Chapter 2

Introduction to Units
and Dimension

DR. NURUL IZZAH KHALID

Department of Food Technology
Faculty of Food Science and Technology, UPM
[email protected]
 Learning Outcomes

• Able to use basic and derived unit and dimension on the

relevant quantities
• Able to do unit conversion
• Able to analyse the dimensional consistency in a
mathematical relationship
• Able to use dimension and dimensionless groups in design,
and upward scaling

2
 Dimensions & Units
Dimensions
A measurement

1.5 m length
A number 1.5 that
is the ratio of the
length of the rod to
the standard length, Units of
1m measurement
 ImportanceOFofDIMENSIONS
IMPORTANCE Dimensions
AND & Units
UNITS

Dimensions: Units:

Any physical quantity The magnitudes assigned

can be characterized to the dimensions

❑ Primary/fundamental dimensions: basic dimensions such as mass [m], length [L],

time [T], and temperature []

❑ Secondary/derived dimensions: velocity, energy, and volume are expressed in terms

of the primary dimensions
 Primary/fundamental dimensions

Primary/fundamental dimensions:
– Length: [L]
– Mass: [M] primary/ Fundamental
↓ imension
– Time: [T]
I Length [ 2]
– Temperature: []
2) MasS [m]
3) Time [T]
4) Temperature 20]
 Secondary/derived dimensions

Secondary/derived dimensions: Fundamental

[L 2]
Area= length x length = -
(x))
Fundamentaringindepe
Volume= length x length x length = [L3] V
Velocity= length/time = [LT-1] (4)
Density= [ML-3]
/
Force = [MLT-2]
Energy= [ML 2T-2 ] Density= Mass/ volume
Power= [ML2T-3] ~Mass
[M]
[L3] -volume
 Units & Unit system

• Dimensions are measured in terms of units.

• Three main unit systems used at present engineering and
science
↳English
Dimension Unit
SI English CGS others
Length m ft cm mm, in
Mass kg lb g
Time s s s h, min, year
 Units & Unit system
Metric SI system English system The centimeter–gram–second
system (CGS)
Simple and logical system based No apparent systematic numerical Metric system based on the
on a decimal relationship base, and various units in this centimeter as the unit of length, the
between the various units system are related to each other gram as the unit of mass, and the
second as the unit of time.

t
 Units & Unit system
Other standard units are derived from basic
quantities:
Basic unit of force
• 1 newton (N) = 1 kg m/s2
Basic unit of work, energy, heat
• 1 joule (J)= 1 Nm = 1 kg m2/s2
Basic unit of power
• 1 J/s = 1 watt (W)
Basic unit of pressure
• 1 N/m2 = 1 pascal (Pa)
 SI and English units

Definition of force units

eng St

F M9
=

= I

F ma
=

= 32.174

W weight
m mass
Work = Force  Distance g gravitational
1 J = 1 N∙m acceleration
1 cal = 4.1868 J
1 Btu = 1.0551 kJ
“I am a Food Technologist/Scientist/Designers,
why should I learn about Unit and dimension?”

11
 Unit conversion

• We must use C 3 in equations

consistent unit system
• Unit conversion from English unit to SI unit or vice versa
• It is done using me
conversion factors:
 Conversion Factors
eng(1)

Click this link Conversion Calculator

 10g =?k
Unit conversion &40g 0.010R
=

0.4536kg 11b
=

-2.285
Example 1: 1 kg 1
=

0.4536
1 𝑘𝑔 = 1000 𝑔

10 g = ? lbs 1 𝑙𝑏 = 0.4536 𝑘𝑔

Method 1 1 lb = 0.4536 kg From Table

1kg = 1/0.4536 lbs= 2.205 lbs

So, 10 g = (10/1000) x 2.205= 0.02205lb
~

Method 2 1 𝑘𝑔 1 𝑙𝑏
𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 = 10𝑔 𝑥 𝑥
1000 𝑔 0.4536 𝑘𝑔

I
10𝑔 = 0.022051 𝑙𝑏 1,13 0.4536kg
=

1 kg 100g
=
 I
0.018 M
Example 2: A
3600S

Milk is flowing through a pipe of diameter . 1.8cm. It takes 1 hour to

fill 12.4 cu.ft. What is the2)
velocity of the milk in the pipe?

length (m)
velocity =
time ( s) Given= 1 hour

volume = length (m)  cross − sec tional area (m 2 )

volume (m 3 )
length (m) =
cross − sec tional area (m 2 )

 volume (m 3 ) 
 2 
 𝑑2
cross − sec tional area ( m ) 𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 
velocity =   4
time ( s )
i
 Solution:
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑚3 1 1 cu.ft =1 ft3 = (0.3048 m * 0.3048 m * 0.3048 m ) = 0.0283 m3
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑥
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑚2 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑠

