1 Manometry (Measurement of Pressure)

2 The pressure of a fluid may be measured by the following devices:

3 1. Manometers:

4 Manometers are defined as the devices used for measuring pressure at a point in a fluid by balancing the
5 column of fluid by the same or another column of liquid. These are classified as follows:

6 a) Simple manometers:
7 i. Piezometer
8 ii. U-tube manometer, and
9 iii. Single column Manometer
10 b) Differential Manometers

11 2. Mechanical Gauges

12 These are the devices in which pressure is measured by balancing the fluid column by spring (elastic
13 element) or dead weight. Generally, these gauges are used for measuring high pressure and where high
14 precision is no required. Some commonly used mechanical gauges are:

15 i. Bourdon tube pressure gauge

16 ii. Diaphragm pressure gauge
17 iii. Bellow pressure gauge, and
18 iv. Dead-weight pressure gauge

19 Simple Manometers:

20 A simple manometer is one which consists of a glass tube whose one end is connected to a point where
21 pressure is to be measured and the other end remains open to atmosphere.
22 Common types of simple manometers are piezometer, U-tube manometer, and single column
23 manometer.

24 Piezometer

25 A piezometer is the simplest form of manometer which can be used measuring moderate pressures of
26 liquids. It consists of a glass tube inserted in the wall of a vessel or of a pipe, containing liquid whose
27 pressure is to be measured. The tube extends vertically upward to such a height that liquid can freely
28 rise in it without overflowing. The pressure at any point in the liquid is indicated by the height of the
29 liquid in the tube above that point, which can be read on the scale attached to it. Thus, if 𝑤 is the
30 specific weight of the liquid, then pressure at A (𝑝) is given by

31
32 Fig. 1(a) Piezometer tube fitted to open vessel
33
34 Fig. 1(b) Piezometer tube fitted to a closed pipe

35 𝑝 = 𝑤ℎ
36 Piezometers measure gauge pressure only (at the surface of the liquid), since the surface of the liquid in
37 the tube is subjected to atmospheric pressure. A piezometer tube is not suitable for measuring negative
38 pressure; as in such a case the air will enter in pipe through the tube.

39 U-tube Manometer

40 Piezometers cannot be employed when large pressures in the lighter liquids are to be measured, since
41 this would require very long tubes, which cannot be handled conveniently. Furthermore, gas pressures
42 cannot be measured by the piezometers because a gas forms no free surface. These limitations can be
43 overcome by the use of U-tube manometers.

44 A U-tube manometer consists of a glass tube bent in U-shape, one end of which is connected to a point
45 a which pressure is to be measured and the other end remains open to the atmosphere as shown below.

46
47 Fig. 2 U-tube manometer
48 (i) For positive pressure:

49 Let A be the point at which pressure is to be measured. X – X is the datum line as shown in Fig. 2.

50 ℎ1 = height of the light liquid in the left limb above the datum line,

51 ℎ2 = height of the heavy liquid in the right limb above the datum line,

52 ℎ = pressure in pipe, expressed in terms of head,

53 𝑆1 = specific gravity of the light liquid, and

54 𝑆2 = specific gravity of the heavy liquid.

55 The pressures in the left limb and right limb above the datum line X – X are equal (as pressures at two
56 points at the same level in a continuous homogeneous liquid are equal).

57 Pressure head above X – X in the left limb = ℎ + ℎ1 𝑆1

58 Pressure head above X – X in the right limb = ℎ2 𝑆2

59 Equating these two pressures, we get

60 ℎ + ℎ1 𝑆1 = ℎ2 𝑆2 , or ℎ = ℎ2 𝑆2 − ℎ1 𝑆1
61 (ii) For positive pressure:

62 Pressure head above X – X in the left limb = ℎ + ℎ1 𝑆1 + ℎ2 𝑆2

63 Pressure head above X – X in the right limb = 0

64 Equating these two pressures, we get

65 ℎ + ℎ1 𝑆1 + ℎ2 𝑆2 = 0 𝑜𝑟 ℎ = −(ℎ1 𝑆1 + ℎ2 𝑆2 )
66 Example 1

67 A U-tube manometer is used to measure the pressure of oil of specific gravity 0.85 flowing in a pipe line.
68 Its left end is connected to the pipe and the right-limb is open to the atmosphere. The center of the pipe
69 is 100 mm below the level of mercury (specific gravity = 13.6) in the right limb. If the difference of mercury
70 level in the two limbs is 160 mm, determine the absolute pressure of the oil in the pipe.
71
72 Example 2

73 U-tube manometer containing mercury was used to find the negative pressure in the pipe, containing
74 water. The right limb was open to the atmosphere. Find the vaccum pressure in the pipe, if the difference
75 of mercury level in the two limbs was 100 mm and height of water in the left limb from the centre of the
76 pipe was found to be 40 mm below.

