Pascal and Bernoulli Principle
Lesson Outcome 3 (LO3:CO1)
• By the end of this lesson, student should be
able to explain Bernoulli’s principle, Pascal’s
law, types of fluid flow and pressure
measurements
Pascal’s Law
• Pressure in an enclosed fluid can be
considered uniform throughout a practical
system.
• Small differences may
arise from head pressures
at different heights, but
negligible compared with
the system operating
pressure
• Pascal's law AKA Principle of transmission of
fluid-pressure
• is a principle in fluid mechanics that states
that pressure applied anywhere in a confined
incompressible fluid is transmitted equally in
all directions
If F at A is 50 lbf, how much the pressure at B,C,D &
E?
A) PA = PB = PC = PD = PE
B) PA = PB+PC+PD+PE
Flow rate
• Hydraulic and pneumatic systems are
concerned with the flow of fluid down a pipe.
• Velocity flow of a system measures linear
speed past a point of measurement.
• Of prime importance in design of both
systems.
Types of fluid flow
• Laminar flow:
1) Low flow velocity
2) Flow pattern is smooth
3) Low velocities at the pipe walls
4) Highest flow at the center of pipe
• Laminar flow
• Re < 2000
• 'low' velocity
• Dye does not mix with water
• Fluid particles move in straight lines
• Rare in practice in water systems.
Types of fluid flow
• Turbulence:
1) Particle do not move parallel
2) Become turbulent when velocity increased
3) Sudden change in direction of cross section
Turbulent flow
• Re > 4000
• 'high' velocity
• Dye mixes rapidly and completely
• Particle paths completely irregular
• Average motion is in the direction of the flow
• Cannot be seen by the naked eye
• Changes/fluctuations are very difficult to detect. Must use laser.
• Mathematical analysis very difficult - so experimental measures are
used
• Most common type of flow
Types of fluid flow
• The nature of flow is determined by Reynolds number (Rc),
Rc = (vdρ)/η
where
v : flow velocity (m/s)
d : pipe diameter (m)
ρ : fluid density (kg/m3)
η : dynamic viscosity of fluid (kg/(m.s))
• If Rc < 2300, flow is laminar. If Rc > 4000, flow is turbulent
Reynolds number
• Kinematic velocity, k = η/ρ
• Replacing k into Rc
Rc = (vd)/k
where
v : flow velocity (m/s)
d : pipe diameter (m)
k : kinematic viscosity of fluid (m2/s)
• If Rc < 2300, flow is laminar. If Rc > 4000, flow is
turbulent
k : fluid kinematic viscosity
• The SI unit of kinematic viscosity : m2/s.
• The cgs physical unit for kinematic viscosity is
the stokes (St), named after George Gabriel
Stokes. It is sometimes expressed in terms of
centistokes (cSt).
• 1 St = 1 cm2·s−1 = 10−4 m2·s−1.
• 1 cSt = 1 mm2·s−1 = 10−6m2·s−1.
• So which one is preferred in hydraulics system??
• Laminar or turbulence?
• Consideration?
– Velocity,
– smoothness of movement
– Accuracy of cylinder
– system efficiency (minimum friction loss)
Bernoulli’s Principle
• If the flow rate in a system is constant, then
the total energy in the system will also be
constant irrespective of the variation in the
cross section of the fluid passage.
TOTAL ENERGY = POTENTIAL ENERGY + KINETIC
ENERGY
Bernoulli’s Equation
Point 1
Point 2
P1 P2
2 2
P1 v1 P2 v2
+ + g z1 = + + g z2
2 2
where,
P1, v1 and z1 are pressure, velocity and datum height of the
center line of pipe at point 1 respectively.
P2, v2 and z2 are pressure, velocity and datum height of the
center line of pipe at point 2 respectively.
Bernoulli’s Equation
• In practice, we need to add friction head (hf), i.e.
pressure lost due to friction.
2 2
P1 v1 P2 v2
+ = +
g 2 g + z1 g 2 g + z2 + h f
• Most manufacturers specify maximum flow rate
allowed through a valve.
• Valve should offer least amount of pressure drop.
• Bernoulli’s principle can guide designer of valve
and pipe to use optimum size.
Pressure measurement
• Bourdon pressure gauge
– consists of a flattened C
shaped tube which is fixed at
one end. When pressure is
applied to the tube it tends to
straighten, with the free end
moving up and to the right.
– For low pressure ranges a
spiral tube is used to increase
the sensitivity.
Pressure measurement
• Bourdon pressure gauge
– If an electrical output signal is
required, the pointer is replaced by a
potentiometer
Flow measurement
• Venturi meter
Flow measurement
• Orifice plate meter
