CL216 Hydraulics and Hydrology
Semester 2
Lecture – Introduction to Bernoulli’s
Equation
Session Objectives
• Introduction to Bernoulli’s Equation.
• State the limitations and assumptions made when using
Bernoulli’s Equation.
• Describe the three different forms of Bernoulli’s Equation.
Bernoulli’s Principle
• Named after Daniel Bernoulli, a
Swiss mathematician and physicist.
• Based on the principle of
conservation of energy.
• Shows the relationship between
fluid velocity, pressure and potential
energy in a pipe network.
• An increase in velocity of the fluid Daniel Bernoulli
results in either a decrease in (8th February 1700 –
17th March 1782)
pressure or potential energy.
Venturi Effect
• In order to understand how to apply Bernoulli’s Equation
we need to learn about the Venturi Effect in a pipe.
• The Venturi Effect: the reduction in pressure of a fluid
and increase in velocity that occurs at a constricted
section of a pipe when fluid flows through it.
• If we apply the equation:
• Q=V*A (Volumetric Flow Rate= Velocity*Area).
Venturi Effect
• We can set the following set of criteria which
will help us when solving pipe flow equations
which apply Bernoulli’s Equation:
•A
•V
•P
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Bernoulli’s Equation
What does Bernoulli’s equation deal with?
• Fluid dynamics deals with the fluid behavior when it is moving (or
“flowing”).
• Bernoulli’s Equation is concerned with the conservation of kinetic,
potential and pressure energy of a fluid stream, and their conversion to
each other during idealised frictionless flow that is applicable under certain
restrictions.
• A relationship exists between pressure, velocity and elevation in steady,
incompressible and frictionless flow.
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Assumptions and Limitations
1. Steady flow
Not applicable during the transient start-up and slow-down.
2. Frictionless flow
Frictional effects must be negligible.
3. Incompressible flow
One of our assumption is constant density. The condition is suitable for
liquid and gases at reasonably low velocity.
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Assumptions and Limitations
4. No heat transfer
The density will change with the temperature.
5. Flow along a streamline
The constant is different for different streamlines,
but if the flow is irrotational, the constant is the
same for all streamline.
Bernoulli’s Equations
Bernoulli’s Equation can be written in the following three forms:
1. Energy
2. Pressure
3. Head
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Energy Form
P 1 2
+ V + gz = constant
r 2 Potential energy (unit: m/s 2m = N m/kg= J/kg)
Kinetic energy (unit: m2/s2 = N m/kg=J/kg
Pressure energy (or flow energy, flow work)
(unit: N/m2 /(kg/m3)=N m/kg=J/kg)
From the energy perspective, Bernoulli’s Equation is an
expression of mechanical energy balance
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Energy Form
The sum of the kinetic, potential and pressure energies of a fluid particles is
constant along a streamline during steady flow when the compressibility and
frictional effects are negligible.
For any two points along a streamline, the Bernoulli equation could be
represented as:
streamline
P11 2 P2 1 2
+ V1 + gz1 = + V2 + gz2 (2)
r 2 r 2 (1)
(1) (2)
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Pressure Form
P 1 2
+ V + gz = constant
r 2
´r
1
P + rV 2 + r gz = constant
2
Hydrostatic pressure
Dynamic pressure
Static pressure (actual pressure in the fluid)
By multiplying Bernoulli’s Equation by the fluid density, it
demonstrates that, along a streamline, kinetic and potential
energies can be converted to pressure (units- N/m2).
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Bernoulli Equation: Pressure Form
1
Ptotal P V 2 gz constant
2
total pressure
Pstag: stagnation pressure
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Pressure Form
Pitot tube
dynamic pressure
piezometer
1 Pstag: stagnation pressure
V 2
2
P: static pressure pitot tube
V
1
Pstag P V 2
2
stagnation point
1 2 2(Pstag - P)
Pstag = P + rV V=
2 r
Pitot Tube
• Pitot Tube: flow measuring device which is used to
measure fluid flow velocity.
• It consists of a tube pointing directly into a fluid flow.
• The moving fluid is brought to rest (stagnates) as
there is no outlet to allow flow to continue.
Piezometer
• Piezometer: a device used to measure liquid
pressure in a system by measuring the height to
which a column of the liquid rises against gravity.
• It is designed to measure static pressure, and
therefore differs from a Pitot Tube, by not being
pointed into the fluid flow.
Bernoulli’s Equation: Pressure Form
1Τ 𝜌𝑉 2 is termed the dynamic pressure. Considering the
2
pressure at the end of a small tube inserted into the flow and
pointing upstream.
After the initial transient motion has died out, the liquid will fill the
tube to a height of H as shown.
Bernoulli Equation: Pressure Form
The fluids in the tubes will be stationary and also the velocity of
the flow at the entrance to the tube (2) will zero. This is referred
to as the stagnation point.
Bernoulli Equation: Pressure Form
Apply Bernoulli’s equation, in pressure form, along the stream
line from (1) to (2):
1 2
𝑃 + 𝜌𝑉 + 𝜌𝑔𝑧 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
2
1 1
𝑃1 + 𝜌𝑉1 + 𝜌𝑔𝑧1 = 𝑃2 + 𝜌𝑉2 2 + 𝜌𝑔𝑧2
2
2 2
Bernoulli Equation: Pressure Form
As the flow is horizontal (z1=z2) and V2=0:
1
𝑃1 + 𝜌𝑉1 2 = 𝑃2
2
Bernoulli Equation: Pressure Form
Hence the pressure at (1) is greater than the pressure at (2) by
the amount:
1 2
𝜌𝑉
2
Because this is dependent on the speed of the flow it is referred
to as the dynamic pressure.
Bernoulli Equation: Pressure Form
Note that at point (2), where the velocity is zero, that flow has
stagnated. The point that this has occurred is referred to as a
stagnation point.
The pressure at the point where the flow has stagnated is
referred to as the stagnation pressure.
Bernoulli Equation: Pressure Form
Because the pressure at the stagnation point is the sum of the
dynamic and static pressures it is the maximum pressure
possible in the flow along the streamline.
Also, as it is the sum of the static and dynamic pressures it is
called the total pressure.
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Heads Form
P 1 2
+ V + gz = constant
r 2
¸g
P V 2
+ + z = H = constant (along a streamline)
r g 2g
Elevation head
Velocity head
Pressure head
By dividing Bernoulli’s Equation by gravity, each term has
the dimension of length (m) and represents some kind of
‘head’ of the flowing fluid
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Bernoulli’s Equation: Heads Form
Pressure head: height of fluid column that produces P
static pressure P rg
Velocity head: elevation needed for fluid to reach V2
velocity V during free fall 2g
Elevation head: potential energy of the fluid z
Pressure head + Velocity head + Elevation head = H
Total head
Summary
• Bernoulli’s Equation has various limitations and
assumptions have to be made when applying it.
• Bernoulli’s Equation can be written in three different
forms: Energy, Pressure and Head.
