Pressure Measuring System
FLUID MECHANICS
Lecture 03
Pressure Measuring System
What is pressure?
- Pressure is the physical force exerted on an object.
- Pressure is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object.
F
Force
Pressure = Force / Area
A
Area
Pressure Measuring System
Types of Pressure
DIFFERENTIAL
PRESSURE
Pgage = Pabs − Patm
Pressure Measuring System
Pvac = Patm − Pabs
Types of Pressure Pabs = Patm + Pgage
Differential
Pressure Pgage
Patm
Pvac
Patm
Pabs
Pabs
Pabs=0=Absolute
vacuum
Pressure Measuring System
Atmospheric Pressure
Also known as barometric pressure
Is defined as the force per unit area exerted against a surface by weight of the air above that surface
Pressure at sea level is approximately:
1 atmosphere = 1 atm
= 760 mmHg
= 14.7 psi
= 101.325 kPa
= 1.013 bar
= 10.33 mH2O
= 1.033 Kgf/cm2
Pressure Measuring System
Gauge Pressure
Is the pressure relative to atmospheric pressure
Used to measure the pressure difference between a system and the surrounding atmosphere
Hence pressure gauge reading is showing at 0 psi @ atmospheric pressure
Sometimes added with “g” at the end of pressure unit to indicate gauge pressure
Examples: 1 psig
1 kPag
However, without “g” it is understood that pressure is in gauge
Pressure Measuring System
Vacuum Pressure
Pressure below the atmospheric pressure
Also known as negative gauge pressure
Usually indicated with a negative “-”
Vacuum Pressure = Patm - Pabs
Pressure Measuring System
Absolute Pressure
Pressure above absolute zero
Absolute Pressure = atmospheric pressure + gauge pressure
Pressure Measuring System
Differential Pressure
Is the difference in the pressure between two points
Differential Pressure = Pressure @ point 1 - Pressure @ point 2
Pressure @ point 1 Pressure @ point 2
Pressure Measuring System
Measurement of Pressure
• The pressure of a fluid is measured by the following devices.
(a) Manometers
(b) Mechanical gauges
• Manometers: Manometers are defined as the devices used for Example of a simple manometer
measuring the pressure at a point in a fluid by balancing the
column of fluid by the same or another column of fluid. They are
classified as:
(a) Simple Manometers
(b)Differential Manometers
Differential Manometer
Pressure Measuring System
Measurement of Pressure
• The pressure of a fluid is measured by the following devices.
(a) Manometers
(b) Mechanical gauges
• Mechanical Gauges: These are defined as the devices used for
measuring the pressure by balancing the fluid column by the
spring or dead weight.
• The commonly used Mechanical pressure gauges are:
(a) Diaphragm pressure gauge
(b) Bourdon tube pressure gauge Diaphragm pressure gauge
(c) Dead – Weight pressure gauge
(d) Bellows pressure gauge.
Pressure Measuring System
Piezometer
It is a simplest form of manometer used for measuring gauge pressure.
• One end of this manometer is connected to the point where pressure is
to be measured and other end is open to the atmosphere.
• The rise of liquid in the Piezometer gives pressure head at that point A.
• It can measure the pressure in a container using hydrostatic pressure
concept
Where:
• The height of liquid say water is ‘h’ in piezometer tube, then
ρ = density of the liquid
g = gravitation acceleration 9.81 m/s2
h = height of the liquid
Pressure Measuring System
Sample Problem: Piezometer
A pressure tube is used to measure the pressure of oil (mass density 640 kg/m3) in a pipeline. If the oil rises to a height
of 1.2 above the center of the pipe, what is the gauge pressure in kPa at that point? (gravity = 9.81 m/s2) Ans 7.53 kPa
Pressure Measuring System
Sample Problem: Piezometer
In the piezometers of the figure shown, liquid stands 1.37 m above point
M. What is the pressure at M in kiloPascal if the liquid is (a) water.
(ans 13.44 kPa), (b) oil (sp gr 0.90) (ans 12.10 kPa), (c) mercury
(ans 182.78 kPa), and (d) molasses (sp gr 1.5) (ans 20.16 kPa).
Pressure Measuring System
Sample Problem: Piezometer
How high will liquid rise in the piezometers of shown in the figure if the
pressure at M is 68.95 kPa and the liquid is (a) water [ans h=7.03m],
(b) oil (sp gr 0.85) [ans h=8.27m], (c) mercury [ans h=0.5168m],
(d) brine (sp gr 1.15) [ans h=6.11m]?
PRESSURE BELOW THE LAYERS OF DIFFERENT
FLUID
• For one layer,
∆ = h
− = h
= h+
Where:
= pressure at the bottom
= pressure at the top
𝐵
𝐵
𝐵
𝐴
𝐴
𝐴
𝑃
𝑃
𝑃
𝑃
𝑃
𝑃
𝛾
𝛾
𝑃
𝛾
Example
• A weatherman carried an aneroid barometer from the ground floor to his
office atop the Sears Tower in Chicago. On the ground level, the barometer
read 30.15 in. Hg abs; topside, it read 28.607 in. Hg abs. Assume that the
average atmospheric air density was 0.075 lb. per cubic ft., estimate the
height of the building. Ans. 1,455.55ft
EXAMPLE
• In the figure shown, if the atmospheric
pressure is 101 kPa and the absolute pressure
at the bottom of the tank is 232 kPa, what is
the specific gravity of olive oil? Use SG of SAE
30 oil = 0.89. Ans SG = 1.408
Pressure Measuring System
Piezometer
Find the elevation of the oil surface in the attached piezometer. Ans h of oil = 6.3 m
Pair = 35 kPa
h = 2m SG of oil = 0.83
