Process Fluid Flow (PFF260S)

Semester 1, 2019
-Dr. Buntu Godongwana
 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.1 Pressure at a Point

• Pressure relates to the normal force per unit area at a given point
acting on a given plane within the fluid mass of interest.

• Fluid statics consider flows in which there are no shearing stresses.

• Absence of shearing stresses greatly simplifies our analysis!

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.1 Pressure at a Point

•  is arbitrarily chosen to fit the desired conclusion.

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.1 Pressure at a Point

• The equation of motion (Newton’s second law):

𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦𝛿𝑧
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 𝑝𝑦 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑧 − 𝑝𝑠 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑠 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝜌 𝑎𝑦
2
𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦𝛿𝑧 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦𝛿𝑧
෍ 𝐹𝑧 = 𝑝𝑧 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑦 − 𝑝𝑠 𝛿𝑥𝛿𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 − 𝜌𝑔 =𝜌 𝑎𝑧 (𝑬𝒒. 𝟐 − 𝟏)
2 2
• It follows that:
𝑝𝑦 = 𝑝𝑠 𝑝𝑧 = 𝑝𝑠

• The pressure at a point in a fluid at rest, or in motion, is independent

of direction as long as there are no shearing stresses. -Blaise Pascal

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.1 Pressure at a Point

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.2 Head of a Fluid

• When  = 0 and az = 0, Eq. 2-1 reduces to:

𝑝𝑧 − 𝑝𝑠
= 𝜌𝑔
𝛿𝑧
• Taking the limit 𝛿𝑧 → 0:
𝜕𝑝
= −𝜌𝑔
𝜕𝑧

• Integrating between the limits gives:

𝑝1 = 𝑝0 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ (𝑬𝒒. 𝟐 − 𝟐)

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.2 Head of a Fluid

• The vertical height of the fluid determines the pressure, irrespective

of the shape.

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.2 Head of a Fluid

• Pressures are given in many different sets of units (e.g. Pa, N/m2,
lbf/in2, dyn/cm2)

• A common method of expressing pressures is in terms of head in m

(or feet) of a particular fluid.

• The pressure head is the height of a column of fluid of density 

required to give a pressure difference (p1 – p0):

𝑝1 − 𝑝0
ℎ= (𝑬𝒒. 𝟐 − 𝟑)
𝜌𝑔

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.2 Head of a Fluid

2.2.1 Class Exercise

Given the pressure of 1 standard atm as 101.325 kN/m2:

a) Convert this pressure to head (in m) of water at 4°C.

b) Convert this pressure to head (in m) of Hg at 0°C.

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2019
 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.3 Measurement of Pressure

2.3.1 Barometric Pressure
• Pressures is designated as either absolute or gage pressure.

• A barometer is used to measure

atmospheric pressure

• 𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑚 = 𝑝𝑣𝑎𝑝𝑜𝑟 + 𝜌𝑔ℎ

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.3 Measurement of Pressure

2.3.2 Class Exercise

A mountain lake has an average temperature of 10°C and a maximum

depth of 40 m. For a barometric pressure of 598 mm Hg, determine:

a) The gage pressure at the deepest part of the lake (in Pa).
b) The absolute pressure (in Pa).

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.3 Measurement of Pressure

2.3.3 Manometry

Simple U-tube
manometer

 Determine PA?

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.3 Measurement of Pressure

2.3.3 Manometry

Differential U-tube
manometer

 Determine (PA – PB )?

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 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)

2.3 Measurement of Pressure

2.3.3 Manometry

Inclined-tube
manometer

 Determine
(PA – PB )?

Dr B. Godongwana, Semester 1 14
2019
 2. Fluid Statics (PFF260S)
Syllabus

 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics and its Basic Concepts

 Properties of Fluids
 Pressure and Fluid Statics
• Mass, Bernoulli and Energy Equations
• Flow in Pipes
• Losses in Piping System
• Piping Network and Pump Selection

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 References (PFF260S)

• Munson, B. R., Young, D. F., and Okiishi, T. H. 2006.

Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. 5th ed. Wiley: New York.
• White, F.M. 1998. Fluid Mechanics. 4th edition. McGraw-Hill: New
York.
• Geankoplis. C.J. 1993. Transport Processes and Unit Operations.
Prentice Hall: New Jersey.
• Fox, R.W., McDonald, A.T. & Pritchard, P.J. 2004. Introduction to
Fluid Mechanics. 6th edition. Wiley: New York.
• Holland, F.A. 1995. Fluid Flow for Chem. Engineers. 2nd edition.
Edward Arnold: London.
• Welty, J.R., Wicks, C. E., Wilson, R. E. 2001. Fundamentals of
Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer. 4th ed. John Wiley: New
York.

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2019
 References (PFF260S)

• Cengel, Y.A. & Cimbala, J.M. 2013. Fluid Mechanics:

fundamentals and applications. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.
• Perry, R.H., Green, D.W. & Maloney, J.O. (eds). 1998. Perry’s
chemical engineer’s handbook. 7th ed. McGraw Hill: New York.
• Anderson, J.D. 1995. Computational fluid dynamics: the basics
with applications. New York: McGraw-Hill.

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2019