Fluid Statics

M. P Deosarkar
Department of Chemical Engineering
Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune-37
 Fluid statics
• Fluid statics deals with non-flow situations--fluids
at rest.

• A static fluid is one which does not move –its

velocity and acceleration are everywhere zero

• The fluid particle is subjected to two quite

different types of forces per unit area depend on
– Relative position of molecules near the surface (Pressure)
– Relative average motion of the particle (stress)

• For static fluid there is no relative motion

• Pressure is basic property of static fluid
 Definition of Pressure
Pressure is defined as the amount of force exerted
on a unit area of a substance:

force N
P  2  Pa
area m
 Direction of fluid pressure on
boundaries

Furnace duct Pipe or tube

Heat exchanger

Pressure is a Normal Force

(acts perpendicular to surfaces)
It is also called a Surface Force

Dam
 Pressure
• Units of pressure is N/m2, which is called a
Pascal (Pa).
• Since the unit Pa is too small for pressures
encountered in practice, kilopascal (1 kPa
= 103 Pa) and megapascal (1 MPa = 106
Pa) are commonly used.
• Other units include bar, atm, kgf/cm2,
lbf/in2=psi.
 Pressure
• Other units include bar, atm, kgf/cm2,
lbf/in2=psi.
• 1 bar = 105 Pa = 0.1 MPa = 100 kPa
• 1 atm = 101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa = 1.01325
bars
• 1 kgf/cm2 = 9.807 N/cm2 = 9.807  104 N/m2
= 9.807  104 Pa = 0.9807 bar = 0.9679 atm
• 1 atm = 14.696 psi.
• 1 kgf/cm2 = 14.223 psi.
 Absolute, gage, and vacuum
pressures
• Actual pressure at a given point is called
the absolute pressure.
• Most pressure-measuring devices are
calibrated to read zero in the atmosphere,
and therefore indicate gage pressure,
Pgage = Pabs - Patm.
• Pressure below atmospheric pressure are
called vacuum pressure, Pvac=Patm - Pabs.
Absolute, gage, and vacuum
pressures
Bourdon Gauge
 Fluid Statics
• Two points at the same elevation in a
continuous fluid at rest are at the same
pressure.
• The pressure varies from height to
height
 Fundamental Equation
• Consider stagnant mass of
static fluid in a column of
c/s area S

• Consider different planes as

shown

• The pressure at any plane is

uniform but varies from
height to height Pa≠ Pb

• Consider the volume element

of height dZ at height Z
from the bottom
Fundamental equation
• The different forces acting on it
are:
i) Upward pressure force = PS
ii) Downward pressure force = (P+ dP)S
iii) Downward gravity force = r dZ S g

As the volume element is static the net

force acting on it must be zero
Net upward force –Net downward force = 0
PS - (P+ dP)S - r dZ S g = 0 ------(1)
 Fundamental Equation
• PS - (P+ dP)S - r dZ S g = 0 ------(1)
• PS – PS - dPS - r dZ S g = 0
• - dP - r dZ g = 0 ------(2)
•
------(3)

Integrating the eq. 3

Integrating between planes a and b
Liquids are incompressible i.e. their density is assumed
to be constant:

When we have a liquid with a free surface the

pressure P at any depth below the free surface is:

Po is the pressure at the

P  r gh  Po free surface (Po=Patm)

By using gauge pressures we can simply write:

P  r gh
 For compressible fluids
• The density is not constant hence integration of
equation 3 will be :

• Where density of the compressible fluids is given by

 Pressure head
This is the pressure energy expressed in terms of
height of liquid column
Hydrostatic Forces on Plane
Surfaces
• On a plane surface,
the hydrostatic forces
form a system of
parallel forces

• Atmospheric pressure
Patm can be neglected
when it acts on both
sides of the surface.
 Examples
• What are the gauge pressure and absolute
pressure at a point 3 m below the free
surface of the liquid having specific gravity
1.53 if the atmospheric pressure is equivalent
to 750 mm of mercury? The specific gravity
of mercury is 13.6 and density of water is
1000 kg/m3
 Answer
• Density of mercury = 13.6* 1000 = 13600 kg/m3
• Atmospheric pressure head = 750 mm Hg = 0.75 m Hg
• Patmospheric = 0.75 *13600*9.81 = 100062 N/m2
• Pressure due to 3 m height of liquid = 3*1530*9.8
• = 45028 N/m2

