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In physics (particularly fluid statics ), the meniscus ( pl.: menisci, from Greek 'crescent') is the curve in the upper surface of a liquid close to the surface of the container or another object, produced by surface tension . A concave meniscus occurs when the attraction between the particles of the liquid and the container ( adhesion) is more ...
The history of fluid mechanics is a fundamental strand of the history of physics and engineering. The study of the movement of fluids (liquids and gases) and the forces that act upon them dates back to pre-history. The field has undergone a continuous evolution, driven by human dependence on water, meteorological conditions and internal ...
Distillation setup using a retort and tube condenser, from a 1921 book. [5] The simplest type of condenser is a straight tube, cooled only by the surrounding air. The tube is held in a vertical or oblique position, and the vapor is fed through the upper end. The heat of condensation is carried away by convection.
The interactions of the air and water flow allow a partial equalization of temperature, and evaporation of water. The air, now saturated with water vapor, is discharged from the top of the cooling tower. A "collection basin" or "cold water basin" is used to collect and contain the cooled water after its interaction with the air flow.
In thermal fluid dynamics, the Nusselt number ( Nu, after Wilhelm Nusselt [ 1]: 336 ) is the ratio of total heat transfer to conductive heat transfer at a boundary in a fluid. Total heat transfer combines conduction and convection. Convection includes both advection (fluid motion) and diffusion (conduction). The conductive component is measured ...
Jurin's law, or capillary rise, is the simplest analysis of capillary action —the induced motion of liquids in small channels [1] —and states that the maximum height of a liquid in a capillary tube is inversely proportional to the tube's diameter. Capillary action is one of the most common fluid mechanical effects explored in the field of ...
The faster the blade moves, the lower the pressure can become around it. As it reaches vapor pressure, the fluid vaporizes and forms small bubbles of gas. This is cavitation. When the bubbles collapse later, they typically cause very strong local shock waves in the fluid, which may be audible and may even damage the blades.
Heat exchangers using copper and its alloys have evolved along with heat transfer technologies over the past several hundred years. Copper condenser tubes were first used in 1769 for steam engines. Initially, the tubes were made of unalloyed copper. By 1870, Muntz metal, a 60% Cu-40% Zn brass alloy, was used for condensers in seawater cooling.