CHE 406: MOMENTUM TRANSFER

FLUID STATICS & MANOMETRY

Lecturer:
ENGR. MICHAEL ALLAN G. RAMOS
Department of Chemical Engineering
Technological Institute of the Philippines
1st Semester, A.Y. 2019-2020
 FLUID STATICS

• Analysis of fluid at hydrostatic equilibrium (at rest or there is no

relative motion between adjacent particles)
• Deals with pressure variation throughout a fluid and its effect on
submerged surfaces.

PRESSURE TYPES RELATIONSHIP:

𝐴𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝐺𝑎𝑢𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 +

𝑎𝑡𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒
 FUNDAMENTAL EQUATION

• For a fluid at rest: 𝑑𝑝 Where: p = pressure

=−𝛾 z = vertical axis
𝑑𝑧 𝛾 = specific weight

Incompressible Fluid
• Negligible variation in density Pressure Head (h) refers to the height of a specific
• For constant specific weight: fluid column to give a pressure difference of p1– p2.

Where: i.e. For 10 psi pressure difference

𝑝8 − 𝑝9 p1 & p2 are pressures
ℎ= at vertical elevations
23.1 ft H2O 𝛾 = 62.4 lb/ft3
𝛾 of z1 & z2, respectively. 518 mm Hg 𝛾 =133 kN/m3
 FUNDAMENTAL EQUATION

Compressible Fluid
• Specific weight varies with density

• For an ideal gas: • For isothermal condition:

𝑝9 𝑔 >@ 𝑑𝑧 −𝑔 𝑧9 − 𝑧8
ln =− = 𝑝9 = 𝑝8 exp
𝑝8 𝑅 >? 𝑇 𝑅 𝑇E
Where:
p1 & p2 = pressures at vertical elevations of z1 & z2, respectively;
g = local acceleration of gravity;
R = gas constant;
T = absolute temperature
 MANOMETRY

• A technique for measuring pressure based on a liquid column in

hydrostatic equilibrium.

Three common types:

1. Piezometer Tube
2. U-Tube Manometer
3. Inclined-Tube Manometer

Mercury Barometer. (source: geography.name; lofty.com)

 Piezometer Tube

• Consist of a simple vertical tube opened at the top

• Used for measuring pressure in a tank or vessel
Open to atmosphere Pressure at Point A is related to h1 as:

𝑝F = 𝛾8 ℎ8 + 𝑝GHI
h1
Disadvantages:
• Suitable only for relatively small pressure
(A) (1) • Pressure to be measured must be greater
than atmospheric pressure
Fluid of specific gravity, 𝛾8 • Applicable only for liquid
 U-Tube Manometer
• Consist of a tube formed into a U-shape
• Requires the use of a secondary fluid called as gauge fluid
Open to Pressure at Point A is related to h1 and h2 as:
atmosphere
Fluid of specific gravity, 𝛾8 𝑝F = 𝛾9 ℎ9 − 𝛾8 ℎ8 + 𝑃GHI

(A) (1)
h2
Criteria for selecting gauge fluid:
• For large pressure: use heavy fluid (i.e. mercury)
h1
• For small pressure: use light fluid (i.e. water)
(2) (3) • Must give a well-defined meniscus
• Must be immiscible with the other fluid
Gauge Fluid of • Specific weight dependency on temperature
specific gravity, 𝛾9
 U-Tube Manometer
• Can also be used to measure the pressure difference between two
containers or two points within a given system
Fluid of
specific gravity, 𝛾L
(B)
(5) Pressure difference between Point A and
Fluid of
specific gravity, 𝛾8
h3 Point B is related to column height as:
(4)

(A) (1) 𝑝F − 𝑝K = 𝛾L ℎL + 𝛾9 ℎ9 − 𝛾8 ℎ8
h2
h1

(2) (3)
Gauge Fluid of
specific gravity, 𝛾9
 Inclined-Tube Manometer
• Similar to U-tube manometer but composed of an inclined-leg to
accurately measure small pressure changes.
Fluid of
Fluid of (B) specific gravity, 𝛾L
specific gravity, 𝛾8
(A)
h3
ℓ9
(2)
h1
(1) Gage Fluid of
specific gravity, 𝛾9
𝜃

Pressure difference between Point A and 𝑝F − 𝑝K = 𝛾L ℎL + 𝛾9 ℓ9 sin 𝜃 − 𝛾8 ℎ8

Point B is related to column height as:
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM (1)
Calculate the column height needed in meters to generate a pressure
of 100 kPa using: (a) water; (b) carbon tetrachloride; and (c) mercury as
the liquid.
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM (2)

At sea level the atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psia and the temperature
is 70oF. Assuming that the temperature does not change with elevation,
calculate the pressure at 1000, 10,000, and 100,000 ft.
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM (3)
A temperature inversion of the atmosphere was observed based on the
data below as reported by probes placed on a mountain at different
elevations.
Elevation (ft) 5000 5500 6000 6400 7100 7400 8200 8600 9200 9900
Temperature (oF) 50.1 55.2 60.3 62.6 67.0 68.4 70.0 69.5 68 67.1
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM (4)

A tank of gas connected to a manometer is shown below. The

manometer is a U-shaped glass tube open to the atmosphere at one
end and containing water. From the elevations shown, calculate the
gauge pressure in the vessel.

2 ft

Gas
𝑙𝑏I
𝜌 = 0.1 1 ft
𝑓𝑡 L 0.5 ft
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM (5)
Calculate for the specific gravity of the Fluid 3 if the specific weight of Fluid 2
is 62.4 lb/ft3 and the density of Fluid 1 is 1.60 slugs/ft3.

Fluid 1

7 ft

6 ft Fluid 2
5 ft
3 ft Fluid 3
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM (6)
If the pressure in pipe A was decreased by 10 kPa while pressure in pipe B
was maintained, what will be the new differential reading along the
inclined leg?

SG = 0.90
Water
A
B
100 mm
30W
80 mm

50 m
m
Mercury
END.