University of Zakho

College of Engineering
Mechanical department
2nd stage 3rd semester

Fluid Mechanics Lab

Experiment No. (1&2)
“PRESSUER MEASERMENT”

Name: Hussein S. Badal

Date of experiment: 30-Jan-2022
Date of submitted lab report: 6-Feb-2022
 Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................3
PURPOSE.......................................................................................................................4
APPARATUS.................................................................................................................4
THEORY........................................................................................................................5
Absolute, gauge and differential pressures - zero reference...........................................6
Experimental procedure I...............................................................................................6
I. U-Tube Manometer..................................................................................................6
II. Manometer with Inclined Tube................................................................................7
Calculation I...................................................................................................................7
Result I............................................................................................................................8
Experimental procedure II..............................................................................................9
Calculation II..................................................................................................................9
Result II........................................................................................................................10
Discussion.....................................................................................................................11

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 Introduction

Many techniques have been developed for the measurement of pressure and vacuum.
Instruments used to measure pressure are called pressure gauges or vacuum gauges. A
manometer could also be referring to a pressure measuring instrument, usually limited to
measuring pressures near to atmospheric. The term manometer is often used to refer
specifically to liquid column hydrostatic instruments. A vacuum gauge is used to measure
the pressure in a vacuum which is further divided into two subcategories: high and low
vacuum (and sometimes ultra-high vacuum). The applicable pressure range of many of the
techniques used to measure vacuums have an overlap. Hence, by combining several
different types of gauges, it is possible to measure system
pressure continuously from 10 mbar down to 10−11 mbar.

The
construction of a bourdon tube gauge,
construction elements are made of brass

3
 PURPOSE

− Familiarization with 2 different measuring methods:

• the direct method with U-tube manometer and inclined tube manometer.
• the indirect method with Bourdon tube pressure gauge.
− Principle of a Bourdon tube pressure gauge.
− Calibrating of pressure gauge.

APPARATUS

1. Vertical U-tube manometer.

2. Inclined manometer.
3. Bourdon gauge for measuring positive pressure.
4. Vacuum gage for measuring negative pressure.
5. Manual air pump instrument for pressurizing air into
the measurement devices

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 THEORY

The manometer is used widely because is a simple instrument that indicates the
pressure difference by balancing the measurable length of the fluid column against the
pressure difference. Pressures are often expressed in units such as (inches of mercury,
inches of water, or millimeters of mercury) …The second instrument of measuring
pressure is the Bourdon-Tube pressure gauge measures the gauge pressure. It
consists of an elastic metal tube, having an elliptical cross-section.
The tube is bending in the circular shape and connected by a link to a geared sector. A
pointer is fixed to the pinion and the movement of the tip is communicated to the
pointer. The pointer moves on the scale so it is indicating the pressure in kPa or
kN/m². The instruments used to measure pressure are called pressure gauges or
vacuum gauges. The term manometer is often used to refer specifically to liquid
column hydrostatic instruments. A vacuum gauge is used to measure the pressure in a
Vacuum which is further divided into two subcategories: high and low vacuum.

Absolute, gauge and differential pressures - zero reference

Although no pressure is an absolute quantity, everyday pressure measurements, such as

for tire pressure, are usually made relative to ambient air pressure. In other cases,
measurements are made relative to a vacuum or to some other ad hoc reference. When
distinguishing between these zero references, the following terms are used:
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 i. Absolute pressure is zero referenced against a perfect vacuum, so it is equal to
gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure.
ii. Gauge pressure is zero referenced against ambient air pressure, so it is equal to
absolute pressure minus atmospheric pressure. Negative signs are usually omitted.
iii. Differential pressure is the difference in pressure between two points.

Experimental procedure I

We must conduct the following to determine the difference in pressure measurements

between the manometer and the Bourdon tube pressure gauge:

I. U-Tube Manometer
a. Connect apparatus well before taking readings
b. Be sure that apparatus in a steady state to get accurate readings.
c. Fill the syringe with air and push it in close with the opening beside the tube
to control the pressure inside the tube.
d. Be sure that the fluid has been stable inside the tube.
e. Subject tube into pressure from the open end of the tube
f. Record readings of pressure difference (h1 and h2) by indicators fixed on the
tube.

II. Manometer with Inclined Tube

a. Follow the same procedures as with the U-tube manometer (steps a-e).
b. Angle (Ө=54) on the tube can be used to obtain readings.

The water column height within the tube is given by h = X Sin Ө, where X is the inclined
tube's height.

