BASIC CONCEPTS OF THERMODYNAMICS

CHAPTER 2 – Lesson 2
Revision of basic components/vocabulary required for the thermodynamics.

Lesson 1:
• Vocabulary associated with thermodynamics through the definition of basic concepts to
form the foundation for the principles of thermodynamics.
• Explain the basic concepts of thermodynamics such as system, state, equilibrium, process,
and cycle.
• Discuss properties of a system and define density, specific gravity, and specific weight.
• Review concepts of temperature, temperature scales, pressure, and absolute and gage
pressure.
Lesson 2:
• Pressure measurement devices
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Barometer – usually used to measure atmospheric pressure (atm = barometric pressure)

Inverted mercury filled tube in an open mercury container
Pressure at B = atm, Pressure at C = taken as 0
A barometer; used to measure atmospheric pressure, often
referred to as the barometric pressure. The device is an
inverted tube in a container that is open to atmosphere. It is
usually filled with mercury due to the high density of the fluid.
The pressure at B is equal to the atmospheric pressure
(pressure does not change horizontally), and the pressure at C
can be taken as zero since the pressure is low relative to Patm.
Since pressure changes with height, the height difference
between B and C can be used to determine the absolute
pressure of the surroundings, which is the atmospheric
pressure. A frequently used pressure unit is the standard
atmosphere, which is defined as the pressure produced by a
column of mercury 760 mm in height at 0°C under standard
gravitational acceleration. If water instead of mercury were
used, a water column of about 10.3 m would be needed.
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Example 2-3
Determine the atmospheric pressure at a location where the barometric reading is 740
mmHg and the gravitational acceleration is g = 9.805 m/s2. Assume the temperature of
mercury to be 10°C, at which its density is 13,570 kg/m3.

Patm = ρgh
= (13570)(9.81)(0.740)
= 98.5 kPa

The barometric reading at a location in height of mercury column is given = h. The

atmospheric pressure is to be determined.
Note that density changes with temperature, and thus this effect should be
considered in calculations.
Remember that the atmospheric pressure at a location is simply the weight of the air
above that location per unit surface area. Therefore, it changes not only with
elevation but also with weather conditions
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Manometer – a fluid column used to measure pressure differences

Glass or plastic U-tube filled with one or more fluids
- mercury, water, alcohol, oil
Our next device is a manometer, used to measure pressure
differences. An elevation change in a fluid at rest corresponds
to ΔP/ρg, which suggests that a fluid column can be used to
measure pressure differences. A manometer consists of a
glass or plastic Utube containing one or more fluids such as
mercury, water, alcohol, or oil. To keep the size of the
manometer to a manageable level, heavy fluids such as
mercury are used if large pressure differences are
anticipated. In the sketch example, the pressure of the gas at
point 1 is the same as the pressure of the fluid in the tube at
point 1. The pressure at point 1 and at point 2 is the same –
does not change horizontally if the fluid does not change. The
height of the fluid above point 2 can be used to determine
pressure difference. The tube is open to atmosphere, thus
the pressure where the fluid stops is atmospheric pressure.
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Example 2-6
A manometer is used to measure the pressure of a gas in a tank. The fluid used has a
specific gravity of 0.85, and the manometer column height is 55 cm, as shown in the Figure.
If the local atmospheric pressure is 96 kPa, determine the absolute pressure within the tank.
ρ = SG (ρH2O) = (0.85)(1000) = 850 kg/m3
P = Patm + ρgh = (96 x103) + (850)(9.81)(0.55) = 100.6 kPa (absolute/actual pressure in tank)
Pgage = 4.6 kPa (Pabs – Patm)
Gravitational effects of gases are negligible, therefor the
pressure anywhere in the tank and at position 1 has the
same value. Since pressure in a fluid does not vary in the
horizontal direction within a fluid, the pressure at point 2 is
the same as the pressure at point 1. The differential fluid
column of height h is in static equilibrium, and it is open to
1 2
the atmosphere. Then the pressure at point 2 is determined
from P2 = Patm + ρgh where ρ is the density of the
manometer fluid in the tube. The density of the fluid is
obtained by multiplying its specific gravity by the density of
water
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Manometers with multiple fluids can be analysed by remembering:

-pressure change
-pressure increases downwards
-2 points on same elevation in same fluid has same pressure
-Pascal’s law – starting at known point and adding (down = increase) or subtracting (up =
decrease) pressure towards point of interest

Many engineering problems and some manometers involve

multiple immiscible fluids of different densities stacked on
top of each other. The pressure at any point can be
determined by starting with a point of known pressure and
adding or subtracting ρgh terms as we advance toward the
point of interest. For example, the pressure at the bottom
of the tank can be determined by starting at the free
surface where the pressure is Patm, moving downward until
we reach point 1 at the bottom, and setting the result
equal to P1. It gives Patm + ρ1gh1 + ρ2gh2 + ρ3gh3 = P1
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Manometers are well suited to measure pressure drops between 2 points due to presence
of a device -valve, heat exchanger, resistance to flow

Manometers can measure pressure drops across a horizontal flow section

between two specified points due to the presence of a device such as a
valve or heat exchanger or any resistance to flow. This is done by
connecting the two legs of the manometer to these two points, as shown
in Fig. The working fluid can be either a gas or a liquid. The two fluids must
be immiscible, and ρ2 must be greater than ρ1. The pressure difference
between point 1 and 2 will be very close to the pressure difference
calculated by ρgh
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Example 2-7
The water in a tank is pressurized by air, and the pressure is measured by a multifluid
manometer as shown. The tank is located on a mountain at an altitude of 1.4 km where the
atmospheric pressure is 85.6 kPa. Determine the air pressure in the tank if h1 = 0.1 m, h2 =
0.2 m, and h3 = 0.35 m. Densities of water, oil, and mercury: 1000 kg/m3, 850 kg/m3, and
13,600 kg/m3.

Starting with the pressure at point 1 at the air–

water interface, moving along the tube by adding
or subtracting the ρgh terms until we reach point 2,
and setting the result equal to Patm since the tube is
open to the atmosphere. Jumping horizontally from
one tube to the next and realizing that pressure
remains the same in the same fluid simplifies the
analysis considerably.
 Pressure Measurement Devices

Example 2-7
Atmospheric pressure is 85.6 kPa. Determine the air pressure in the tank if h1 = 0.1 m, h2 =
0.2 m, and h3 = 0.35 m. Densities of water, oil, and mercury: 1000 kg/m3, 850 kg/m3, and
13,600 kg/m3.
P1 = Patm + ρmercurygh3 - ρoilgh2- ρwatergh1
= 85.6x103 + (9.81)[(13,600)(0.35) - (1000)(0.1) - (850)(0.2)]
= 130 kPa

Redo the example, but start at point 2 when setting

the equation. Remember if the measurement goes
down from the reference, then you add (pressure
increase downwards), and if the measurement is
above the reference, you subtract. The reference
moves each time you add/subtract to the next fluid
intersecting point.
 End of Lesson 2
This concludes the second lesson as well as our first chapter. Head over to the TEAMS quiz
on Lesson 2. It will require some calculations which is also on the Chapter 2 homework
problems that you can complete. Any questions related to Lesson 2 can also be asked there
during class-period, or on the discussion boards during the week.

Problems for homework:

2-33
2-37
2-44
2-47
2-50
2-58
2-61
2-82
2-86