Engineering 370A

Fluids Mechanics
Lab Report #2:
Bernoulli’s Equation

Dário da Silva
Section #1
Date of Lab: September 10, 2018
Data of submission: September 24, 2018
Instructor: Gaurav Lamichhane
 Table of Content

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………....3
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Objective…………………………………………………………………………………………..5
Theory…………………………………………………………………………….……………….5
Apparatus………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Procedure………………………………………………………………………………………….8
Results……………………………………………………………………………………………..9
Discussions ……………………………………………………………………………………...10
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….…………………
References………………………...…………………………………….………………………..

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 Abstract
The goal of the experiment is to investigate if the Bernoulli’s equation is valid when
applied to a steady flow of water inside a tube with different diameters, and to measure and
compare the flow rates of steady flow rates. The Bernoulli’s equation establishes a relation
between pressure, velocity, elevation in a fluid in movement, and the compressibility and
viscosity, (Bernoulli’s theorem 2018).” The experiment performed using the Bernoulli’s
Apparatus was also used to find the time it takes to collect 5L and 15L of water, the pressure
difference at the tubes and, the volumetric flow rates of water. To obtain the necessary readings
from the apparatus for the calculations, water was pumped through a hose connected to the
machine. As the water rises through the tubes, the flow rates have to be adjusted using regulator
valves to prevent an over of an underflow. The idea is that “the reading of each manometer tubes
increases when the pressure difference increases, (Bernoulli’s theorem 2018).” With the
nanometers readings we can apply the Bernoulli’s equations to find velocity of the fluid as it
moves. As we work with tubes and flows, 2 components have to be introduced, static and
stagnation pressures. The concepts and explanations of the two components will be given as part
of the Bernoulli’s theorem. This theorem explains that the relation between the increase and
decrease of pressure is inversely proportional to the velocity. We can see that as the fluid flows
faster through the narrow section of the tube, there is a decrease of pressure, proving the validity
of the equation.

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 Introduction
Bernoulli's Principle is a physical principle formulated that states that "as the speed of
a moving fluid increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases. It got its name from Dr. Daniel
Bernoulli’s, a Swiss scientist. Dr. Bernoulli’s theory states that on a flow of a fluid with 0
viscosity, an increase in the speed of the fluid is proportional with the decrease in pressure. This
principle is derived from the principle of conservation of energy. The principle explains that as a
fluid passes through a pipe with varying diameters, the velocity and pressure of the fluid
changes. As the speed of the fluid increases, the pressure decreases (for the narrow section of the
tube), and it increases at the wider sections. As a fluid moves from a wider pipe into a narrower
pipe or a constriction, a corresponding volume must move a greater distance forward in the
narrower pipe and thus have a greater speed, (Bernoulli’s Principle 2018). To obtain the desires
results, static and stagnation pressures need to be introduced. Static pressure is the pressure
exerted on the body when it remains at rest, and stagnation pressure is the pressure at the
stagnation point in a fluid flow. The two expressions can correlate: Stagnation pressure = static
pressure + dynamic pressure, (Bernoulli’s Principle 2018). Unfortunately, the Bernoulli’s
principle can only be applied if the fluid is frictionless, if the density is constant, if the flow is
steady, continuous, incompressible, and non-viscous. The data and calculations, from the
following sections will be used to validate the Bernoulli’s equation.

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 Objective

1. To investigate the validity of the Bernoulli equation when applied to the steady flow of water
in a horizontal duct.
2. To determinate if the summation of pressure head and velocity head is constant at several
locations on the tube.
3. To find the time taken to collect 5L and 15L of water, the volumetric flow rates of the water,
the pressure difference at all manometer tube, velocity, dynamic head and also the total head
4. To determine a steady, continuous, incompressible, non-viscous fluid flow, the total energy or
total head remains constant at all the section along the fluid flow provided there is no loss or
addition of energy.
Theory

Figure 1

The previous picture (fig 1) shows the instrument used that the Bernoulli’s theorem is
applicable to a tapered tube with steady flow. As we can see from the image, the instrument is
composed of a series of tubes. The vertical ones are used for the readings of change in height due

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to pressure change, and the horizontal one, called Venturi tube (fig 2) is a tube divided in 3
sections; the extreme parts with a larger diameter and the middle one with a smaller diameter.
The pipe has a series of wall tapings that allows measurement of the static pressure
distribution along the converging duct, while a total head tube is provided to traverse along the
center line of the test section. All the elements of the device are connected using pipes. Wall
pressure tapings (vertical tubes) are placed on top of the horizontal tube to measure the static
pressure distribution. The reading of the manometer from A to F shows the pressure head and
manometer H shows the static head. The valves on the device are used to control the pressure
rate in the tubes.

