Isentropic Flow - Area Variation

13.1 Air is extracted from a large tank in which the temperature and pressure are 70 oC
and 101 kPa (abs), respectively, through a nozzle. At one location in the nozzle the static
pressure is 25 kPa and the diameter is 15 cm. What is the mass flow rate? Assume
isentropic flow
Answer: m=3.18 kg/s

13.3 Steam flows steadily and isentropically through a nozzle. At an upstream section
where the speed is negligible, the temperature and pressure are 450 oC and 6 MPa (abs).
At a section where the nozzle diameter is 2 cm, the steam pressure is 2 MPa (abs).
Determine the speed and Mach number at this section and the mass flow rate of steam.
Sketch the passage shape.
Answer: V=781 m/s M=1.35 m=3.18 kg/s

13.5 Nitrogen flows through a diverging section of duct with A1=0.15 m2 and A2=0.45 m2.
If M1=1.7 and T1=30 oC, find M2 and T2.
Answer: M=2.94 T = - 98 oC

13.7 At a section in a passage, the pressure is 30 psia, the temperature is 100 oF, and the
speed is 1750 ft/s. At a section downstream the Mach number is 2.5. Determine the
pressure at this downstream location for isentropic flow of air. Sketch the passage
shape.
Answer: p2 = 6.52 psi

13.8 Oxygen flows into an insulated duct with initial conditions of 200 kPa, 420 K, and 200
m/s. The area changes from A1 =0.6 m2 to A2=0.5 m2. Compute M1, p01, and T01. Is this
duct a nozzle or a diffuser? Calculate the exit conditions (pressure, temperature, and
Mach number) provided that there are no losses.

13.9 Air is flowing in an adiabatic system at 20 lbm/s. At one section, the pressure is 30
psia, the temperature is 1200 oF, and the area is 8 in2. At a downstream section, M2=1.2.
Sketch the flow passage. Find the exit area provided the flow is reversible.
Answer: Convergent duct A=1.016 in2

13.10 Air flows isentropically through a converging-diverging nozzle from a large tank
containing air at 250 oC. At two locations where the area is 1 cm2, the static pressures
are 200 kPa and 50 kPa. Find the mass flow rate, the throat area, and the Mach numbers
at the two locations.
Computation
13.11 Air flows steadily and isentropically through a passage. At section 1, where the cross-
sectional area is 0.02m2, the air is at 40.0 kPa (abs), 60 oC, and M = 2.0. At section 2
downstream, the speed is 519 m/s. Calculate the Mach number at section 2. Sketch the
shape of the passage between sections 1 and 2.
Answer: M2=1.20 Supersonic diffuser

13.13 Air, at an absolute pressure of 60.0 kPa and 27 oC, enters a passage at 486 m/s,
where A = 0.02 m2. At section 2 downstream, p = 78.8 kPa (abs). Assuming isentropic
flow, calculate the Mach number at section 2. Sketch the flow passage.
Answer: M2=1.20 Supersonic diffuser

13.15 Atmospheric air (101 kPa and 20 oC) is drawn into a receiving pipe via a converging
nozzle. The throat cross-section diameter is 1 cm. Plot the mass flow rate delivered for
the receiving pipe pressure ranging from 100 kPa down to 5 kPa.
Computation

13.17 A passage is designed to expand air isentropically to atmospheric pressure from a

large tank in which properties are held constant at 40 oF and 45 psia. The desired flow
rate is 2.25 lbm/s. Assuming the passage is 20 ft long and that the Mach number
increases linearly with position in the passage, plot the cross-sectional area and
pressure as functions of position.
Computation

13.19 Air flows isentropically through a converging nozzle into a receiver where the
pressure is 250 kPa (abs). If the pressure is 350 kPa (abs) and the speed is 150 m/s at
the nozzle location where the Mach number is 0.5, determine the pressure, speed, and
Mach number at the nozzle throat
Answer: pt =250 kPa Vt=252 m/s Mt=0.883

13.21 Air flows through a diverging duct. At the entrance to the duct, the Mach number is 1
and the area is 0.2 m2. At the exit to the duct, the area is 0.5 m2. What are the two
possible exit Mach numbers for this duct?
Answer: M=0.240 M=2.44

