Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC)

ECE 110 Fluid Mechanics I

Experiment 1
Bernoulli’s Theorem
Objective
Verify Bernoulli’s equation for flow in a horizontal duct with a varying cross-section.

Theory
Bernoulli’s equation relates velocity, pressure and elevation changes of a fluid in motion.
Bernoulli’s equation states that the “sum of the kinetic energy (velocity head), the pressure
energy (static head) and Potential energy (elevation head) per unit weight of the fluid at any
point remains constant” provided the flow is steady, irrotational, and frictionless and the fluid
used is incompressible. This is however, on the assumption that energy is neither added to nor
taken away by some external agency. It is given by,

P1/ρg +V12/2g+Z1= P2/ ρg +V22/2g+Z2= constant

Where P/ ρg is the pressure head

V2/2g is the velocity head

Z is the potential head.

However, real fluids are all viscous to some extent and produce shear forces in the direction of
motion. These forces which we ignored above require energy to overcome them. The form of
energy, low grade thermal energy, is not included in Bernoulli’s equation. It is also impossible to
recover this energy at a later stage and convert it back to head. The total head H is thus reduced
as energy degradation takes place. If the energy loss is represented by hL then Bernoulli’s
equation may be modified to :-

P1/ρg +V12/2g+Z1= P2/ ρg +V22/2g+Z2 + hL

Apparatus
Bernoulli’s apparatus and stopwatch.

The apparatus consists of a convergent duct fitted with piezometer tubes. It is fed with water
from the head tank. The two valves are used to regulate the flowrate and also control the
maximum pressure/ water height in the piezometers. Note that if the outlet valve is fully closed
whilst the inlet is open water will flow out of the top of the piezometers.

1
 Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC)

Figure 1 Bernoulli’s Apparatus

Procedure
1. The water supply and outlet valve are adjusted until water is flowing along the duct in a
uniform manner.
2. When steady conditions are established read the fluid height in each of the piezometers
tubes and tabulate as below.
3. To measure flowrate collect the discharge in a bucket or similar container for a period of
time measured with the stopwatch.
4. Repeat the flow measurement to check the result obtained.
5. The pressure head is read directly from the scale behind the piezometer tubes. Scale zero is
on the duct centreline.

Results
Flow data

Table 1- Piezometer readings in each tapping point

Tube 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Number
Piezometer
reading
Volume of water collected =……………………….ml
2
 Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC)

Time =………………s

Flow rate (Q) =…………………m3/s

Duct Data

The duct has a constant depth of 10mm.

Table 2 Velocity Head

As the duct is horizontal z is the same for each point and therefore cancels out of the equation.
The total head at each point is given by :-

Table 3 Total head

3
 Sri Lanka Technological Campus (SLTC)

Plotting Your Results

On the axes below plot total head, velocity head and pressure head.

Head

hL

Position
Take the value of H at position 1 as that given by Bernoulli’s equation and draw a horizontal
straight line at that head value for all the positions. The difference between the theoretical head
(horizontal line) and the Total head obtained from experiment is h L, the losses due to shear forces
or in other words the major loss. Evaluate h L for each position and its percentage of the
theoretical total head.

Discussion
Discuss three applications of Bernoulli’s Theorem.