1 Manometers, Fluid mass subject to acceleration, forces due to

hydrostatic pressure and uplift force

1.1 Manometer attached to a pressurized tank

Exercise
A manometer is attached to a tank containing three different fluids, as shown in Fig. 1. What will
be the difference in elevation of the mercury column in the manometer (i.e., y in Fig. 1)?
Solution

30 +[(0.82)(9.79)](5− 2)+ (9.79)(2 − 0)+ (9.79)(1.00)−[(13.6)(9.79)]y = 0 y = 0.627 m

Figure 1 Manometer reading of a pressurized tank

1.2 Reading small suction head using manometer

Exercise
a) Determine the reading h in Fig. 2 for PA= 30 kPa suction if the liquid is kerosene (s.g. =
0.83).
Solution

−30 +[(0.83)(9.79)]h = 0 h = 3.692 m

Figure 2 Kerosene tank under suction

1.3 Manometer for connected water tank

Exercise
Calculate the pressure difference between A and B for the setup shown in Fig. 3. Assume specific
density of water equal to 9.79.

Solution

x +0.7 =1.5+ z → z = x −0.8

pA −(9.79)x − (0.8)(9.79) (0.70) (+ 9.79)(x −0.80) = pB

pA − pB =13.3kN m/ 2

Figure 3 Connected tanks

1.4 Complex manometers

Exercise
Determine the pressure difference between points A and B in Fig. 4. The relative specific
density of Benzine is 0.88,Mercury 13.6,Kerosin 0.82, water 1. The specific density of air is
0.0118 KN/m3.

Solution

20 8 40 − 8 40 − 14
+ 0.88 9.79 − 13.6 9.79 − 0.82 9.79 + 9.79
100 100 100 100
9
− 0.0118 =
100

pA − pB = 8.95kN /m2

Figure 4 Connected tanks

1.5 A truck´s fuel indicator

Exercise
Entering the highway, a truck accelerates constantly from 20 to 80 km/h in 20 seconds. The
cuboid tank (length in direction of driving 60 cm, height 50 cm with unit width) is filled to one
fifth (20%) of its volume. In the tank is a sensor for checking the volume (10 cm distance from
frontal side of the tank). Which value can be seen on the fuel indicator while accelerating?
What value would the sensor show if the tank was filled with water? How much would be the
the volume?

Figure 5 truck with tank

Solution
To calculate the fuel indicator one has to compute the intersection of the surface and the fuel indicator´s
position during the acceleration.
Determination of the acceleration:

Since the truck is moving in x-direction the fluid is accelerated (aF,x) to the opposite direction due
to the inertia, which means:
 Figure 6 Tank with fuel indicator at rest Figure 7 The coordinate system in tank

Setting up the Euler´s equation yields:

dp = ρ(a dxx.+ a dyy.+ a dzz.) = ρ (- 0.83dx +9.81dz)

The pressure on the surface is constant, therefore the difference of pressure dp is zero:

dp/ ρ = −0.83dx +9.81dz = 0

This equation can be integrated by separating the variables.

At least one point on the surface of the fluid is known, which is the centre. Due to geometric reasons
the centre is not moving ( 3).

Boundary condition:

Therefore the equation of water surface is:

At the position of fuel indicator the deviation of the diesel level from horizon is:
The tank is filled with one fifth diesel which corresponds to a level of 10 cm. Deducting the mentioned
deviation, the volume reads Ired = 16,6 % instead of Inorm = 20 %:

In a tank with water the level would be the same. The equation of water surface is independent from
density or other characteristic properties of the fluid.

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