13.23 Air flowing isentropically through a converging nozzle discharges to the atmosphere.
At the section where the absolute pressure is 250 kPa, the temperature is 20 oC and the
air speed is 200 m/s. Determine the nozzle throat pressure.
Answer: pt=166 kPa
13.25 Air flowing isentropically through a converging nozzle discharges to the atmosphere.
At a section the area is A=0.05 m2, T= 3.3 oC, and V = 200 m/s. If the flow is just choked,
find the pressure and the Mach number at this location. What is the throat area? What
is the mass flow rate?
Answer: p=150 kPa M=0.60 At=0.0421 m2 m=18.9 kg/s

13.27 Air, with p0 = 650 kPa (abs) and T0 = 350 K, flows isentropically through a converging
nozzle. At the section in the nozzle where the area is 2.6 x1023 m2, the Mach number is
0.5. The nozzle discharges to a back pressure of 270 kPa (abs). Determine the exit area
of the nozzle.
Answer: At = 1.94x103m2

13.29 Air at 0 oC is contained in a large tank on the space shuttle. A converging section
with exit area 1x 10 -3 m2 is attached to the tank, through which the air exits to space at
a rate of 2 kg/s. What are the pressure in the tank, and the pressure, temperature, and
speed at the exit?
Answer: po=817 kPa Pe=432 kPa Te=288 K Ve=302 m/s

13.31 Nitrogen is stored in a large chamber at 450 K and 150 kPa. The gas leaves the
chamber through a converging only nozzle with an outlet area of 30 cm2. The ambient
room pressure is 100 kPa, and the flow through the nozzle is isentropic. What is the
mass flow rate of the nitrogen? If the room pressure could be lowered, what is the
maximum possible mass flow rate for the nitrogen?
Answer: m=0.807 kg/s mmax=0.843 kg/s

13.33 A 50-cm-diameter spherical cavity initially is evacuated. The cavity is to be filled with
air for a combustion experiment. The pressure is to be 45 kPa (abs), measured after its
temperature reaches Tatm. Assume the valve on the cavity is a converging nozzle with
throat diameter of 1 mm, and the surrounding air is at standard conditions. For how long
should the valve be opened to achieve the desired final pressure in the cavity? Calculate
the entropy change for the air in the cavity.
Answer: t=374 s (6.23 min) s=232 J/kg K
13.35 Consider a “rocket cart” propelled by a jet supplied from a tank of compressed air on
the cart. Initially, air in the tank is at 1.3 MPa (abs) and 20 oC, and the mass of the cart
and tank is Mo= 25 kg. The air exhausts through a converging nozzle with exit area Ae =
30 mm2. Rolling resistance of the cart is FR = 6 N; aerodynamic resistance is negligible.
For the instant after air begins to flow through the nozzle:
a) Compute the pressure in the nozzle exit plane
b) Evaluate the mass flow rate of air through the nozzle
c) Calculate the acceleration of the tank and cart assembly.
Answer: Pe=687 kPa m=0.0921 kg/s arfx=1.62 m/s2

13.37 An air-jet-driven experimental rocket of 25 kg mass is to be launched from the space

shuttle into space. The temperature of the air in the rocket’s tank is 125 oC. A converging
section with exit area 25 mm2 is attached to the tank, through which the air exits to space
at a rate of 0.05 kg/s. What is the pressure in the tank, and the pressure, temperature,
and air speed at the exit when the rocket is first released? What is the initial acceleration
of the rocket?
Answer: po=9.87 kPa pe=5.21 kpa (abs) Te=332 ve=365 m/s ax=1.25 m/s2

13.39 Hydrogen is expanded adiabatically, without friction from 100 psia, at 540 oF, and at
negligible velocity to 20 psia via a converging-diverging nozzle. What is the exit Mach
number?
Answer: M=1.706

13.41 A converging nozzle is bolted to the side of a large tank. Air inside the tank is
maintained at a constant 50 psia and 100 oF. The inlet area of the nozzle is 10 in2 and
the exit area is 1 in2.The nozzle discharges to the atmosphere. For isentropic flow in the
nozzle, determine the total force on the bolts, and indicate whether the bolts are in
tension or compression.
Answer:Rx=304 lbf (Tension)

