COMPRESSIBLE FLOW
ahmet arslanThis chapter deals with the thermodynamic aspects of simple compressible flows through nozzles and passages. Several of the cycles covered in Chapter 11 have flow inside components where it goes through nozzles or diffusers. For instance, a set of nozzles inside a steam turbine converts a high-pressure steam flow into a lower pressure high-velocity flow that enters the passage between the rotating blades. After several sections, the flow goes through a diffuser-like chamber and another set of nozzles. The flow in a fan-jet has several locations where a high-speed compressible gas flows; it passes first through a diffuser followed by a fan and compressor, then through passages between turbine blades, and finally exits through a nozzle. A final example of a flow that must be treated as compressible is the flow through a turbocharger in a diesel engine; the flow continues further through the intake system and valve openings to end up in a cylinder. The proper analysis of these processes is important for an accurate evaluation of the mass flow rate, the work, heat transfer, or kinetic energy involved, and feeds into the design and operating behavior of the overall system.
