Experiment No.

4
Ideal Fluid Flow
I.

Objectives
1. To demonstrate fluid flow associated with sinks and sources in a two-dimensional
plate specifically the formation of Rankine half body, Rankine oval, and Doublet.

II.

Materials/Equipments Needed
1. Laminar Flow Table
2. Water Alcohol Soluble Dye
3. Water

III.

Equipment Set Up
BY-PASS
VALVE
INLET
DIFFUSER

INLET
CONTROL
VALVESOURCE
MANIFOLD

DRAIN
VALVE
DETA
CHAB
LE
CON
NECT
IONS
FOR
SOUR
CE
AND
SINK
CALI
BRATI
ON

PIPEWORK
FOR ONE
SINK AND
SOURCE

PINCH
CLIP FOR
SOURCEC
ALIBRATIO
N

ADJUSTAB
LE WEIR
PLATE
DRAIN
VALVE
SINK
D
MANIFOLD
R
A
I
N

Note:

Weir Plate, Inlet Control Valve, Bypass Valve - Adjusted to give minimum steady flow
rate available.
Dye Regulating Valve Adjusted to give fine, clearly defined dye streams.

IV.

Theory
Ideal Fluid Flow
Properties of Ideal Fluid Flow
Streamlines and Streamtubes
Analysis of Two Dimensional Flow
Stream Function
Velocity Potential

V.

Procedure

1. Level the working area using the screw adjusting feet provided. The level may be
accurately checked using a spirit level on the lower lass laid normal, parallel, and
diagonal to the direction of flow.
2. Clean the inside surfaces of the glass plates using a de-greasing solvent such as carbon
tetrachloride.
3. Close all the sink and source taps and the drain cocks on the inlet and outlet tanks.
4. Ensure that the water supply and drain facilities are connected.
5. Start water flowing through the apparatus and adjust the inlet valve, bypass valve, and
downstream overshot weir to give a depth of flow approximately level with the bottom
face of the top glass.
6. Lower the top glass to make the final adjustment to the flow and level the control weir.
This operation must be performed carefully to ensure that air bubbles are eliminated from
the space between the glass plates. The leading edge (i.e. die injector end) of the top glass
pate should coincide with the leading edge of the bottom plate. With water flowing across
the apparatus and the flow and depth adjusted as described above, the front edge of the
glass is lowered slowly into position pivoting about rear edge. The water surface should
contact the lower surface of the glass progressively to ensure complete air expulsion.
Failure to exclude air may be due to the following causes: (a). Depth of water is
insufficient, (b) Dirt or grease on glass, (c) Source or sink not fully closed, and (d) Rapid
or uneven lowering of the glass.
7. Remove air in the sink or source line by opening the valves and flushing the lines
through. Air bubbles introduced between the glass plates through the source line may be
removed as described in procedure 6.
8. Clean the fine tubes of the injector by flushing water through it. Passing a fine wire along
the tubes may clear the blockages.
9. Fill the dye reservoir with a water or alcohol dye and open the regulating valve.
10. Ensure that the dye rake discharges are submerged and that dye flows freely from each
rake.

11. Blockages caused by air bubbles may be relieved by a light tap or by pressurizing the free
surface of the dye in the reservoir.
12. Determine the flow rates associated with each of the source or sink orifices in the floor of
the working section. Measurement of the sink flow rate is determined by removing the
sink drain pipe from the sink manifold and collecting the discharged water in a measuring
cylinder. During this operation the corresponding source control valve should be fully
closed and the orifice pinch clip fully open. Measurement of the source flow rate is
determined via a sink drain pipe in the same way. During this operation, the
corresponding sink control valve should be fully open and the orifice pinch clip fully
closed. After measurement, the sink control valve should be fully closed and the pinch
clip fully opened.
13. Adjust the weir plate, inlet control valve, and bypass valve to give the minimum steady
flow rate available, without admitting air between the glass plates. The corresponding
low water velocity through the test section will provide near-ideal flow conditions.
14. Open and adjust the dye-regulating valve to give fine, clearly defined dye streams, which
indicate relevant streamlines.
15. To form a pattern known as Rankine half body, introduce flow from a central source
orifice by opening the respective control valve. Separation of the central dye streams is
semi-infinite provided the source flow rate is constant. The source flow rate may be
adjusted to demonstrate the change in size of the body produced.
16. To form a pattern known as Rankine Oval, repeat procedure 15 with the addition of a
sink downstream of the source. As the flow rate of the sink is increased, the half body is
modified in shape. When the source and sink flow rates are equal, the streamlines close to
produce a Rankine Oval.
17. To form a Doublet, introduce flow from a central orifice on the table, which are in fact
two orifices in close proximity such that a coincident sink and source and can be
demonstrated. The result is a circular streamline surrounding the Doublet, which acts like
a solid cylindrical boundary to external flow. Within this boundary, circulation patterns
exist which may be demonstrated by introducing a few crystals potassium permanganate.
This effect is an extension of the Rankine Oval with sinks and source coincidence.
18. Repeat procedure 15 to 17 for different combinations of sinks, sources and flow rates.
19. After the experiment, the whole system must be flushed through with clean water to
remove traces of dye.
VI.

Results and Discussion

VII.

Conclusion

VIII.

References

Appendices
Appendix A: Experimental Data

Appendix B: Sample Computation

Appendix C: Attendance Sheet