• Gauge pressure = 45028 N/m2

• Absolute presure = 145090 N/m2
 Examples
• Calculate pressure due to column of 0.3 m
of:
a) Water
b) Oil of specific gravity 0.8
c) Mercury of density 13.6 g/cc
 Answers
a)2943 N/m2 b)2354 N/m2 c)40025 N/m2
Pressure measurement by
using Manometers
 Manometers
• Manometers are defined as the devices used for
measuring the pressure at a point in the fluid by
balancing the column of the fluid by the same or
another column of fluid.
 Manometers
• Manometers are classified as
 • Piezometer
Simple Manometers
• Simplest form of manometer
• Consists of a glass tube
inserted in vessel or pipe
and other end extends
vertically upward
• The pressure at any point is
indicated by the height of
liquid above that point
• P=hrg
– Simplest, measure gauge
pressure only, not suitable for
negative pressure, moderate
pressure range, not suitable
for gases
– Tube diameter and height
• U Tube Manometer
• Consists of a glass tube bent
in U shape
• One end is connected to the
point of which pressure is to
be measured and other end
remains open to atmosphere
• The manometer is filled with
a liquid known as manometric
liquid of higher density
• Choice depends on pressure
range
• Commonly used:
– Mercury, CCL4, water etc.
 • Pressure at point 1
U Tube Manometer P1 =PA + h1r1 g

• Pressure at point 2
PB
P2 =PB + h2r2g

• As per hydrostatic eqm

P1 =P2
h
2 PA + h1r1 g = PB + h2r2g
PA
h
1 PA - PB = h2r2g - h1r1 g
1 2 If h2-h1 = h3
PA - PB = h1(r2 -r1)g – h3r2 g
Single Column Manometer • Modified form of U
Tube Manometer
• Shallow reservoir
having C/S area
about 100 times that
of tube is one leg
• For any change in
PA pressure the change
in the liquid level in
the reservoir is
negligible
• Pressure is indicated
approximately by
level of liquid in other
leg/tube
• How??????
 Single Column Manometer
• h2 r2 g + Dh r2 g+ Patm = h1 r1 g +Dh r1 g +
PA
PA
• PA = h2 r2 g - h1 r1 g - Dh (r2 -r1) g

• A = C/S area of reservoir

• a = C/S area of Tube
 Dh A = h2 a Very small
Can be neglected

 Dh = h2 a/A

• PA = h2 r2 g - h1 r1 g
Differential Manometers
U Tube Differential Manometer
Apply the basic equation of static
fluids to both legs of manometer,
realizing that P2=P3.

P2  Pa  rb g ( Z m  Rm )
P3  Pb  rb g ( Z m )  r a gRm

Pa  Pb  gR m ( r a  r b )
Inclined tube manometer

Pa  Pb  gR1 ( r a  r b ) sin 
Inverted U-Tube Manometer
• Pressure at Point 1
PA – h1r1g – h2r1g
r
2 • Pressure at Point 2
1 2 PB – h1r1g – h2r2g

• Pressure difference
r PA – PB
1
= h2 (r1 - r2 )g
PA PB
 Examples
A simple U-tube manometer is installed across
an orifice plate. The manometer is filled with
mercury (specific gravity = 13.6) and the
liquid above the mercury is water. If the
pressure difference across the orifice is 2
atm, what is the height difference (reading)
on the manometer in m of mercury ?

Answer: 1.639 m
 U tube manometer containing mercury was used to
find the negative pressure in the pipe containing
water. The right limb was open to the atmosphere.
Find the vacuum pressure in the pipe, if the
difference in the mercury level in the two limbs of
the manometer was 10 mm and the height of the of
the water in the left limb from the center of the pipe
was found to be 40 mm bellow.

Answer PA=-1.628 kPa 99.69kPa

• The left leg of the U tube mercury manometer is
connected to a pipeline conveying water, the
level of the mercury in the left leg being 0.6 m
below the center of the pipeline and the right leg
open to the atmosphere. The level of the
mercury in the right leg is 0.45 m above that of
the left leg and the space above the mercury in
the right leg contains benzene to a height of 0.3
m. Find the pressure in the pipe. (density of
benzene 876 kg/m3)
• Ans: PA = 56729.04 N/m2
 In a pipeline water is flowing. A manometer is
used to measure the pressure drop for the flow
through the pipe. The difference in the level was
found to be 20 cm. If the manometric fluid is
CCl4, find the pressure drop (sp. gr. CCl4
=1.596). If the manometric is changed by
mercury ( sp. gr. = 13.6) What will be the
difference in the level?

H mercury = 9.46 mm