13.43 An ideal gas, with k=1.25, flows isentropically through the converging nozzle shown
and discharges into a large duct where the pressure is p2 = 25 psia. The gas is not air
and the gas constant, R, is unknown. Flow is steady and uniform at all cross sections.
Find the exit area of the nozzle, A2, and the exit speed, V2.
Answer: A20.573 ft2 V2=667 m/s
13.44 A jet transport aircraft, with pressurized cabin, cruises at 11 km altitude. The cabin
temperature and pressure initially are at 25 oC and equivalent to 2.5 km altitude. The
interior volume of the cabin is 25 m3. Air escapes through a small hole with effective flow
area of 0.002 m2. Calculate the time required for the cabin pressure to decrease by 40
percent. Plot the cabin pressure as a function of time.
Computation

13.45 At some point upstream of the throat of a converging diverging duct, air flows at a
speed of 50 ft/s, with pressure and temperature of 15 psia and 70 oF, respectively. If the
throat area is 1 ft2, and the discharge from the duct is supersonic, find the mass flow rate
of air, assuming frictionless, adiabatic flow.
Answer: m=50 lbm/s

13.46 A converging-diverging nozzle is attached to a very large tank of air in which the
pressure is 150 kPa and the temperature is 35 oC. The nozzle exhausts to the
atmosphere where the pressure is 101 kPa. The exit diameter of the nozzle is 2.75 cm.
What is the flow rate through the nozzle? Assume the flow is isentropic.

12.47 A large insulated tank, pressurized to 620 kPa (gage), supplies air to a converging
nozzle which discharges to atmosphere. The initial temperature in the tank is 127 oC.
When flow through the nozzle is initiated, what is the Mach number in the exit plane of
the nozzle? What is the pressure in the exit plane when the flow is initiated? At what
condition will the exit-plane Mach number change? How will the exit-plane pressure vary
with time? How will flow rate through the nozzle vary with time? What would you estimate
the air temperature in the tank to be when flow through the nozzle approaches zero?
Answer: Me=1 pe=381 kPa Pressure and flow decrase asymptotically Tf=228 K
12.48 Air escapes from a high-pressure bicycle tire through a hole with diameter d = 0.254
mm. The initial pressure in the tire is p1 = 620 kPa (gage). (Assume the temperature
remains constant at 27 oC.) The internal volume of the tire is approximately 4x10 -4 m3,
and is constant. Estimate the time needed for the pressure in the tire to drop to 310 kPa
(gage). Compute the change in specific entropy of the air in the tire during this process.
Plot the tire pressure as a function of time.
Answer - computatiom

13.49 At the design condition of the system of Problem 13.46, the exit Mach number is Me
= 2.0. Find the pressure in the tank of Problem 13.46 (keeping the temperature constant)
for this condition. What is the flow rate? What is the throat area?
Answer: po=115psia m=1.53 lb/s At=0.593 in2

13.51 A pitot static probe is placed in a converging-diverging duct through which air flows.
The duct is fed by a reservoir kept at 20 oC. If the probe reads a static pressure of 75
kPa and a stagnation pressure of 100 kPa at a location where the area is 0.00645 m2,
what are the local velocity and the mass flow rate of air?
Answer: V=225 m/s m=1.292 kg/s

13.53 A converging-diverging nozzle, designed to expand air to M = 3.0, has a 250 mm2
exit area. The nozzle is bolted to the side of a large tank and discharges to standard
atmosphere. Air in the tank is pressurized to 4.5 MPa (gage) at 750 K. Assume flow
within the nozzle is isentropic. Evaluate the pressure in the nozzle exit plane. Calculate
the mass flow rate of air through the nozzle.
Answer: pe=125 kPa (abs) m=0.401 kg/s

13.55 Air, at a stagnation pressure of 7.20 MPa (abs) and a stagnation temperature of 1100
o
K, flows isentropically through a converging-diverging nozzle having a throat area of
0.01 m2. Determine the speed and the mass flow rate at the downstream section where
the Mach number is 4.0.
Answer: V1=1300 m/s m=87.4 kg/s