77 Single column manometer (micro-manometer)

78 The U-tube manometer described above usually requires reading of fluid levels at two or more points
79 since a change in pressure causes a rise of liquid in one limb of the manometer and a drop in the other.
80 This difficulty is however overcome by using single column manometers. A single column manometer is a
81 modified form of a U-tube manometer in which a shallow reservoir having a large cross-sectional area
82 (about 100 times) as compared to the area of the tube is connected to one limb of the manometer, as
83 shown in the figure below. For any variation in pressure, the change in the liquid level in the reservoir will
84 be so small that it may be neglected, and the pressure is indicated by the height of the liquid in the other
85 limb. As such only one reading in the narrow limb of the manometer need be taken for all pressure
86 measurements. The narrow limb may be vertical or inclined. Thus, there are two types of single
87 manometer as shown below:

88 a) Vertical single column manometer, and

89 b) Inclined single column manometer.

90 Vertical single column manometer

91 Let X – X be the datum line in the reservoir when the single column manometer not connected to the pipe.
92 Now consider that the manometer is connected to a pipe containing light liquid under a very high
93 pressure. The pressure in the pipe will force the light liquid to push the heavy liquid in the reservoir very
94 small. This downward movement of the heavy liquid, in the reservoir, will cause a considerable rise of the
95 heavy liquid in the right limb.
 96
97 Fig. 3 Vertical single column manometer

98 ℎ1 = height of the center of the pipe above X - X,

99 ℎ2 = rise of heavy liquid (after experiment) in the right limb,

100 𝛿ℎ = fall of heavy liquid level

101 ℎ = pressure in the pipe, expressed in terms of head of water

102 𝐴 = cross-sectional area of the reservoir,

103 𝑎 = cross-sectional area of the tube (right limb),

104 𝑆1 = specific gravity of the light liquid in the pipe, and

105 𝑆2 = specific gravity of the heavy liquid.

106 We know that fall of heavy liquid in reservoir will cause a rise of heavy liquid level in the right limb.
𝑎 × ℎ2
107 𝐴 × 𝛿ℎ = 𝑎 × ℎ2 , or 𝛿ℎ =
𝐴
108 Let us now consider pressure heads above the datum line Z – Z as shown above.

109 Pressure head in the left limb = ℎ + (ℎ1 + 𝛿ℎ)𝑆1

110 Pressure head in the right limb = (ℎ2 + 𝛿ℎ)𝑆2

111 Equating the pressure heads, we get

112 ℎ + (ℎ1 + 𝛿ℎ)𝑆1 = (ℎ2 + 𝛿ℎ)𝑆2 or ℎ = (ℎ2 + 𝛿ℎ)𝑆2 − (ℎ1 + 𝛿ℎ)𝑆1

113 ℎ = 𝛿ℎ(𝑆2 − 𝑆1 ) + 𝑆2 ℎ2 − 𝑆1 ℎ1
114 But,
𝑎 × ℎ2
115 𝛿ℎ =
𝐴
 𝑎 × ℎ2
116 ℎ= (𝑆2 − 𝑆1 ) + 𝑆2 ℎ2 − 𝑆1 ℎ1
𝐴
𝑎
117 When the 𝐴 is very large as compared to 𝑎 , then the ratio 𝐴 becomes very small, and thus is neglected.
118 Then the above equation becomes,

119 ℎ = ℎ2 𝑆2 − ℎ1 𝑆1
120 Inclined single column manometer

121 This type of manometer is useful for the measurement of small pressures and is more sensitive than the
122 vertical tube type. Due to inclination the distance moved by the heavy liquid in the right limb is more.

123
124 Fig. 4 Inclined single column manometer

125 𝑙 = length of the heavy liquid moved in right limb,

126 𝛼 = inclination of right limb with horizontal,

127 ℎ2 = vertical rise of liquid in right limb from X – X = 𝑙 sin 𝛼

128 Putting the value of ℎ2 in the above equation, we get

129 ℎ = 𝑙 sin 𝛼 × 𝑆2 − ℎ1 𝑆1
130 Example 3

131 The figure below shows a single column manometer connected to a pipe containing liquid of specific
132 gravity 0.8. The ratio of area of the reservoir to that of the limb is 100. Find the pressure in the pipe.

