ABSTRACT
Transportation of fluids forms an integral part of chemical engineering operation. In fluid-flow problems, mathematical calculations are used to determine the size of pipe, the fluid transport properties, the flow characteristics, and the energy that must be applied to move the fluid. But, because of the complexity of the flow pattern, most flows are described by a set of empirical or semiempirical equations, and only a few special problems can be entirely solved by rational, mathematical means. Most of the equations describing fluid mechanics problems are nonlinear and therefore require trial and error computations, which are problems especially well suited for MATLAB®. This chapter briefly covers calculation methods for basic flow problems, pressure losses in pipes and fittings for a variety of fluid flows that include single- and two-phase flows, compressible flow, and non-Newtonian fluid flows. The approach taken here emphasizes the engineering problem-solving with little reference to the mechanisms of fluid mechanics. The main objective of this chapter is to provide readers with various fluid-flow models and corresponding MATLAB programs that have already been found, or can potentially be used, for academic or industrial applications. The topics covered in this chapter include laminar flow, friction factor, flow of fluids in pipes, flow through tank, flow of non-Newtonian fluid, compressible fluid flow in pipes, two-phase flow in pipes, and flow through packed beds.
