Nozzles

APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Introduction
Devices of varying cross-sectional area used for the purpose of guiding
the expansion of a fluid to a relatively high velocity.

P2 > P 1
C2 < C 1

P2 < P 1
C2 > C 1

During flow through nozzle the enthalpy drops and the heat drop in
expansion is spent in increasing the velocity of fluid.

APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Types of flow
Flow is classified based upon Mach number (M):
M

Velocity of fluid
Velocity of sound

M < 1: Flow is called subsonic flow.

M = 1: Flow is called sonic flow.
M > 1: Flow is called supersonic flow.

APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Types of Nozzles
1
Convergent nozzle:

Divergent nozzle:

Convergent-divergent nozzle:
2

APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Theory of flow
Law of conservation of energy: Flow process

1 2
1 2
gz1 C1 U 1 p1V1 Q gz 2 C 2 U 2 p2V2 W
2
2
1 2
1 2
gz1 C1 h1 Q gz 2 C 2 h2 W
2
2
As the flow is very rapid assume adiabatic expansion (Q = 0).
No work done during the flow (W = 0).
Inlet velocity assumed small compared to exit velocity (may be
neglected).
(C2 = Exit velocity)

For a perfect gas:

h1 h2 Cp T1 T2

Therefore:
APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Critical pressure ratio and Maximum

discharge
For maximum discharge per unit area:
The critical pressure ratio, where, Pt is the
critical pressure and P1 is the inlet pressure
And the critical temperature ratio,

At the throat:
Ct 2(h1 ht )

Or

Ct 2Cp (T1 Tt ) (For a perfect gas)

The critical velocity (throat velocity) can be written as:

Ct RTt

A nozzle operating with maximum mass flow rate condition is called

choked flow nozzle.
APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Example 1 (Gas nozzle)

Air at 860 kPa and 190C expands at the rate of 4.5 kg/s through a
convergent-divergent nozzle into a space where the pressure is 103 kPa.
Assuming that the inlet velocity may be neglected, calculate the
necessary throat and exit cross-sectional areas of the nozzle. For air take
gamma = 1.4 and R = 287 J/kg.K.

APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Nozzle efficiency
Flow through gas nozzle: T-S diagram

Flow through steam nozzle:

Mollier diagram

Friction between fluid and nozzle; and within the fluid irreversible
Fluid friction results in:
- Internal reheating of the fluid
- Increase in entropy
- Smaller drop in enthalpy loss of velocity
Occur between the throat and exit in convergent-divergent nozzle.
APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Nozzle efficiency
Fluid friction effects are accounted for by a nozzle efficiency:

nozzle

h h
Actual enthalpy drop
1 2
Isentropic enthalpy drop
h1 h 2

The equation for ideal exit velocity:

C 2 2(h1 h 2 )
becomes,

C 2 2 nozzle (h1 h 2 )

For a perfect gas:

nozzle

C p T1 T2

C p T1 T2

T1 T 2

T1 T2

C 2 2C p (T1 T2 ) nozzle
APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

Example 2 (Gas nozzle)

A certain gas (R = 196 J/kg.K and gamma = 1.29) flows through a
convergentdivergent nozzle whose exit area is 18.26 cm 2. The inlet
conditions are 700 kPa and 32C and the gas expands to 560 kPa at exit.
The nozzle efficiency is 92% and the inlet velocity is negligible. What are:
(a) The exit temperatures, specific volume and velocity
(b) The rate of flow

APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

10

Steam nozzles
The equation for pressure ratio:
Pt 2

P1 1

For steam:

Pt 2

P1 n 1

(Valid only for gases )

n
n 1

An approximation can be made for steam using the following values

for n instead of gamma:
- For steam initially superheated, n = 1.3
- For steam initially dry saturated, n = 1.135
- For steam initially wet, n = 1.035 + , where x is the initial dryness
fraction of the steam.
APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

11

Example 3 (Steam nozzle)

Calculate the throat area and exit area for a steam nozzle to pass a mass
of 0.2 kg/s when the inlet conditions are 1 MPa and 250C, and the exit
pressure is 200 kPa.
(a) Assume that the expansion is isentropic and that the inlet velocity is
negligible.
(b) How would the calculated values change for a nozzle efficiency of
93%?

APT300S: Nozzles

M Nkohla

12