What Is Nozzle Choking?
Nozzle choking is a compressible flow effect that obstructs the flow, setting a limit to fluid velocity because the flow becomes supersonic and perturbations cannot move upstream; in gas flow, choking takes place when a subsonic flow reaches M=1.
Nozzle choking is a fluid dynamic condition associated with the venturi effect. When a flowing fluid at a given pressure and temperature passes through a constriction (such as the throat of a convergent-divergent nozzle or a valve in a pipe) into a lower pressure environment the fluid velocity increases. At initially subsonic upstream conditions, the conservation of mass principle requires the fluid velocity to increase as it flows through the smaller cross-sectional area of the constriction. At the same time, the venturi effect causes the static pressure, and therefore the density, to decrease at the constriction.
Choked flow is a limiting condition where the mass flow will not increase with a further decrease in the downstream pressure environment for a fixed upstream pressure and temperature. For homogeneous fluids, the physical point at which the choking occurs for adiabatic conditions, is when the exit plane velocity is at sonic conditions; i.e., at a Mach number of 1. At choked flow, the mass flow rate can be increased only by increasing density upstream and at the choke point.
1. Nozzle Choking – Through Varying Duct:
Choked flow can occur through a convergent flow area or nozzle attached to a huge reservoir. Flow exits the reservoir through the nozzle if the back pressure is less than the reservoir pressure. When the back pressure is decreased slightly below the reservoir pressure, a signal from beyond the nozzle exit is transmitted at sonic speed to the reservoir.
The reservoir responds by sending fluid through the nozzle. Further, the maximum velocity of the fluid exists at the nozzle throat where the area is smallest. When the back pressure is further decreased, fluid exits the reservoir more rapidly. Eventually, however, the velocity at the throat reaches the sonic velocity.
Then, the fluid velocity at the throat is sonic, and the velocity of the signal is also sonic. Therefore, further decreases in back pressure are not sensed by the reservoir, and correspondingly will not induce any greater flow to exit the reservoir. The nozzle is thus said to be choked, and the mass flow of fluid is a maximum.
2. Nozzle Choking – With Friction:
Choked flow can also occur through a long constant-area duct attached to a reservoir. As fluid flows through the duct, friction between the fluid and the duct wall reduces the pressure acting on the fluid.
As pressure is reduced, other fluid properties are affected, such as sonic velocity, density, and temperature. The maximum Mach number occurs at the nozzle exit, and choked flow results when this Mach number reaches 1.