13.57 Air flows isentropically through a converging-diverging nozzle attached to a large

tank, in which the pressure is 251 psia and the temperature is 500 oR. The nozzle is
operating at design conditions for which the nozzle exit pressure, pe, is equal to the
surrounding atmospheric pressure, pa. The exit area of the nozzle is Ae = 1.575 in2.
Calculate the flow rate through the nozzle. Plot the mass flow rate as the temperature of
the tank is progressively increased to 2000 oR (all pressures remaining the same).
Explain this result (e.g., compare the mass flow rates at 500 oR and 2000 oR)
Answer – Computation ( m=3.57 lbm/s Mass flow rate decreases by a factor of 2)
13.59 Nitrogen, at a pressure and temperature of 371 kPa (abs) and 400 oK, enters a nozzle
with negligible speed. The exhaust jet is directed against a large flat plate that is
perpendicular to the jet axis. The flow leaves the nozzle at atmospheric pressure. The
exit area is 0.003 m2. Find the force required to hold the plate.
Answer: Rx=950 N

13.61 A small rocket motor, fueled with hydrogen and oxygen, is tested on a thrust stand
at a simulated altitude of 10 km. The motor is operated at chamber stagnation conditions
of 1500 oK and 8.0 MPa (gage). The combustion product is water vapor, which may be
treated as an ideal gas. Expansion occurs through a converging-diverging nozzle with
design Mach number of 3.5 and exit area of 700 mm2. Evaluate the pressure at the
nozzle exit plane. Calculate the mass flow rate of exhaust gas. Determine the force
exerted by the rocket motor on the thrust stand.
Answer: pe=88.3 kPa m=0.499 kg/s Rx= - 1026 N (to left)

13.62 A CO2 cartridge is used to propel a small rocket cart. Compressed gas, stored at 35
MPa and 20 oC, is expanded through a smoothly contoured converging nozzle with 0.5
mm throat diameter. The back pressure is atmospheric. Calculate the pressure at the
nozzle throat. Evaluate the mass flow rate of carbon dioxide through the nozzle.
Determine the thrust available to propel the cart. How much would the thrust increase if
a diverging section were added to the nozzle to expand the gas to atmospheric
pressure? What is the exit area? Show stagnation states, static states, and the
processes on a Ts diagram.

13.63 A rocket motor is being tested at sea level where the pressure is 14.7 psia. The
chamber pressure is 175 psia, the chamber temperature is 5400 oR, and the nozzle has
a throat area of 1 in2. The exhaust gas has a ratio of specific heats of k =1.25 and a gas
constant R =70.6 ft lbf/lbmoR. Assuming adiabatic, frictionless flow in the nozzle,
determine
a) Te nozzle exit area and velocity
b) The thrust generated.
Answer: Ae=2.42 in2 Ve=6925 ft/s Rx=228 lbf

13.65 Consider the converging-diverging option of Problem 13.62. To what pressure would
the compressed gas need to be raised (keeping the temperature at 20 oC) to develop a
thrust of 15N? (Assume isentropic flow.)
Answer – computation ( p0 =44.6 MPa)
 Normal Shocks

12.67 A standing normal shock occurs in air which is flowing at a Mach number of 1.75.
What are the pressure and temperature ratios across the shock? What is the increase
in entropy across the shock?
Answer: p2/p1=3.41 T2/T1=1.50 Δs=51.8 J/kg o K

13.69 A normal shock occurs when a pitot-static tube is inserted into a supersonic wind
tunnel. Pressures measured by the tube are p02= 10 psia and p2 = 8 psia. Before the
shock, T1 = 285 oR and p1 = 1.75 psia. Calculate the air speed in the wind tunnel.
Answer: V=1666 ft/s

13.71 A total-pressure probe is placed in a supersonic wind tunnel where T = 530 oR and
M = 2.0. A normal shock stands in front of the probe. Behind the shock, M2 = 0.577 and
p2 = 5.76 psia. Find
a) The downstream stagnation pressure and stagnation temperature
b) All fluid properties upstream from the shock. Show static and stagnation state points
and the process path on a Ts diagram.
Answer: p1=1.28 psia ρ1=0.00653 lbm/ft3 V1=2260 ft/s T01 =954 oR p01 =10.0 psia T02=954o R p02=7.22
psia

