In fluid dynamics, laminar flow is characterized by fluid particles following smooth paths in

layers, with each layer moving smoothly past the adjacent layers with little or no mixing.[1] At low
velocities, the fluid tends to flow without lateral mixing, and adjacent layers slide past one
another. There are no cross-currents perpendicular to the direction of flow, nor eddies or swirls of
fluids.[2] In laminar flow, the motion of the particles of the fluid is very orderly with particles close
to a solid surface moving in straight lines parallel to that surface.[3] Laminar flow is a flow regime
characterized by high momentum diffusion and low momentum convection.
When a fluid is flowing through a closed channel such as a pipe or between two flat plates, either
of two types of flow may occur depending on the velocity and viscosity of the fluid: laminar flow
or turbulent flow. Laminar flow occurs at lower velocities, below a threshold at which the flow
becomes turbulent. The velocity is determined by a dimensionless parameter characterizing the
flow called the Reynolds number, which also depends on the viscosity and density of the fluid
and dimensions of the channel. Turbulent flow is a less orderly flow regime that is characterized
by eddies or small packets of fluid particles, which result in lateral mixing.[2] In non-scientific
terms, laminar flow is smooth, while turbulent flow is rough.

Contents

 1Relationship with the Reynolds number

 2Examples
 3Laminar flow barriers
 4See also
 5References
 6External links

Relationship with the Reynolds number[edit]

The type of flow occurring in a fluid in a channel is important in fluid-dynamics problems and
subsequently affects heat and mass transfer in fluid systems. The dimensionless Reynolds
number is an important parameter in the equations that describe whether fully developed flow
conditions lead to laminar or turbulent flow. The Reynolds number is the ratio of the inertial
force to the shearing force of the fluid: how fast the fluid is moving relative to how viscous it is,
irrespective of the scale of the fluid system. Laminar flow generally occurs when the fluid is
moving slowly or the fluid is very viscous. As the Reynolds number increases, such as by
increasing the flow rate of the fluid, the flow will transition from laminar to turbulent flow at a
specific range of Reynolds numbers, the laminar–turbulent transition range depending on small
disturbance levels in the fluid or imperfections in the flow system. If the Reynolds number is very
small, much less than 1, then the fluid will exhibit Stokes, or creeping, flow, where the viscous
forces of the fluid dominate the inertial forces.
The specific calculation of the Reynolds number, and the values where laminar flow occurs, will
depend on the geometry of the flow system and flow pattern. The common example is flow
through a pipe, where the Reynolds number is defined as

where:
DH is the hydraulic diameter of the pipe (m);
Q is the volumetric flow rate (m3/s);
A is the pipe's cross-sectional area (m2);
u is the mean speed of the fluid (SI units: m/s);
μ is the dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pa·s = N·s/m2 = kg/(m·s));
ν is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid, ν = μ/ρ (m2/s);
ρ is the density of the fluid (kg/m3).
For such systems, laminar flow occurs when the Reynolds
number is below a critical value of approximately 2,040, though
the transition range is typically between 1,800 and 2,100.[4]
For fluid systems occurring on external surfaces, such as flow
past objects suspended in the fluid, other definitions for
Reynolds numbers can be used to predict the type of flow
around the object. The particle Reynolds number Rep would be
used for particle suspended in flowing fluids, for example. As
with flow in pipes, laminar flow typically occurs with lower
Reynolds numbers, while turbulent flow and related
phenomena, such as vortex shedding, occur with higher
Reynolds numbers.

Examples[edit]

In the case of a moving plate in a liquid, it is found that there is a

layer (lamina) that moves with the plate, and a layer next to any
stationary plate that is stationary.

The velocity profile associated with laminar flow resembles a deck of

cards. This flow profile of a fluid in a pipe shows that the fluid acts in
layers that slide over one another.

A common application of laminar flow is in the smooth flow of a

viscous liquid through a tube or pipe. In that case, the velocity
of flow varies from zero at the walls to a maximum along the
cross-sectional centre of the vessel. The flow profile of laminar
flow in a tube can be calculated by dividing the flow into thin
cylindrical elements and applying the viscous force to them.[5]
Another example is the flow of air over an aircraft wing.
The boundary layer is a very thin sheet of air lying over the
surface of the wing (and all other surfaces of the aircraft).
Because air has viscosity, this layer of air tends to adhere to the
wing. As the wing moves forward through the air, the boundary
layer at first flows smoothly over the streamlined shape of
the airfoil. Here, the flow is laminar and the boundary layer is
a laminar layer. Prandtl applied the concept of the laminar
boundary layer to airfoils in 1904.[6][7]

Laminar flow barriers[edit]

 Experimental chamber for studying chemotaxis in response to
laminar flow.

Laminar airflow is used to separate volumes of air, or prevent

airborne contaminants from entering an area. Laminar flow
hoods are used to exclude contaminants from sensitive
processes in science, electronics and medicine. Air curtains are
frequently used in commercial settings to keep heated or
refrigerated air from passing through doorways. A laminar flow
reactor (LFR) is a reactor that uses laminar flow to study
chemical reactions and process mechanisms.