Cylindrical Tank with Orifice
Fluid Mechanics Problem SolutionProblem Statement
A cylindrical tank is placed with its axis vertical and is provided with a circular orifice of 4cm diameter at the bottom. A steady inflow and free discharge at the bottom of the orifice causes the depth of water in the tank to rise from 0.59m to 0.75m in 106 Sec. Further it is observed that the depth rises from 1.2m to 1.29m in 129 Sec. Determine the inflow rate and the diameter of the tank. Assume Cd = 0.62.
Given Data
Initial Calculations
Step 1: Calculate the constant K which characterizes the orifice discharge:
K = Cd · a · √(2g) = 0.62 × 0.001257 × √(2 × 9.81) = 0.00345 m5/2/sStep 2: Set up the general equation for tank with inflow (Qi) and outflow (Qo):
(Qi - Qo)dt = A · dhWhere:
- Qi = Inflow rate (m3/s)
- Qo = K√h = Outflow rate through orifice (m3/s)
- A = Cross-sectional area of tank (m2)
- h = Water depth above orifice (m)
- t = Time (s)
First Case Analysis
Given:
- Initial depth = 0.59 m
- Final depth = 0.75 m
- Time interval = 106 seconds
Calculating the change in depth and rate of change:
dh = 0.75 - 0.59 = 0.16 m dt = 106 s dh/dt = 0.16/106 = 0.001495 m/sThe average head during this interval is:
havg = (0.59 + 0.75)/2 = 0.67 mSubstituting into our general equation:
0.001495 = (Qi - 0.00345√0.67)/A 0.001495A = Qi - 0.00345√0.67 Qi = 0.001495A + 0.00345√0.67 = 0.001495A + 0.002824Second Case Analysis
Given:
- Initial depth = 1.2 m
- Final depth = 1.29 m
- Time interval = 129 seconds
Calculating the change in depth and rate of change:
dh = 1.29 - 1.2 = 0.09 m dt = 129 s dh/dt = 0.09/129 = 0.000698 m/sThe average head during this interval is:
havg = (1.2 + 1.29)/2 = 1.245 mSubstituting into our general equation:
0.000698 = (Qi - 0.00345√1.245)/A 0.000698A = Qi - 0.00345√1.245 Qi = 0.000698A + 0.00345√1.245 = 0.000698A + 0.003849Solving for Unknown Variables
Step 1: We now have two equations with two unknowns (Qi and A):
Qi = 0.001495A + 0.002824 ... (a) Qi = 0.000698A + 0.003849 ... (b)Equating (a) and (b):
0.001495A + 0.002824 = 0.000698A + 0.003849 0.001495A - 0.000698A = 0.003849 - 0.002824 0.000797A = 0.001025 A = 0.001025/0.000797 = 1.285 m2Step 2: Calculate the inflow rate by substituting the value of A into equation (a):
Qi = 0.001495 × 1.285 + 0.002824 = 0.001921 + 0.002824 = 0.0047 m3/sStep 3: Calculate the diameter of the tank from its cross-sectional area:
A = π × D2/4 D = √(4A/π) = √(4 × 1.285/π) = √(1.635) = 1.28 mSummary
- By analyzing two different cases of water level rise in the tank, we established two equations relating the inflow rate and tank area.
- The cross-sectional area of the tank is 1.285 m2.
- The inflow rate into the tank is 0.0047 m3/s (4.7 liters per second).
- The diameter of the cylindrical tank is 1.28 m.
This problem demonstrates the application of conservation principles in fluid mechanics and how to solve for unknown parameters by analyzing the system behavior at different states.