The Bernoulli Equation For steady, inviscid, incompressible flow the total energy remains constant along a stream

line as expressed through the Bernoulli Equation: p + 1/2 v2 + h = constant along a streamline where p = static pressure (relative to the moving fluid) = density = specific weight v = flow velocity g = acceleration of gravity h = elevation height Each term of this equation has the dimension force per unit area - psi, lb/ft2 or N/m2. (1)

The Head By dividing each term with the specific weight - = g - equation (1) can be transformed to express the "head": p / + v2 / 2 g + h = constant along a streamline = H where H = the total head Each term of this equation has the dimension length - ft, m. The Total Head (2) states that the sum of

(2)

pressure head - p / velocity head - v2 / 2 g elevation head - h

is constant along a stream line. This constant can be called the total head - H.

The total head in a flow can be determined by measuring the stagnation pressure using a pitot tube. The Piezometric Head The sum of pressure head - p / - and elevation head - h - is called the piezometric head. The piezometric head in a flow can be measured through an flat opening parallel to the flow. The Energy Line The Energy Line is a line that represent the total head available to the fluid and can be expressed as: EL = H = p / + v2 / 2 g + h = constant along a streamline where EL = Energy Line For a fluid flow without any losses due to friction (major losses) or components (minor losses) - the energy line would be at a constant level. In a practical world the energy line decreases along the flow due to losses. A turbine in the flow reduces the energy line and a pump or fan in the line increases the energy line. The Hydraulic Grade Line The Hydraulic Grade Line is a line representing the total head available to the fluid - minus the velocity head and can be expressed as: HGL = p / + h where HGL = Hydraulic Grade Line The hydraulic grade line lies one velocity head below the the energy line. (4) (3)