This H is h, and we can apply it directly in the formula below: 

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 𝛥𝑃= 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ

Where ρ is the density of the fluid (1000 kg/m3) and g is the gravitational acceleration
(m/s2).

Calculation I
U-tube manometer

1. 𝛥p = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ = 1000*9.81*(h2-h1) = 9810*(228-144) = 824.04 kPa

2. 𝛥p = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ = 1000*9.81*(h2-h1) = 9810*(297-90) = 2030.67 kPa
3. 𝛥p = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ = 1000*9.81*(h2-h1) = 9810*(350-10) = 3335.40 kPa

Inclined manometer

1. 𝛥p = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ = 1000*9.81*((x sin 54) -h1) = 9810*(189*sin54 -65) = 933.71 kPa

2. 𝛥p = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ = 1000*9.81*((x sin 54) -h1) = 9810*(210*sin54-50) = 1176.12 kPa
3. 𝛥p = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ = 1000*9.81*((x sin 54) -h1) = 9810*(239*sin54-22) = 1680.94 kPa

Result I

Type of Run h1 h2 𝛥ℎ= h2-h1 𝛥p = 𝜌𝑔𝛥ℎ

manometer mm H2O mm H2O mm H2O Pa (N∕m2)
U-tube 1 144 228 84 824.04 kPa
manometer

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 2 90 297 207 2030.67 kPa

3 10 350 340 3335.40 kPa

Inclined 1 65 h2=198*sin54 95.18 933.71 kPa

manometer =160.18

2 50 h2=210*sin54 119.89 1176.12 kPa

=169.89

3 22 h2=239*sin54 171.35 1680.94 kPa

=193.35

1800

1600

1400
inclined manometre

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0
500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
U-tube manometer

Experimental procedure II

The indicators take direct readings from the Bourdon tube pressure gauge and
calibrate them with the cylinder pressure caused by the weight effect.
F
P=
A
F= m*g

Where:

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P is pressure, F is the force, A is the cross-sectional area of the cylinder, m is mass
and g is the gravitational force.

Calculation II

F
P= & F = m*g & area of cylinder is 315 mm2 = 315*10-6 m2.
A

F kN
Mass Force = m*g “kN” Cylinder Pressure = A “ 2 ”
m

0.01962 kN
2” kg =2*9.81=0.0196 kN = −6 = 62.28 2
315∗10 m

0.0245 kN
2.5 kg 2.5*9.81=0.0245 kN = −6 = 77.85
315∗10 m2

0.0343 kN
3.5 kg =3.5*9.81=0.0343 kN = −6 = 108.8 2
315∗10 m

0.01962 kN
4.5 kg =4.5*9.81=0.01962 kN = −6 = 140.14 2
315∗10 m

Result II

Mass kN kN
Cylinder pressure “ ” Bourdon pressure “ ”
“kg” m2 m2
kN kN
2 kg 62.28 62
m2 m2

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 kN kN
2.5 kg 77.85 2 74 2
m m
kN kN
3.5 kg 108.8 2 88 2
m m
kN kN
4.5 kg 140.14 2 110 2
m m

120

100
Cylinder pressure 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚^2

80

60

40

20

0
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150
Bourdon pressure 𝑘𝑁⁄𝑚^2

Error are our wrong reading and the bourdon device problem “like there is some oil
and water inside the cylinder and bourdon device”.

Discussion

1. Inclined manometer is preferred over U tube manometer in case where more

sensitivity is required. Inclined manometer are more sensitive than U tube
manometer. So, in case where range is low but high sensitivity is required we use
inclined manometer.
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2.
a. Density - The manometric fluid and the fluid should be immiscible (whose
pressure difference is to be measured). As a result, the manometric fluid should
be denser.
b. Vapor pressure - To measure pressure, a fluid with an extremely low vapor
pressure is required.
c. Thermal coefficient - The manometric fluid should not expand or contract as
the temperature changes. If this occurs, the recorded values will be inaccurate.
As a result, the manometric should have a low thermal coefficient.
3. Error of bourdon type gauge are our wrong reading and the device was old, and
error of the manometer is again our wrong reading.
4. Mercury has high density and low length make it perfect for measuring pressure.
Its high density helps to make small manometers.
5. The difference are manometer have high tube like U-tube and inclined manometer
we give it pressure and that help us to change in high of tube and we can read our
pressure and Bourdon gauge it have cylinder that we force on it and give pressure

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