Tutorial 3: Nozzles and Diffusers
1. Determine the Mach numbers for the following, assuming isentropic flow with γ = 1.4 and
Rair = 287 J kg−1 K−1 :
a) A car travelling at 25 m s−1 in 25 °C air.
b) A jet aircraft travelling at 1000 m s−1 at an altitude of 10,000 m (temperature is
−50 °C).
2. Superheated steam enters a nozzle at 0.13 MPa and 600 K and exits at 0.1 MPa. Heat
interactions and frictional effects are both negligible. The inlet and outlet diameters of
the nozzle are 20 mm and 10 mm, respectively. Enthalpy of steam at nozzle inlet is
3128.1 kJ kg−1 , enthalpy of steam at nozzle outlet is 3057.7 kJ kg−1 , density of steam at
nozzle inlet is 0.4707 kg m−3 , and density of steam at nozzle outlet is 0.38461 kg m−3 .
Determine the mass flow rate of the steam through the nozzle. Also find the inlet and
outlet velocities.
3. Air flows through a convergent-divergent nozzle. At some section in the nozzle, pressure =
2 bar, velocity = 170 m s−1 , temperature = 200 °C and cross-sectional area = 1000 mm2 .
Assuming isentropic flow conditions where γ = 1.4, Rair = 287 J kg−1 K−1 , and Cp =
1000 J kg−1 K−1 . Determine:
a) sonic velocity at this section.
b) Mach number at this section.
c) stagnation temperature and stagnation pressure.
d) velocity and Mach number at outlet section where pressure is 1.1 bar.
e) pressure, temperature, and velocity at the throat of the nozzle.
4. Air is to be expanded from P0 = 200 kPa and T0 = 500 K through a throat to an exit
Mach number of 2.5. If the desired mass flow is 3 kg s−1 , compute the following:
a) throat diameter
b) exit pressure
c) exit temperature
d) exit velocity
e) exit diameter, assuming isentropic flow with γ = 1.4 and Rair = 287 J kg−1 K−1
EN 317, DESE, IIT Bombay 30-8-2021 Page 1 of 2
Answers:
1. (a): 0.072, (b): 3.35
2. 0.01158 kg s−1 , 78.3 m s−1 , 383.3 m s−1
3. (a): 435.9 m s−1 , (b): 0.39, (c): 487.4 K, 2.22 bar, (d): 421 m s−1 , 1.05, (e): 1.17 bar,
406.2 K, 404 m s−1
4. (a): 10.7 cm, (b): 11.7 kPa, (c): 222 K, (d): 747 m s−1 , (e): 16.7 cm
EN 317, DESE, IIT Bombay 30-8-2021 Page 2 of 2