Homework (for 27 July 2015)

1. What is the dimensionless -group gH/N2D2 in Equation (2.64)

called?
2. How is the flow velocity V related to rotational speed N and size D in
Equation (2.92)?
3. What is the relationship between the power coefficient and torque
coefficient of a turbomachine?
4. What is the relationship between torque and pressure ito pump- and
fluid parameters?
5. Which additional dimensionless number is required for dimensional
analysis of aircraft propellers? Does this apply to small model
aircraft as well?

Answers to questions asked in week 2

Dimensional analysis of Turbomachines

Q1.

What is the dimensionless -group gH/N2D2 in Equation (2.64)

called?

A1.

Head coefficient

Q2.

How is the flow velocity V related to rotational speed N and size

D in Equation (2.92)?

A2.

The Buckingham theorem may be used to obtain the

required relationship (next three slides)

Buckingham theorem

N a DbV c
Obtain parameter dimensions in [MLT]-system from table 2.1

[ N ] T
1

[ D] L

[V ] LT

Dimensions of -group must be zero

L LT

[L T ] T
0

1 a

1 c

Exponent equations

0 b c; 0 a c
Solutions of exponent equations

a b c;

arbitrary

V
N D V

ND
c

For c = 1

V ND
V/ND is the dimensionless flow coefficient

Why flow coefficient?

Multiply both the numerator and denominator with D2. The numerator
becomes VD2 (with dimensions of velocity times area) and the
denominator becomes ND3. Both have dimensions of volume flow
see also Equation (2.74).

Q3.

What is the relationship between the power coefficient and

torque coefficient of a turbomachine?

A3.

Divide the power coefficient by the torque coefficient

(alternatively obtain the inverse)

W
N 3 D 5

W
N

or
2
5
N D N
W

Comment
For aircraft propellers the ratio of power coefficient to torque
coefficient is 2 [Asselin, M., An Introduction to Aircraft
Performance, AIAA, 1997]

Q4.

What is the relationship between torque and pressure ito the

pump- and fluid parameters?

A4.

Buckingham - theorem

a N b Dc Pd e

M L T ML T L ML T ML T
0 0

3 a

1 b

Exponent equations

M :
L:
T :

0ad e
0 3a c d 2e
0 b 2d 2e

2 d

2 e

Solutions of exponent equations

a d e; b 2d 2e; c 2d 5e
with d and e arbitrary

d e

2 d 2e

2 d 5e

P
P 2 2
N D
d e

For d = -1, e = 1

P N 2 D5

3
2 2
N D D P

2 5
N D

Q5.

Which additional dimensionless number is required for

dimensional analysis of aircraft propellers? Does this apply to
small model aircraft as well?

A5.

The Mach number M: Propeller tip speeds are high enough to be

in the compressible speed range and may approach sonic speed.
M depends on the size D and speed N of the propeller, and the
and static temperature of the air. On small aircraft propeller tip
speeds may vary widely. If the tip Mach number is below 0,3 it
is unnecessary to consider compressible flow effects. However,
at high tip speeds usability suffers as propeller efficiency
decreases with speed (due to the so-called wave drag).
In order to improve efficiency, propfans, which are more efficient
at high speeds, are becoming popular on large aircraft. See the
next slide (also shown in Week 1 Introduction, Figure 1.12).

Airbus A400M propfans