Page 47 - 48Fundamentals of Compressible Fluid Mechanics

1.3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 9
1.3.3 Choking Flow

The choking problem is almost unique
to gas dynamics has many different
forms. The choking wasn’t clear to
be observed, even researcher stum-
bled over it. No one was looking
or expecting for the choking to oc-
cur, when it was found the signif-
icance of the choking phenomenon
was not clear. The first experimen-
tal choking phenomenon was discov-
ered by Fliegner’s experiments which
were conducted some time in the mid-
dle of 186x 28 on air flow through con-
verging nozzle. As result the inven-
tion of deLavel’s nozzle was invented Fig. 1.2: The schematic of deLavel’s turbine af-
by Carl Gustaf Patrik de Laval in 1882 ter Stodola, Steam and Gas Turbine
and first successful operation by an-
other inventor (Curtis) 1896 used in steam turbine. Yet, there was no realization
that the flow is choked just that the flow moves faster than speed of sound.
The introduction of the steam engine and other thermodynamics cycles
led to the choking problem. The problem was introduced because people wanted
to increase the output of the Engine by increasing the flames (larger heat transfer
or larger energy) which failed, leading to the study and development of Rayleigh
flow. According the thermodynamics theory (various cycles) the larger heat supply
for a given temperature difference (larger higher temperature) the larger the output,
but after a certain point it did matter (because the steam was choked). The first to
29
discover (try to explain) the choking phenomenon was Rayleigh .
After the introduction of the deLavel’s converging–diverging nozzle the
30
theoretical work started by Zeuner . Later continue by Prandtl’s group 31 start-
ing 1904. In 1908 Meyer has extend this work to make two dimensional calcula-
32
tions . Experimental work by Parenty 33 and other measure the pressure along the
converging-diverging nozzle.

28 Fliegner Schweizer Bauztg., Vol 31 1898, p. 68–72. The theorical first work on this issue was done
by Zeuner, “Theorie die Turbinen,” Leipzig 1899, page 268 f.
29 Rayleigh was the first to develop the model that bears his name. It is likely that others had noticed
that flow is choked, but did not produce any model or conduct successful experimental work.
30 Zeuner, “Theorie der Turbinen, Leipzig 1899 page 268 f.
31 Some of the publications were not named after Prandtl but rather by his students like Meyer,
Theodor. In the literature appeared reference to article by Lorenz in the Physik Zeitshr., as if in 1904.
Perhaps, there are also other works that this author did not come crossed.
32 Meyer, Th., ¨ Uber zweidimensionals Bewegungsvordange eines Gases, Dissertation 1907, er-
schienen in den Mitteilungen ¨uber Forsch.-Arb. Ing.-Wes. heft 62, Berlin 1908.
33 Parenty, Comptes R. Paris, Vol. 113, 116, 119; Ann. Chim. Phys. Vol. 8. 8 1896, Vol 12, 1897.