COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

PUTRAJAYA CAMPUS
FINAL EXAMINATION

SPECIAL SEMESTER 2015 / 2016

PROGRAMME : Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)

SUBJECT CODE : MEHB 332

SUBJECT : Mechanics of Fluids II

DATE : May 2016

TIME : 2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:

1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions.

2. Answer ALL questions.

3. Write all answers in the answer booklet provided. Attach chart on page 6 to
your answer script.

4. Write answer to each question on a new page.

THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF 8 PRINTED PAGES INCLUDING

THIS COVER PAGE.

Page 1 of 8
 MEHB332, Special Semester 2015/2016
Question 1 [25 marks]

A ventilation system fan is to be installed at a 2300 m altitude with an air density of

0.92 kgm-3 and is expected to deliver a flowrate of 2 m3s-1 at a fan speed of 1400 rev
min-1 and pressure differential of 200 Nm-2. A 1:3 scaled model at sea level with air
density of 1.23 kgm-3 is to be used to predict the pressure rise P across the unit. The
pressure rise P depends on diameter of impeller D, rotational speed of fan N,
volume flow rate of air Q and density of air .

P = f (D, N, Q, )

(a) Determine the dimensionless groups. [13 marks]

(b) Determine the volume flow rate and pressure rise for the model at sea level if
the rotational speed is 990 rev min-1. [12 marks]

Page 2 of 8
 MEHB332, Special Semester 2015/2016
Question 2 [25 marks]

A force F = 1100 N pushes a piston of diameter, Dp 12 cm slowly through an

insulated cylinder containing air (k =1.4, R = 0.287 kJ/kg.K) with stagnation
temperature 20C as shown in Figure 1. The exit diameter, De is 3 mm. Air flows out
of the cylinder through a converging nozzle to the atmosphere where Pa = 1 atm. The
air flow is assumed to be steady and isentropic through the converging nozzle.
Assume Pa = 1 atm = 101.3 kPa (abs).

Figure 1

Determine:

(a) Absolute pressure inside the cylinder, Pp in kPa. Is the flow choked?
[6 marks]

(b) Velocity at the exit, Ve. [6 marks]

(c) Velocity, Vp where the temperature is 260 K. [9 marks]

(d) Mass flow rate me. [4 marks]

Page 3 of 8
 MEHB332, Special Semester 2015/2016
Question 3 [20 marks]

Due to the 1973 oil crisis (price spikes and supply disruptions), the speed limit across
the U.S. was reduced from 110 km/hr (~70 mph) to 90 km/hr (~55 mph) in 1974 to
reduce fuel usage and most importantly to reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Assume for a normal sedan car, the drag coefficient, CD is 0.35, the frontal area, A is
2.60 m2 and car mileage is 20,000 km/year, fuel heating value is 48 MJ/kg, fuel
density is 700 kg/m3 and engine efficiency is 80%. (Air density, air = 1.23 kg/m3)

(a) What fractional change in fuel consumption (volume) per year results from
driving 90 km/hr instead of 110 km/hr? [9 marks]

(b) Instead of lowering the speed limit, another possible way to reduce fuel
consumption is by using a car with lower drag coefficient. Find the required
drag coefficient, CD of a car that will result in similar reduction of fuel
consumption per year as found in part (a). Is your calculated drag coefficient,
CD achievable in todays car design? Would you suggest to reduce speed limit
or to use a car with lower drag coefficient? Assume the frontal area and other
parameters remain unchanged as stated above. [8 marks]

(c) Formula One racing cars are intended to go very fast. However, the cars are
deliberately designed with drag coefficients close to 1 even though in races,
fuel consumption matters. Why? [3 marks]

Page 4 of 8
 MEHB332, Special Semester 2015/2016
Question 4 [30 marks]

Water ( = 9.810 kN/m3, vapor pressure = 1.6909 kPa (abs)) flows in the series
pipeline system as shown in Figure 2. Assume Patm = 101.3 kPa(abs).
K6
K5 K7

Closed tank
P = 50 kPa (gage)

Flow
40 m

K2 K3
Pump
K1
K4
Y

Length, m Diameter, cm friction factor, f K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7

Suction Pipe 40 20 0.0164 0.50 0.15
Discharge Pipe 100 15 0.0150 2.10 0.30 0.30 10.00 1.00

Figure 2

(a) Obtain the system curve equation in the form: hp = A + KQ2, where Q is the
flow rate in L/s. Include major and minor losses. [12 marks]

(b) Plot the system curve (from Part (a)) onto the performance chart given. Please
attach the chart with your answer script. [2 marks]

(c) From the system curve, determine the pump impeller size that operates
between pump heads of 50 ~ 55 m. What is the pump power input?
[4 marks]

(d) From this operating point, estimate the value of NPSHR and determine
whether cavitation occurs when Y = 9 m. [12 marks]
Page 5 of 8
 MEHB332, Special Semester 2015/2016
Question 4. Attach this chart with your answer script.

Page 6 of 8
 MEHB332, Special Semester 2015/2016
Table of Equation 1:
Compressible Flow

V
Ma
kRT

P RT , Po o RTo To k 1

T 2

To k 1
1 Ma 2
T 2
k
Po k 1 ( k 1)

P 2
k
Po k 1 ( k 1 )
1 Ma 2 1
P 2 o k 1 ( k 1 )

2
1
o k 1 ( k 1 )
1 Ma 2 k 1
2 1 Ma 2
T 2

T k 1
1 2
k 2 k 1 2 x (k 1 )
m AMaPo 1 Ma , where x
RTo 2 2(k 1)

1
1
k 1 2
( k 1 )
k 2
2
y
(k 1 )
1 Ma
m A Po , where y 2

RTo k 1 2(k 1) k 1
2

Z
k 1
1 Ma 2
A 1 2 (k 1)
, where Z
A
Ma k 1 2(k - 1)
1
2

Page 7 of 8
 MEHB332, Special Semester 2015/2016
Table of Equation 2:

VD
Re

1
D CD U 2 A
2
1
L CL U 2 A
2

V s2 pv
ps
NPSH
2g

P1 V12 P V2
z1 hP 2 2 z 2 hT hLMa jo r hLMino r
2g 2g

LV2 V2
hL Major f , hL Minor K
D 2g 2g

Pump Power Output, PO hQ

-END OF QUESTION PAPER-

Page 8 of 8