Vincent Lijo, Heuy Dong Kim*, Toshiaki Setoguchi, Shigeru Matsuo
The Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, vol. 25, no. 2, pp.341-347, 2011

Abstract : When sonic nozzles of significantly smaller diameter are used as standard flow meters, the critical backpressure ratio is affected by the boundary layer at the nozzle throat. It is known that, as the flow pathway is complicated in actual valves, the critical pressure ratio differs from the ideal value. However, the effect of the boundary layer thickness on choking criteria is still controversial. Choking phenomenon in a sonic nozzle fitted with a straight circular pipe of variable length is investigated numerically and the results are compared with experimental and theoretical ones. The results show that the actual critical pressure ratio is less than the ideal value and it decreases with increase in pipe length. The effect of boundary layer thickness on main flow Mach number is also made clear in this work. In addition, sonic conductance and pressure loss in actual viscous flows computed are compared with the ISO 6358 standard.

Keyword : Boundary layer; Choking; Compressible flow; Internal flow; Sonic conductance