh cp
 = Li j kkgl 
 = Lm n kogp 
 = Lq r ksgt h
• For 1, substituting the dimensions….
b c d
 M   ML   L   M 
M L t T 1 L    3   2   3 
0 0 0 0 a

 Lt   t T   t   L 
• Solving for the exponents…..
• a = 3/2; b = – 1 ; c = 0 and d = ½
• Then, L3 / 2 g 1 / 2 L  g
3 2
1  squaring......... 1 
 2
cp kT
2   Pr 4 
k Lg
Lg hL
3  5   Nu
k k
 L3 / 2 g 1 / 2 Lg kT L3  2 g T
 1 3 4    Gr
 k Lg  2

 Nu  f (Gr , Pr)