Fig 2

After the experiment, the obtained readings were used for further calculations, and some
of the derivations used to obtain the formulas used are:
Reminding that Bernoulli equation is derived under the following assumptions:
 The liquid is incompressible. (density is constant);
 Along a stream line
 The liquid is non-viscous.
 The flow is steady, and the velocity of the liquid is less than the critical velocity
for the liquid.
 There is no loss of energy due to friction.

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 For our experiment we considered z=0 because the center line of the cross sections lies
on the same horizontal plane.

Apparatus
To complete the demonstration of Bernoulli’s theorem, several apparatuses are needed: 
 Pad of Manometer tubes 
 Venturi tube 
 Water
 Water inlet
 Pump and Pump switch

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  Stopwatch 
 Water hosts and tubes 
 Volumetric tank
 Water tank equipped with valves
 Control Valve
 Measuring tube
 Discharge valve
Procedures
All the procedures listed were obtained from the Fluid mechanics lab manual provided by the
instructor, (ENGR370 2018):
1- Measure the interior diameter and compute the cross-section Area of the test section at
each of the pressure tap locations.
2- Measure the distance from the upstream end of the test section to each of the pressure tap
locations.
3- With the bench control valve and outlet control valve closed, start the pump. If needed,
bleed any air from the interior of the manometers.
4- Very gradually open both valves and adjust them such that the fluid level in each of the
manometers can be clearly read using the permanent scale.
5- Determine the flowrate by closing the ball valve in the volumetric tank and measuring the
time required to accumulate a known volume of fluid in the tank. Use digital timer for the
measures.
6- With the stagnation probe retracted, but not completely withdrawn, from the test section,
record the fluid level in each of the first five test section manometers. Each manometer
measures static pressure head at its tapping point, and the corresponding scale is in mm of
water.
7- Traverse the stagnation probe along the length of the test section, and at each tap, record
the level in the associated manometer, or the stagnation pressure head. The stagnation
head represents total energy head since the fluid velocity at the stagnation point is 0
8- Repeat steps 4 to 6 at least on additional flowrate.

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 Results

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 From the graphs we can see that total energy head tends to drop alongside
with the stagnation pressure head. Also, because the values of stagnation pressure
head remain constant for both experiments, the dots on the graph form a horizontal
line. We can also observe some exaggerations for the static and total energy head,
due to calculations or data interpretation mistakes. If we look closely to both
graphs we can also see a difference in the slope. This is simply because the second
graph (Head vs Distance (Fast)) presented bigger values for the calculations.

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 Discussion
From the result, it is been observed that when the pressure difference increase, the flow
rates of the water increase consequently, the velocities also increase for both laminar and
turbulent flow. As fluid flows from a wider pipe to a narrower one, the velocity of the flowing
fluid increases. This can be seen in all the tables, where the velocity of water that flows in the
tapered duct increases as the duct area decreases, regardless of the pressure difference of each
result taken. We can also see that the velocity of the water decreases as the water flow rate
decrease. Those results can also be found on the Laminar and turbulent flows tables. The results
also show that the diameter of tube influence on the water velocity. Despite the optimist results,
some sources of errors are inevitable. One error is on the reading of the time it takes to obtain the
5L and the 15L. The timer was started before the water started rising. The water took time to rise
because one of the valves was not functioning correctly, so there was a necessity to bleed the
tube. Another error is that the observer did not read the level of manometer properly, because it
was constantly moving. Consequently, some static pressure head readings are not as accurate as
they could.

Conclusion
Therefore, it can be concluded that the Bernoulli’s equation is valid when applied to
steady flow of water in tapered duct and absolute velocity values increase along the same
channel. Although the experiment proof that the Bernoulli’s equation is valid for both flows, the
values obtained might be slightly different from the actual values due to the errors. From the
experiment we can see that the fluid velocity increases as the fluid flows from a wider to a
narrow section of the tube. Increasing the flow rate will cause an increase of the velocity at any
point causing the pressure drop. A few recommendations to avoid future mistakes can be; having
the eyes parallel to the water meniscus when reading the manometers. Also, pay close attention
to the to the rising of water volume to avoid timing errors.

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 References
1. Bernoulli’s Theorem Demonstration, , Date accessed at 19 September 2018
from http://www.solution.com.my/pdf/FM24(A4).pdf  7.

2. Bernoulli Principle ,Date accessed at 19 September 2018

3. Nicklow, John. “ENGR 370 Laboratory Manual.” United States, 3 Nov. 2010.

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