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Chapter 4 : Conservation Equations and Analysis of Finite Control Volume

Lecture 11 :

Forces due to Flow Through Expanding or Reducing Pipe Bends

Let us consider, a fluid flow through an expander shown in Fig. 11.1a below. The expander is held in a vertical
plane. The inlet and outlet velocities are given by V1 and V2 as shown in the figure. The inlet and outlet
pressures are also prescribed as p1 and p2. The velocity and pressure at inlet and at outlet sections are
assumed to be uniform. The problem is usually posed for the estimation of the force required at the expander
support to hold it in position.

Fig 11.1a Flow of a fluid through an expander

For the solution of this type of problem, a control volume is chosen to coincide with the interior of the
expander as shown in Fig. 11.1a. The control volume being constituted by areas 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, and 4-1 is
shown separately in Fig.11.1b.

The external forces on the fluid over areas 2-3 and 1-4 arise due to net efflux of linear momentum through the
interior surface of the expander. Let these forces be Fx and Fy. Since the control volume 1234 is stationary
and at a steady state, we apply Eq.(10.18d) and have for x and y components

(11.1a)

and (11.1b)

or, (11.2a)

and (11.2b)

where = mass flow rate through the expander. Analytically it can be expressed as

where A1 and A2 are the cross-sectional areas at inlet and outlet of the expander and the flow is considered to
be incompressible.
M represents the mass of fluid contained in the expander at any instant and can be expressed as

where is the internal volume of the expander.

Thus, the forces Fx and Fy acting on the control volume (Fig. 11.1b) are exerted by the expander. According to
Newton’s third law, the expander will experience the forces Rx (= − Fx) and Ry ( = − Fy) in the x and y
directions respectively as shown in the free body diagram of the expander. in fig 11.1c.

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Fig 11.1b Control Volume Comprising the fluid Fig 11.1c Free Body Diagram of the
contained in the expander at any instant Expander

The expander will also experience the atmospheric pressure force on its outer surface. This is shown
separately in Fig. 11.2.

Fig 11.2 Effect of atmospheric pressure on the expander

From Fig.11.2 the net x and y components of the atmospheric pressure force on the expander can be written
as

The net force on the expander is therefore,

(11.3a)

(11.3b)

or,

(11.4a)

(11.4b)

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Note: At this stage that if Fx and Fy are calculated from the Eqs (11.2a) and (11.2b) with p1 and p2 as the
gauge pressures instead of the absolute ones the net forces on the expander Ex and Ey will respectively be
equal to −Fx and −Fy.

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