Conversion of volume to SI unit

volume Conversion of time to SI unit
0.0283 𝑚3
12.4 𝑐𝑢. 𝑓𝑡 𝑥
1 𝑐𝑢. 𝑓𝑡 1
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑥
2 3600 𝑠
1𝑚 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑥
 1.8 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 100 𝑐𝑚 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
4

Conversion of Area to SI unit

𝐶𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒 = 

𝑑2
4
->
rr -

rE)- in
Area of a Circle Calculator (omnicalculator.com)
Solution:
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑚3 1
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑥
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑚2 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑠

0.0283 𝑚3
12.4 𝑐𝑢. 𝑓𝑡 𝑥
1 𝑐𝑢. 𝑓𝑡 1
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑥
2 3600 𝑠
1𝑚 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑥
 1.8 𝑐𝑚 𝑥 100 𝑐𝑚 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
4

0.35 𝑚3 1
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑥
0.000254 𝑚2 3600 𝑠

𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝟎. 𝟑𝟖 𝒎Τ𝒔
 Volume = 12.4 cu.ft
1 cu.ft = 0.0283 m3
1 h = 3600 s

Cross-sectional area of pipe

= (d2)/4
=  x (1.8 x 0.01)2 x ¼
= 0.000254 m2
Velocity
= (12.4 x 0.0283)/ (0.000254 x 3600)
= 0.38 m/s
 Dimensional consistency

• The correctness of any equation is judged by its dimensional

-extend shelf life
consistency food packaging
in
put gas
• The Universal gas law, PV = nRT
of
replace microbs depends
can

O2 to survive
on

food processing (pressure)

 PV = nRT
L

constant
1/-

12

-> PV=nRT
*
Dimensionless ratio/ Dimensionless number
unitof

measurement)
no

I
• A number (a ratio) without physics dimension
• Quick visualization
• Scale up a process -reduce the cost

Concentration of solutions of various

density of substance
Specific gravity, SG = materials such as brines, sugar solutions
density of water (syrups, juices, honeys,...) and acids.
Application
in waste water
SG <1, float on water treatment plant
SG>1, sink in water
Dimensionless number
food
crelated to
industry)

- mixing
 Dimensionless number
Reynolds number (Re) Character of fluid flow in the pipe and mixing
·food processing
transportation
·
of food/waste mater

cleaning the pipe

ffect R. C vd d/L
Lup 𝑁𝐷 2 𝜌
a Re = =

 M 𝑅𝑒 =
𝜇
↑
μ =: dynamic viscosity, (Pa s = (N s)/m2) N= rotational speed of impeller
ρ= density of fluid, (kg/m3 ) D= impeller diameter
v = fluid velocity (m/s)
d= characteristic length, diameter of pipe
(m)
Reynolds number (Re)

• Re < 2000, laminar flow​

• 2000< Re< 4000, transition region​
• Re> 4000, turbulence flow

* watch the video clips

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLncP2OQSig
– Industrial Mixing Basics - What is Reynolds Number? - Part 1 -
YouTube
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8La8_mjL0qo
 Dimensionless number
4 pr, 4 viscosity,
Prandtl Number (Pr) Relate to heat transfer
heat transfer slow

↓ Pr, ↓ viscosity,
cp transfer
Pr = heat
k quicker)

μ : dynamic viscosity, (Pa s = (N s)/m2)

k: thermal conductivity, (W/(m K) )
cp : specific heat, (J/(kg K) )
slows
heattransfer
4Pr,
dpr, heattransfer quick
Laminar flow motion of fluid ex: blood flow
cevery particle
-
-
-
-- same
through capillary
- follow the
wi
-
path of previous I parallel layer
flow) no disruption
flow
went to make
sure it
fluid undergoes ->

correctly I well
Al irregular fluctuations
mix

<speed of fluid
changes)
 Dimensionless number
Nusselt number Biot number
ℎ𝐿 ℎ𝐿 of
𝑵𝒖 = 𝑩𝒊 = conductivityd
𝑘 -
fluid 𝑘 -

Ih: convective heat transfer coefficient;

use air I L: characteristic length; k: thermal conductivity heat transfer
Bi<1 =

(unsteady
What is the different between Nu and Bi?? ↳presistance>

ternal)
The difference lies in k : G overprocessing
• In the case of the Biot number, k is the thermal I change
conductivity of the solid. rapidly
• In the case of the Nusselt number, k is the thermal product's
quenity
conductivity of the fluid flowing around the body. heated
over
 Dimensionless number
blender
Power number
-

design operation system/parameter

𝑃
𝑃𝑜 = 5 3
𝐷 𝑁 𝜌

P = power consumed by the propeller;

