QUESTION 13-5: BEST CROSS SECTION OF AN OPEN CHANNEL

Water is to be transported at a rate of 2 m 3/s in uniform flow in open channel whose surfaces
are asphalt lined. The bottom slope is 0.001. Determine the dimensions of the best cross
section if the shape of the channel is

a) Rectangular

b) Trapezoidal

SOLUTION:
Assumptions:
1. The flow is steady and uniform.
2. The bottom slope is constant.
3. The roughness of the wetted surface of the channel and thus the friction coefficient are
constant.
Properties
The Manning coefficient for an open channel with asphalt lining is n = 0.016

Analysis

(a) The best cross section for a rectangular channel occurs when the flow height is half the
channel width, y = b/2. Then the cross sectional area, perimeter, and hydraulic radius of
the channel are
A
b
b
p=b +2 y =2 b R h= C =
2
P 4
2

A c =by =

Substituting into the Manning equation

a
2 /3 1 /2
V = A c Rh S 0
n

b=

2 n V 42 /3
a
S0

3 /8

2 ( 0.016 ) ( 2 m3 / s ) 4 2 /3
1

( 1m 3 /s ) 0.001

3 /8

Which gives b = 1.84 m. Therefore, Ac = 1.70 m2 , p = 3.68 m, and the dimensions of the best
rectangular channel are
b = 1.84 m

and

y = 0.92 m

(b) The best cross section of trapezoidal channel occurs when the trapezoidal angle is 60 and
flow height is

y=b 3 /2 . Then,

A c = y ( b+ cos )=0.5 3 b2 ( 1+ cos 60 )=0.75 3 b2

y
3
p=3 b Rh = = b
2 4
Substituting into the Manning equation,
a
V = A c R2h /3 S 10 /2
n

b=

3 /8

(0.016) ( 2 m3 / s )
0.75 3 ( 3 /4 )

2 /3

( 1 m1/3 /s ) 0.001

Which yields b = 1.12 m. Therefore, Ac = 1.64 m2, p = 3.37 m, and the dimensions of the best
trapezoidal channel are
b= 1.12 m

y = 0.973 m

and

= 60

QUESTION 14-5 IDEALIZED BLOWER PERFORMANCE

A centrifugal blower rotates at

n =1750rpm ( 183.3 rad / s ) .

Air enters the impeller normal

to the blades (1 = 0) and exits at an angle of 40 from radial (2 = 40) as sketched in Fig.
14-38. The inlet radius is r1 = 4.0 cm, and the inlet blade width b1 = 5.2 cm. The outlet radius
is r2 = 8.0 cm, and the outlet blade width b 2 = 2.3 cm. The volume flow rate is 0.13 m 3/s. For
the idealized case, i.e., 100 percent efficiency, calculate the net head produced by this blower
in equivalent millimeters of water column height. Also calculate the required brake
horsepower in watts.

SOLUTION
Assumptions:
1. The flow is steady in the mean.
2. There are no leaks in the gaps between rotor blades and blower casing.
3. The air flow is incompressible.
4. The efficiency of the blower is 100 percent (no irreversible losses).
Properties:
Take the density of air is to be air = 1.20 kg/m3.

Analysis: Since the volumes flow rate (capacity)is given, calculate the normal velocity
components at the inlet using Eq. 14-12.

V 1,n=

V
0.13m 3 / s
=
=9.947 m/s
2 r 1 b1 2 (0.040 m)(0.052 m)

V 1=V 1,n V 1,t =0, since 1=0 . Similarly ,V 2, n=11.24

m
,
s

V 2,t =V 2,n tan 2=(11.24 m/ s) tan ( 40 )=9.435 m/s

Now we use Equ. 14-17 to predict the net head,

183.3 rad / s
( 0.080 m ) ( 9.435 m/s )=14.1 m
9.81m/ s2

Note that the net head of Eq. 3 is in meters of air, the pumped fluid. To convert to pressure in
units of equivalent millimeters of water column, we multiply by the ratio of air density to
water density,
H water column =H

air
water
( 14.1m )

1.20 kg /m3 1000 mm

=17.0mm of water
1m
998 kg /m3

Finally, use Eq.14-16 to predict the required brake horsepower,

bhp=g V H=(1.20 kg /m3 )(9.81 m/s 2)(0.13 m3 /s) ( 14.1 m)
= 21.6 W

( kgW.m/. s s )
2