133

134 Differential Manometers

135 A differential manometer is used to measure the difference in pressures between two points in a pipe,
136 or in two different pipes. In its simplest form a differential manometer consists of a U-tube, containing a
137 heavy liquid, whose two ends are connected to the points, whose difference of pressures is required to
138 be found out. The following are the most commonly used types of differential manometers:

139 i. U-tube differential manometer

140 ii. Inverted U-tube differential manometer
141 U-tube differential manometer
142 Case 1: Fig. 5 shows a differential manometer whose two ends are connected with two different points
143 A and B at the same level and containing same liquid.

144
145 Fig. 5 Two pipes at same level

146 ℎ = difference of mercury level (heavy liquid) in the U-tube,

147 ℎ1 = distance of the center of 𝐴, from the mercury level in the right limb,

148 𝑆1 (= 𝑆2 ) = specific gravity of liquid at the two points 𝐴 and 𝐵,

149 𝑆 = specific gravity of heavy liquid or mercury in the U-tube,

150 ℎ𝐴 = pressure head at 𝐴,

151 ℎ𝐵 = pressure head at 𝐵,

152 We know that the pressures in the left lime and right limb, above the datum line, are equal.

153 Pressure head in the left limb

154 = ℎ𝐴 + (ℎ1 + ℎ)𝑆1

155 Pressure head in the right limb

156 = ℎ𝐵 + ℎ1 × 𝑆1 + ℎ × 𝑆
157 Equating

158 ℎ𝐴 + (ℎ1 + ℎ)𝑆1 = ℎ𝐵 + ℎ1 𝑆1 + ℎ𝑆

159 Or

160 ℎ𝐴 − ℎ𝐵 = ℎ1 𝑆1 + ℎ𝑆 − (ℎ1 + ℎ)𝑆1

161 Or

162 ℎ𝐴 − ℎ𝐵 = ℎ1 𝑆1 + ℎ𝑆 − 𝑆1 ℎ1 − 𝑆1 ℎ
163 i.e., difference of pressure head,

164 ℎ𝐴 − ℎ𝐵 = ℎ(𝑆 − 𝑆1 )
165 Case 2:

166 Fig. 6 below shows a differential manometer whose two ends are connected to two different points 𝐴
167 and 𝐵 at different levels and containing different liquids.

168
169 Fig. 6 Two pipe at different level, carrying different fluids.

170 ℎ = difference of mercury level (heavy liquid) in the U-tube,

171 ℎ1 = distance of the center of 𝐴, from the mercury level in the right limb,

172 ℎ2 = distance of the center of 𝐵, from the mercury level in the right limb,

173 𝑆1 = specific gravity of liquid in pipe 𝐴,

174 𝑆2 = specific gravity of liquid in pipe 𝐵,

175 𝑆 = specific gravity of heavy liquid or mercury,

176 ℎ𝐴 = pressure head at 𝐴, and

177 ℎ𝐵 = pressure head at 𝐵.

178 Considering the pressure heads above the datum line X – X, we get

179 Pressure head in the left limb.

180 = ℎ𝐴 + (ℎ1 + ℎ)𝑆1

181 Pressure head in the right limb

182 = ℎ𝐵 + ℎ2 𝑆2 + ℎ𝑆
183 Equating the above pressure heads, we get

184 ℎ𝐴 + (ℎ1 + ℎ)𝑆1 = ℎ𝐵 + ℎ2 𝑆2 + ℎ𝑆

185 ℎ𝐴 − ℎ𝐵 = ℎ2 𝑆2 + ℎ𝑆 − (ℎ1 + ℎ)𝑆1
186 i.e., difference of pressure head at 𝐴 and 𝐵

187 ℎ𝐴 − ℎ𝐵 = ℎ(𝑆 − 𝑆1 ) + ℎ2 𝑆2 − ℎ1 𝑆1
188

189 Example 4

190 A differential manometer connected to the two points A and B in a pipe containing an oil of specific gravity
191 of 0.9, shows a difference in mercury levels as 150 mm. Find the difference in pressures at the two points.

192 Example 5

193 The figure below shows U-tube differential manometer connecting two pressure pipes at A and B. The
194 pipe A contains a liquid of specific gravity 1.6 under a pressure of 110kN/m2. The pipe B contains oil of
195 specific gravity 0.8 under a pressure of 200kN/m2. Find the difference of pressure measured by mercury
196 as fluid filling U-tube.

197
198

199 Home work

200 Do the same for “inverted U-tube differential manometer”

201 List seven advantages and five limitations of manometers.