Flow rate conservation, often encapsulated by the principle of continuity, states that the mass flow rate must stay constant from one cross-section to another if the fluid is incompressible and flow is steady. This means that for an incompressible fluid, changes in area must be compensated by changes in velocity to maintain constant flow.

Flow Rate Conservation

Principle of continuity

Mass flow rate is a measure of the mass of a substance passing through a given surface per unit time, crucial for analyzing fluid dynamics in systems like pipelines, engines, and chemical reactors. It is typically expressed in units like kilograms per second (kg/s) and is calculated by multiplying the fluid density by the cross-sectional area and the velocity of flow.

Mass Flow Rate

A cross-section is a surface or shape that is exposed by making a straight cut through a solid object, often used in various fields to analyze internal structures or distributions. It provides a two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional object, facilitating understanding of its internal composition or spatial relationships.

Cross-Section

An incompressible fluid is a theoretical fluid with a constant density, meaning its volume does not change under pressure. This assumption simplifies the analysis of fluid flow and is often applied to liquids in fluid dynamics where density variations are negligible.

Incompressible Fluid

Steady flow refers to a fluid flow condition where the fluid's velocity at any given point does not change over time, implying a constant flow rate and no temporal variations in the flow field. This concept is crucial in simplifying the analysis of fluid systems, as it allows the use of time-independent equations to describe the flow behavior.

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