Fluid Mechanics

Moving liquids and gases through pipes, pumps and compressors. Fluid behaviour for process plants: properties and viscosity, flow regimes and the Reynolds number, pumps and compressors, and pressure drop in piping systems.

• Fluid Properties — Fluids deform continuously under shear. Learn density, specific weight and gravity, viscosity (dynamic and kinematic), Newtonian vs non-Newtonian fluids, compressibility, surface tension, capillarity and vapour pressure.
• Flow — Flow is smooth (laminar) or chaotic (turbulent) depending on the Reynolds number. Learn Re, transition, velocity profiles, boundary layers and why turbulence matters for mixing, heat transfer and pressure loss.
• Pumps — Pumps add energy to liquids. Learn centrifugal vs positive-displacement pumps, head, flow and hydraulic power, pump and system curves, efficiency, affinity laws, NPSH and cavitation, and series/parallel operation.
• Compressors — Compressors raise gas pressure. Learn reciprocating, screw, centrifugal and axial types, isentropic and polytropic work, efficiency, multi-staging with intercooling, free-air delivery and compressed-air system design.
• Pressure Drop — Friction and fittings cost pressure. Learn the Darcy–Weisbach equation, friction factor (laminar 64/Re, Colebrook, Moody chart), minor losses (K-values), system curves and how to size pipes and pumps together.