VERIFICATION OF BERNOULLI’S THEOREM
Description of the Equipment:
The Bernoulli’s theorem demonstration is mainly composed of a circular section
conduit with the shape of a truncated cone, transparent and with seven pressure taps, at seven
horizontal locations along the conduit, that are able to measure, simultaneously, the static
pressure at each of the seven sections. There is a Pitot tube at the centre of the conduit, whose
horizontal location can be adjusted to match the location of the static pressure taps for
measuring the dynamic pressure head at each of these seven sections. The flow rate in the
equipment can be modified by adjusting the control valve and by using the supply valve in
the hydraulic bench.
No return,
Purge valves Manometers
Pitot Tube CCV Valve CV Valve
Theoretical Basis:
Bernoulli’s Equation:
Between two different sections 1 and 2 of the conduit, where 1 is upstream and 2 is
downstream, in the absence of frictional losses, Bernoulli equation can be written as,
(1)
where, in this equipment, ;
Where P are the pressures, V the velocities, gamma = rho g, the specific weight, with
rho being the density and g the acceleration due to gravity. We would like to demonstrate
that in the given pipe with two sections, 1 and 2, the energy between the sections is constant,
in the absence of frictional losses. The sum of the three previous terms is constant and so,
Bernoulli’s theorem for the present setup can be written as,
where the total head H is a constant at each section, in the absence of frictional losses.
In the above analysis viscous/frictional losses are neglected. If viscous effects are also
important, the velocity of the fluid decreases and the energy of the system is converted into
heat, an additional head loss term due to friction has to be added to the RHS of (1) as shown
below.
We consider that is the head loss (in m of water column height) due to viscous
effects between the two [Link] this, the modified equation, known as the Steady flow
energy equation is
Filling the Manometric tubes:
In this section, the correct procedure to fill the manometric tubes is explained.
[Link] the flow control valve on the hydraulic bench (CV) and the flow control valve
of the equipment (CCV).
[Link] on the water pump and completely open the CCV valve. Now slowly open the
CV valve. Fill the manometer tubes completely and make sure that there are no air
bubbles in the tubes.
[Link] close the CCV valve and then the CV valve. Make sure the valves are opened or
closed in the mentioned order.
[Link] switch off the water pump.
[Link] the non-return valve or the purge valve.
[Link] slowly open the CCV valve.
[Link], water will drain from the manometer tubes. When the same water level is
observed in all the manometer tubes, close the non-return valve and close the CCV
valve.
Verification of the Bernoulli’s Theorem:
In this section, the experimental procedure to verify the Bernoulli’s theorem is
explained.
1. Open the CV valve. Now turn on the water pump and slowly open the CCV
valve to obtain the required water flow rate (Q) and note down the value of Q
2. Move the Pitot’s tube carefully to the required section.
3. Wait till the water levels in the manometer tubes stabilize.
4. Note the water level (hs) in the manometer tube corresponding to the section
where the Pitot’s tube is positioned.
5. Note the water level ( ) in the manometer connected to the Pitot’s tube.
6. Calculate the water level difference in the tubes.
7. Calculate the flow velocity (V) at the corresponding section.
8. Repeat the above steps at different tube sections and for different flow velocities
and tabulate the values.
9. The values of total head must be approximately equal for different flow rates at
different sections.
Flow Secti Area Velocity Dynamic Sta;c pr Total Head
rate(Q), on (A), (V=Q/A), pressure head (hs) (V2/2g +
num head , of m of water hs),m
ber
water
m
The values of the area at different sections are given in the table below.
Section
Area( 2.1723 0.7934 0.8429 1.3729 1.4034 2.6557 3.7168
Presentation of results:
Plot (a) the variation of static pressure head (hs), and the sum of hs and hpt as a function of
the horizontal distance along the pipe axis on the same plot for different flow rates (one plot
for each flow rate). Show hpt on these plots.
(b) estimate the frictional head loss between the first and the last section for all the flow rates
and plot it as a function of the Reynolds number ( Re=rho V6D6/mu), where V6 and D6 are
the velocity and diameter at S6)
Answer the following.
Questions
1. Which pressure head, among the static and the dynamic pressures heads, is larger in
your experiments? Why is this so? Is the opposite case from what you observe
possible? When will both pressure heads be equal?
2. How should hpT relate to the dynamic pressure head?
3. Is the sum of static and dynamic pressure head constant? If not why?
4. From your variation of static pressure head along the pipe, comment on whether flow
can occur from a region of lower static pressure to a region of higher static pressure.
If yes, why? If no, why not?
5. How does the frictional head loss depend on the Reynolds number.?