C H A P T E R I I I:

Manometry; Manometers MANOMETERS: Pressure Measuring Device

Chapter 3:
MEFM_323 (FLUID MECHANICS)

Manometers are devices or apparatus’ that measure

a change in pressure. It is usually made-up of a clear glass tube
(normally bent in the form of a letter “U”) with one or more
substances of known specific gravity that moves proportionally
to the force that is generated by the pressure it is measuring.

TYPES OF MANOMETERS:

1. Open type manometer: Is a type of manometer whose one

leg is open to the atmosphere and
is capable of measuring gage pressure.

1.a. Piezometers: Is the simplest form of manometer which is tapped into

the wall of a container or conduit and in which the liquid can
freely rise without overflowing. The height of the liquid in
the tube gives the pressure head directly.

Piezometers are limited to measuring small amounts

of pressure due to the impracticability of providing a long
Tube to accommodate higher pressures. Moreover, it can
only be used for liquid pressure measurement since a gas
does not form any free surface.

In measuring pressures of fluids in motion, precautions

should be taken in making connections. The hole must be
drilled exactly normal to the inner surface of the container
or conduit wall and the piezometer tube must not project
beyond this surface. All burrs and roughness on the inner
surface must be removed for this will have an effect on the
piezometric head.

To reduce the error due to capillarity, the tube diameter

should be at least 1.25 cm.

The disadvantages of a piezometer could be overcomed by

using a more complex form of manometer. This makes
use of a bent tube (or loop) that’s makes use of more than
type fluid. As such fluids used should be immiscible so as
to form a meniscus between them.

1 FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. GSROBLES, ME, MEM

 A differential manometer tapped
into a conduit:

2. Differential manometers: Is a type of manometer whose ends are both closed to the
atmosphere and thus is not subjected to atmospheric pressure. Its
purpose is to determine the pressure difference between pipes,
vessels, or tanks with known internal pressures.

2.a. Micromanometer: Is a special type of differential manometer that is used

for measuring difference in gas pressures. One example
is illustrated wherein this type provides a higher precision
and is used when the pressure difference is too small a
value that cannot be measured by a typical differential
manometer. Obviously, the primary purpose of this gage or
device is to magnify the reading to permit a greater accuracy.

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PROCEDURE OF COMPUTATION IN SOLVING MANOMETRY PROBLEMS:

1. Draw a sketch of the manometer approximately to scale.

2. Starting with one end of the Manometer (left or right maybe taken), label the contact points of fluids
of different specific gravity.
3. After the labeling process, add the pressure heads of the liquids as the elevation decreases and or
subtract the pressure heads of the liquids as the elevation increases.
4. Using the liquid pressure formula, you may now obtain unknown values from the derived equation.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1. For the differential manometer shown, 2. A U-tube manometer of 10 mm diameter

what would be the new mercury deflection is to contain mercury thereby occupying it
If the pressure at point A is increased by 40 inside. Supposedly, 12 mL of water is
kPa. Initial mercury deflection is 250 mm. poured unto the right-hand leg, what
would be the new heights at both legs?

3. Three different liquids with properties as indicated fill the tank and manometer tubes as
shown. Determine the specific gravity of fluid #3…

3 FLUID MECHANICS/ ENGR. GSROBLES, ME, MEM

 4. Determine the elevation difference, ΔH between the water levels in the two open tanks shown..

5. Determine the angle, Ø of the inclined tube shown if the pressure at pt A is 1 psi greater than pt. B…

6. The closed tank is filled with water and is 5 ft. long. The pressure gage on the tank reads 7 psi. Find
(a) the height, h in the open water column; (b) the pressure acting on the bottom tank surface AB.

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7. A mercury manometer is used to measure
the pressure difference in the in the two
pipelines. Fuel oil has a unit weight of 53
lbs/ ft3 and is flowing in A and SAE 30 lube
oil, unit weight of 57 lbs/ ft3 is flowing in B.
An air pocket has become entrapped in the
lube oil as indicated. Determine the
pressure in pipe B, if the pressure in pipe A
is 15.3 psi.
9. Water, oil, and an unknown fluid are
contained in the vertical tubes as shown.
Determine the density of the unknown fluid.
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8. A closed cylindrical tank filled with water
has a hemispherical dome and is connected
to an inverted piping system. The liquid in
the top part of the piping system has a
specific gravity of 0.8 and the remaining
parts of the system are filled with water. If
the pressure gage reading at pt. A is 60 kPa,
determine: (a) the pressure in pipe B, and
(b) the pressure head in mm of mercury at
the top of the dome (point C)..
10. Compartments A and B of the tank are
closed and filled with air and a liquid with a
specific gravity equal to 0.6. Determine the
manometer reading, h, if the barometric
pressure is of standard value, and that the
gage pressure reads 0.5 psi…