13.73 A wind tunnel nozzle is designed to operate at a Mach number of 5. To check the
flow velocity, a pitot probe is placed at the nozzle exit. Since the probe tip is blunt, a
normal shock stands off the tip of the probe. If the nozzle exit static pressure is 10 kPa,
what absolute pressure should the pitot probe measure? If the stagnation temperature
before the nozzle is 1450 K, what is the nozzle exit velocity?
Answer: p02=327 kPa V2=1558 m/s

13.75 Air with stagnation conditions of 150 psia and 400 oF accelerates through a
converging-diverging nozzle with throat area 3 in2. A normal shock is located where the
area is 6 in2. What is the Mach number before and after the shock? What is the rate of
entropy generation through the nozzle, if there is negligible friction between the flow and
the nozzle walls?
Answer: M1=2.20 M2=0.547 Δs=24.7 ft lbf/lbm oR

13.77 Air undergoes a normal shock. Upstream, T1 = 35 oC, p1= 229 kPa (abs), and V1 =
704 m/s. Determine the temperature and stagnation pressure of the air stream leaving
the shock.
Answer: T2=520 K p02 =1.29 MPa (abs)
 13.79 A normal shock occurs in air at a section where V1 = 2000 mph, T1=215 oF, and p1 =
5 psia. Determine the speed and Mach number downstream from the shock and the
change in stagnation pressure across the shock.
Answer: M2=0.486 V2=541 mph (793 ft/s) Δp0=89.2 psi

13.81 A supersonic aircraft cruises at M = 2.2 at 12 km altitude. A pitot tube is used to

sense pressure for calculating air speed. A normal shock stands in front of the tube. Evaluate
the local isentropic stagnation conditions in front of the shock. Estimate the stagnation
pressure sensed by the pitot tube. Show static and stagnation state points and the process
path on a Ts diagram
Answer: T01=426 K p01=207 kPa (abs) p02=130 kPa (abs)

13.83 Stagnation pressure and temperature probes are located on the nose of a supersonic
aircraft. At 35,000 ft altitude a normal shock stands in front of the probes. The
temperature probe indicates T0 = 420 oF behind the shock. Calculate the Mach number
and air speed of the plane. Find the static and stagnation pressures behind the shock.
Show the process and the static and stagnation state points on a Ts diagram.
Answer: M1=2.48 V1=2420 ft/s p02=29.1 psia p2=24.3 psia

13.85 Equations 13.20 are a useful set of equations for analyzing flow through a normal
shock. Derive another useful equation, the Rankine Hugoniot relation,

  1  2    1
p2 1

p1
  1    1  2
1

and use it to find the density ratio for air as p2/p1 →∞.

13.87 An aircraft is in supersonic flight at 10 km altitude on a standard day. The true air
speed of the plane is 659 m/s. Calculate the flight Mach number of the aircraft. A total
head tube attached to the plane is used to sense stagnation pressure which is converted
to flight Mach number by an on board computer. However, the computer programmer
has ignored the normal shock that stands in front of the total head tube and has assumed
isentropic flow. Evaluate the pressure sensed by the total-head tube. Determine the
erroneous air speed calculated by the computer program.
Answer: M1=2.20 p02=178 kPa V1=568 m/s (“Isentropic”)
13.89 A blast wave propagates outward from an explosion. At large radii, curvature is small
and the wave may be treated as a strong normal shock. (The pressure and temperature
rise associated with the blast wave decrease as the wave travels outward.) At one
instant, a blast wave front travels at M = 1.60 with respect to undisturbed air at standard
conditions. Find
a) The speed of the air behind the blast wave with respect to the wave
b) The speed of the air behind the blast wave as seen by an observer on the ground.
Draw a Ts diagram for the process as seen by an observer on the wave, indicating
static and stagnation state points and property values.
Answer: V2=268 m/s (Relative to wave),= - 276 m/s (Relative to ground)