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Flow Liquid Water Tank

Reference data and engineering information about flow liquid water tank for fluid mechanics applications.

flowliquidwatertank

Overview

Engineering reference data for Flow Liquid Water Tank in fluid mechanics.

Key Formulas

Reynolds Number

Re=ρvDμRe = \frac{\rho v D}{\mu}

Ratio of inertial to viscous forces — determines flow regime.

Bernoulli's Equation

P+12ρv2+ρgh=constP + \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2 + \rho g h = \text{const}

Conservation of energy for steady, inviscid, incompressible flow.

Continuity Equation

A1v1=A2v2A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2

Conservation of mass for incompressible flow.

Darcy-Weisbach

ΔP=fLDρv22\Delta P = f \frac{L}{D} \frac{\rho v^2}{2}

Pressure drop due to friction in a pipe.

Variables

SymbolDescriptionUnit
ReReReynolds number
ρ\rhoFluid densitykg/m³
vvFlow velocitym/s
DDCharacteristic dimensionm
μ\muDynamic viscosityPa·s
PPPressurePa
ffDarcy friction factor

Example: Draining Container Calculation

This table demonstrates an iterative calculation method for draining time. The container is divided into 10 horizontal segments ("slices"). The average height of each segment above the outlet determines the average flow rate during that segment's drain time.

10 rows
Example iterative calculation for draining a 3 m high water tank through a 0.1 m diameter sharp-edged aperture. Total drain time is the sum of the 'Time to Drain' column (≈147 s).
Segment
Average Height(m)
Average Flow(m³/s)
Volume in Segment()
Time to Drain(s)
02.850.03590.38.36
12.550.0340.38.84
22.250.03190.39.41
31.950.02970.310.1
41.650.02730.311
51.350.02470.312.1
61.050.02180.313.8
70.750.01840.316.3
80.450.01430.321
90.150.008230.336.4

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Lateral Aperture Flow

For flow from holes in the side of a container, the horizontal distance the liquid travels can be calculated.

Outlet Velocity: v=Cv2gHv = C_v \sqrt{2 g H}

Horizontal Distance (for a free jet): s=2(Hh)hs = 2 \sqrt{(H - h) \cdot h} where hh is the height of the aperture from the base.

Volume Flow: V=CdA2gHV = C_d A \sqrt{2 g H}

Reaction Force: F=ρVvF = \rho \cdot V \cdot v

For large lateral apertures (like a rectangular slot), the volume flow VV is found by integrating over the aperture height: V=23Cdb2g(H23/2H13/2)V = \frac{2}{3} C_d b \sqrt{2g} \left( H_2^{3/2} - H_1^{3/2} \right) where bb is the aperture width, and H1H_1 and H2H_2 are the heights of the top and bottom of the aperture from the liquid surface.

Excess Pressure Condition

If the container is pressurized above atmospheric pressure pp, the effective head is increased.

Outlet Velocity: v=Cv2(gH+pρ)v = C_v \sqrt{2 \left( g H + \frac{p}{\rho} \right)}

Volume Flow: V=CdA2(gH+pρ)V = C_d A \sqrt{2 \left( g H + \frac{p}{\rho} \right)}

Interactive Charts

container base apertures

References