D = diameter of the propeller;
N = rotational frequency of the propeller;
𝜌 = fluid density Caffectthe PS
4 4 po
p
=
Dimensionless Number and Design Scale-up

• One of the usage of dimensionless groups is scaling up the

processes and equipment
• Information from the lab scale can be used to design pilot scale
and later to production scale
• The procedure of extending the capacity of the equipment→
scale up
is

-pilot
scale -> production
scale
y thyiggele
sicate
⑭

↳ save cost
·
water
·

energy
Dimensionless Number and Design Scale-up

• The advantage of such procedure is to save

cost
~water/energy
• Cost of materials and operations are much
more lesser in 2 I
lab scale level
 • Scale up can be done by principle of similarity
• Similarity criteria available are:
i. Geometric similarity
• refer to the proportionality between the dimension of
the model and prototype

prototype

<prototype)
lab scale s

real life scale

12 ratio

model
• Scale up can be done by principle of similarity
• Similarity criteria available are:
i. Motion similarity/ kinematic (velocities)
• Two particles in motion are said to be kinematically similar if the
ratios of corresponding velocities (similarity parameter) in the model
and actual prototype are equal at all geometrically similar points
ii. Dynamic similarity [Reynold]
• When in addition to homologous forces, geometric and kinetic
similarity in the two systems are the same
• For example: Reynolds number, solid to solvent flow rate, solvent
flow rate to geometry…
iii. Thermal similarity temperatures
• relevant if there is proportionality between the temperatures
• Prandtl number (Pr)
i S similarity
iv. Concentration
• proportionality between concentrations and compositions
 Example 3: meter
I small

• Water at 25C flows in 1 cm diameter pipe at the velocity of

S required at the same temperature
1.5 m/s. what is the Lvelocity
for water flowing in a 2 cm diameter pipe to ensure dynamic
(bigges
similarity
Reynold
Re:
2 maintain N

• Given the properties of water at 25C, determine Reynolds

Number (Re) and Prandtl Number (Pr):Lρ = 997.1kg/mI3, Cp=

x
Sμ= 0.88 mPa.s, k= 0.606 W/mK3
4.178 kJ/KgK,
• Since it is to maintain the dynamic similarity,
the Re is same for both cases
Re1=Re2
CS)()
Same temperature, ρ and μ are maintained

Re1= ρv1d1/μ Re2= ρv2d2/μ meth

ρv1d1/μ= ρv2d2/μ
/
pud=
-

v1d1= v2d2
(1.5m/s)(0.01m)= v2(0.02m)
v2= 0.75 m/s
Re= ρvd/μ = (997.1 x 1.5 x 0.01)/ 0.00088
= 16,996
n
Pr= Cpμ/k = (4178 x 0.00088)/ 0.606
&

= 6.07
 Example 3
Re:Ad V 1.5 m/s
=

M
i Me, Rec &1 1cm + 0.01 m
=

dc
d Ayde
2cm 0.02 m
* ->
=

VI =
??

v, d, Vdr
=

(1.5m(s) (0.01m) V2
=
(0.02m)
V= (1.5m(s)(0.01m)
=

0.02m

v2 0.75
=

m/s
X

2) Re?Pr?
Pr
M
=

(4.178k3/kgk x103)(0.88 mPa.sxro-

P
=

Re
(0.606 w/mk)
=

m/s 0.01 m_)

=(997.1 kg/m x 1.5 x

10.88 mpg. 5 x 10-3) 6.07X

=

16996 X -
turbulent flow
 Example 4:
m
Cooking oil at 30°C with a velocity of 7 m/s flows in a 3.8cm
diameter tube heat exchanger. This flow is to be modeled using
water flowing in a 2.5 cm diameter tube heat exchanger.
wi
What water C velocityI and average temperature would you
recommend?
The properties of cooking oil at 30°C:
Cρ= 910 kg/ m3 Cp= 2000 J/kgKIμ= 0.84 mPa.s3
<
Ck= 0.17 W/mK 3.8 -> 25 mm,
I change,
velocity?)
 -what
For cooking oil, the

Re= ρvd/ μ= (910 x 7 x 0.038)/ 0.00084

= 288166
Pr= Cpμ/ k= (2000 x 0.00084)/ 0.17
= 9.88
 9.88
->

For water to have same Pr of oil, the

temperature would have to be adjusted
Temp, °C ρw, kg/m3 Cpw, J/ kw, W/ μw, Pas Pr
KgK mK

A
5 1000 4206 0.568 0.00015 11.4
9.88
9.88
10 999.7 4195 0.577 0.00013 9.5 ↓

We are trying to find a temperature that will

give Pr of 9.88. From the table above, this
should be in between 5°C and 10°C
 Temp, °C ρw, kg/m3 Cpw, J/ KgK kw, W/ mK μw, Pas Pr

