Static Pressure vs.

Head in Fluids
Static pressure and pressure head in fluids
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Pressure indicates the normal force per unit area at a given point acting on a given plane.
Since there is no shearing stresses present in a fluid at rest - the pressure in a fluid is
independent of direction.

For fluids - liquids or gases - at rest the pressure gradient in the vertical direction depends
only on the specific weight of the fluid.

How pressure changes with elevation in a fluid can be expressed as

Δp = - γ Δh                                             (1)

where

Δp = change in pressure (Pa, psi)

Δh = change in height (m, in)

γ = specific weight of fluid (N/m3, lb/ft3)

The pressure gradient in vertical direction is negative - the pressure decrease upwards.

Specific Weight
Specific Weight of a fluid can be expressed as:

γ = ρ g                                               (2)

where

ρ = density of fluid (kg/m3, slugs/ft3)

g  = acceleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2, 32.174 ft/s2)

In general the specific weight - γ - is constant for fluids. For gases the specific weight - γ -
varies with elevation (and compression).

The pressure exerted by a static fluid depends only upon

 the depth of the fluid

 the density of the fluid
 the acceleration of gravity
Static Pressure in a Fluid
For a incompressible fluid - as a liquid - the pressure difference between two elevations can
be expressed as:
Δp = p2 - p1

      = - γ (h2 - h1)                                      (3)

where

p2  = pressure at level 2  (Pa, psi)

p1  = pressure at level 1   (Pa, psi)

h2  = level 2    (m, ft)

h1  = level 1   (m, ft)

(3) can be transformed to:

Δp = p1 - p2

      = γ (h2 - h1)                                       (4)

or

p1  - p2 = γ Δh                                            (5)

where

Δh = h2 - h1 = difference in elevation - the dept down from location h2  to h1  (m, ft)

or

p1  = γ  Δh  + p2                                            (6)

Example - Pressure in a Fluid

The absolute pressure at water depth of 10 m can be calculated as: 

p1  = γ  Δh  + p2

    = (1000 kg/m3) (9.81 m/s2) (10 m) + (101.3 kPa)

    = (98100 kg/ms2 or Pa) + (101300 Pa)

    =  199400 Pa

    =  199.4 kPa

where

ρ = 1000 kg/m3
g = 9.81 m/s2

p2  = pressure at surface level  = atmospheric pressure = 101.3 kPa

The gauge pressure can be calculated by setting p2 = 0

p1  = γ  Δh  + p2

    = (1000 kg/m3) (9.81 m/s2) (10 m)

    =  98100 Pa

    =  98.1 kPa

Pressure vs. Head

(6) can be transformed to:

Δh = (p2 - p1) / γ                                                 (7)

Δh express head - the height difference  of a column of fluid of specific weight - γ - required
to give a pressure difference Δp = p2  - p1.

Example - Pressure vs. Head

A pressure difference of 5 psi (lbf/in2) is equivalent to head in water

(5 lbf/in2) (12 in/ft) (12 in/ft) / (62.4 lb/ft3)

     = 11.6  ft of water

or head in Mercury

(5 lbf/in2) (12 in/ft) (12 in/ft) / (847 lb/ft3)

     = 0.85  ft of mercury

Specific weight of water is 62.4 (lb/ft3) and specific weight of mercury is 847 (lb/ft3).

 Velocity - Dynamic Pressure vs. Head

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Related Topics

 Fluid Mechanics - The study of fluids - liquids and gases. Involves velocity,
pressure, density and temperature as functions of space and time
 Pumps - Piping systems and pumps - centrifugal pumps, displacement pumps -
cavitation, viscosity, head and pressure, power consumption and more
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pressure (psi or bar, kg/cm2) and vice versa
 Darcy-Weisbach Pressure and Major Head Loss Equation - The Darcy-Weisbach
equation can be used to calculate the major pressure or head loss due to friction in
ducts, pipes or tubes
  Head Rise and the Energy Equation - for Pump or Fan - The energy equation can
be used to calculate head rise in pumps or fans
 Hydropower - Water - power potential, head and flow rate
 Hydrostatic Pressure - Depth and hydrostatic pressure
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Head - NPSH
 PE, PEH or PVC Pipes - Pressure Loss Diagram - Pressure drop (bar/100 m) and
velocy in PE, PEH or PVC pipes
 Potential Energy - Hydropower - elevation and potential energy
 Pressure Gradient Diagrams - A pressure gradient diagram is a graphical
presentation of the static pressure throughout a fluid flow system
 Pressure to Head - Unit Converter - Convert between pressure and head units -
like lb/in2, atm, inches mercury, bars, Pa and more ..
 Pump and Fan Efficiency - Overall pump and fan efficiency is the ratio power
actually gained by the fluid to the shaft power supplied
 Pump Suction Head and Altitude - The suction heads of pumps are affected by
altitude
 Pumps in Parallel or Serial - For pumps connected in serial - add head, for pumps
connected in parallel - add flowrates
 System Curve and Pump Performance Curve - Utilize the system curve and the
pump performance curve to select the proper pump for a particular application
 Types of Fans - Capacity Ranges - Centrifugal, axial and propeller fans and their
capacity ranges
 Velocity Pressure Head - Dynamic pressure and velocity head
 Water Pressure and Head - Pressure in pounds per square inch (psi) versus head in
feet of water (fth2o)
Tag Search

 en: pressure head static fluid liquid

 es: presión de carga de líquido fluido estático
 de: Druckkopf statischen Fluidflüssigkeit
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