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For the fundamental passive $RLC$ electrical circuit, analogies are often used to describe the physics of fluid flow where $L$ represents the inertance analogous to inductance, $C$ is compliance analogous to capacitance, $R$ is the fluidic resistance analogous to electrical resistance , $Q$ is flow analogous to electrical current, and $P$ is pressure analogous to voltage.

Between these analogies one can determine the stored energy in the $L$ and $C$ components as

$$E_L=\frac{1}{2}Li^2 \text{ or analogously } E_L=\frac{1}{2}LQ^2$$

and

$$E_c=\frac{1}{2}Cv^2 \text{ or analogously } E_c=\frac{1}{2}CP^2$$ respectively.

And at least for the electrical resistance we have the energy dissipated as

$$E_R=R\int{i^2}dt$$

But what of the power dissipated by a fluidic resistance?

We can write

$$E_R=R\int{Q^2}dt$$

and the units indeed units of energy. But for electrical resistance we know the energy is dissipated by heat whereas its not so clear at all to me how energy is dissipated in the fluidic resistance. Does the analogy hold? If so how is energy being dissipated?

Text books will say "loss of head" but that's just pressure drop. And you have that occurring also in the electrical circuit as voltage drop. So where is the power, energy going in the fluidic circuit?

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  • $\begingroup$ Perhaps viscous heating would take a form similar to ohmic losses $\endgroup$
    – Maxim Umansky
    Commented Apr 16, 2018 at 14:59
  • $\begingroup$ @MaximUmansky That makes sense, but is it true physically? In an electrical circuit the energy is dissipated externally as radiative or convective heat from the surface of the resistor. What of a fluidic circuit? Perhaps energy both radiated externally and carried by the fluid itself - unlike electrical current. I know analogies indeed limited, but in many cases the quantitative calculations indeed carry over. So I guess the main point of my question - is that last integral equation correct? Is there indeed physical energy losses that can be quantitatively figured by this equation? $\endgroup$
    – docscience
    Commented Apr 16, 2018 at 15:57
  • $\begingroup$ I think that the analogy sort of breaks down because in the case of fluids if you consider a fluid element there is energy associated with not just the pressure on the fluid element (analogous to the V on an electron), but also there is energy associated with the kinetic energy of the fluid element and for fluids energy can be exchanged between these two forms as a fluid element travels along its circuit. In fact, according to the Bernoulli equation, energy of a fluid element is conserved among the components of pressure energy, kinetic energy, and gravitational potential energy. $\endgroup$
    – user93237
    Commented Apr 16, 2018 at 17:23
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    $\begingroup$ @doscience In the Zeldovich & Raizer book "Physics of shock waves etc." Eq. 1.94 contains the derivation of the viscous heating term $\mu (du/dx)^2$ which is I believe what you are looking for $\endgroup$
    – Maxim Umansky
    Commented Apr 16, 2018 at 18:20
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    $\begingroup$ In fact, a full solution for viscous heat dissipation rate worked out for Poiseuille flow in a channel is available, e.g., on mech.kth.se/~luca/Smak/rec8.pdf. Their expression for the dissipation rate const $\times \mu U^2$ where $U$ is the flow bulk velocity is a direct analogy to ohmic heat $I^2 R$. $\endgroup$
    – Maxim Umansky
    Commented Apr 16, 2018 at 22:41

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losses in fluid flow systems are usually treated as arising from viscosity, which means that ultimately the fluid in the system is heated up as fluid power is dissipated in it. and yes, the constituitive equations for fluid flow have near-perfect electrical analogues (just as you have written out) at least to first order, when the fluid flow is subsonic and incompressible.

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    $\begingroup$ Agreed. My process engineering experience from years back clearly indicated that lost power turns into heat in the case of pumped fluids. $\endgroup$
    – David White
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 1:47
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    $\begingroup$ @DavidWhite, yep- which is why hydraulic systems have heat exchangers in them! $\endgroup$
    – niels nielsen
    Commented Apr 17, 2018 at 2:44
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... But for electrical resistance we know the energy is dissipated by heat whereas its not so clear at all to me how energy is dissipated in the fluidic resistance. Does the analogy hold? If so how is energy being dissipated?

Electrical and thermal differential equations may be written similarly but it is erroneous to conclude that there is any practical analogy between electrical and thermal resistance. Electrical insulators are about 20 orders of magnitude less conductive than a material that is considered a conductor, while for thermal insulators and a conductors the difference is only about three orders of magnitude.

Electrical resistance between two points of a wire is the difference in potential between the points divided by the current flowing in the wire between the two points and are equipotential cross-sections. Fluid flowing in a pipe or across a surface is subject to laminar flow and has a velocity profile.

In practice, the flow of heat is invariably very different from the one-dimensional flow of electrical current in wires. Any flow of electricity always results in the production of some heat while the flow of a liquid (or gas) could result in some cooling of the surroundings. Liquid and gas are also subject to turbulence, which is very difficult to model, while bending of an electric wire has no such effect.

Electricity is relativistically invariant and what is being transmitted (transferred) is usually the amount (amp hours), it's presence or absence, or information (frequency or hertz).

With fluid or gas transmission it is usually either the substance itself that is being transferred or it is the flow that transfers kinetic energy. Modulation is considered destructive, causing hydraulic transients which are not modeled the same as electrical transients.

Source: "Ten Years of Boundary-Condition-Independent Compact Thermal Modeling of Electronic Parts: A Review" (Jul 14 2010), by Clemens J. M. Lasance.

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