↓ ⑱8
5 1000 4206 0.568 0.00015 11.4
10 999.7 4195 0.577 0.00013 9.5

Assume that temperature is A °C

A 9.88
=

By interpolation:
A − 5 9.88 −11.4
O
X
=
10 − 5 9.5 −11.4
A= 9°C
The temperature of water that will give the

same Pr is 9°C
 ~
To find the Reynolds Number at 9°C
density, ph
Temp, °C ρw, kg/m3 Cpw, J/ kw, W/ μw, Pas v Pr
KgK mK
5 1000 4206 0.568 0.00015 11.4
⑧
9 Pa??? Ma - ⑧
9.88
10 999.7 4195 0.577 0.00013 9.5

By interpolation: (between 1 and P)

For density: 9 −1000 9 −5

=
999.7 −1000 10 − 5
ρ9= 999.76 kg/m3


 By interpolation: (between 1 and M)

For viscosity: 9 − 0.00015 9−5

=
0.00013 − 0.00015 10 − 5
μ9= 0.000134Pas

C 3
For dynamic similarity, the Re are the same for oil and water
Reoi=Rewater
For water at 9°C,
Re= ρvd/ μ= (999.76 x vw x 0.025)/ 0.000134
= 288166 -we for oil
vw= 1.5 m/s
 Example 4:

Solution:

http://www.mhtl.uwaterloo.ca/old/onlinetools/airprop/airprop.html
Click this link

43
 Example 4

Water same Re& Pr:adjust T,

->
Cooking oil
I and M
①
cooking oil

Re prd/M
=
Pr CpM/k
=

=(910 x 7 x 0.038) = [2000x0.00084)

0.17
0.00084

woso.Yoo Tatthe
-
288166

i 1000

Pw=999.76 Mw 0.000134
=

① A (TemperaturewithofPr ② Pw (bensity of water)

water) - compare (compare with T
9-5
Pr-1000
=

9.88 1.4
-5
-
=

10-5
9.5 -
11.4 999.7-1000

A
= 9°C = 999.76 kg/m
of water)
③ Mw (viscosity with
-compare
t
④ Revil=Rewater
9 5
Mw-0.00015=
-

0.00013-0.00015
10 -
5 Re prd /M
=

=0.000134pas 288166: ((xwx0.025)

0.000134

Vw m/s
=

1.5
X
 Number
Example 5: Scale up
& Power

A laboratory scale mixer is used to mix two liquids in a tank of 30

cm diameter. The diameter of the agitator is 8 cm and the speed
is 100 rpm. d(tank) 30 120
=
->

The mixing operation is to be scaled up to a tank of 120 cm

diameter. If the mixing requirement and conditions in both
cases are similar.
Determine the diameter and speed of the bigger mixer.
Lagitator
8 cm - ?)
100rpm ->??
Given:
𝑃
𝑃𝑜 = 5 3
𝐷 𝑁 𝜌

𝑃1 𝑃2
𝑃𝑜1 = 5 3 𝑃𝑜2 = 5 3
𝐷1 𝑁1 𝜌 𝐷2 𝑁2 𝜌

Po1=Po2
𝑃1 𝑃2
=
𝐷15 𝑁13 𝜌 𝐷25 𝑁23 𝜌
 1)
theCmixing requirement and conditions in both
cases are similar.
P1= P2
D15N13= D25N23

3 𝐷15 𝑁13
𝑁2 =
𝐷25
diameter tank1, d1= 30cm→ diameter tank2, d2 =120cm

Geometric similarity:
The ratio of agitator diameter to tank diameter
: 30 = 1 : 3.75S
CSC
=8
Therefore, diameter of big agitator:
=120 cm / 3.75 = 32 cm
Crank
32:120
 So, ~diameter
5 3
3 𝐷1 𝑁1
speed 𝑁2 = 5 2100rpm
-

𝐷2 (speed)
I diameter

3 85 × 1003
𝑁2 = 5
= 9.9 𝑟𝑝𝑚
32

The size of the big agitator is 32 cm and speed at 9.9 rpm

Example 5
-> 120 cm p
Tank 30cm Po =

d?
Agitator D5 NY P
Agitator 8 cm
spower)
·

Speed 100rpm. speed?

-
similar conditions

Po, Poz =

P, Pc
-

D, YN, 3p Dc5Nc p

Sm91
Np Dc 5Ncp
diameter:Tank diameter
D. =

Agitator Didiameter
= of
Na

D,Ne
8 am:30cm
agitator
=

small
1:3.75
of
Dz
diameter
big agitator
=

Big Jank diameter

diameter: N2
Agitator
↑
-

85x1003
D2:120 cm

325
D2 120/ 3.75
=

32
=
um
X 9.9
=
up
X