2.

3 Absolute and Guage pressure

- Atmospheric pressure,( ) also known as air pressure or barometric pressure (after
the barometer), is the pressure that the atmospheric air exerts on the earth. The
atmospheric pressure at sea level (above absolute zero) is called ‘Standard atmospheric
pressure’. The reference pressure is that of the atmosphere. The atmospheric pressure
is always used as the reference pressure.
Standard atmospheric pressure has the following equivalent values: 101.3 kN/m2 or
101.3 kPa; 10.3 m of water; 760 mm of mercury
- Gage pressure is the pressure measured relative to the ambient atmospheric
pressure. Gauge pressure is the pressure measured by a measuring instrument, it is the
difference between the absolute pressure and the atmospheric pressure. The
atmospheric pressure on the scale is marked as zero.
Gauges record pressure above or below the local atmospheric pressure, since they
measure the difference in pressure of the liquid to which they are connected and that of
surrounding air. If the pressure of the liquid is below the local atmospheric pressure,
then the gauge is designated as ‘vacuum gauge’ and the recorded value indicates the
amount by which the pressure of the liquid is below local atmospheric pressure, i.e.
negative pressure
- Absolute pressure ( )is a pressure that is relative to the zero pressure (vacuum) in
the empty, air-free space of the universe. A pressure of absolute zero can exist only in
complete vacuum. This reference pressure is the ideal or absolute vacuum. (Vacuum
pressure is defined as the pressure below the atmospheric pressure). Thus, any pressure
measured above the absolute zero of pressure is termed as an ‘absolute pressure’

= +

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Problem 2-10

(a) Express 155 kPa (gage) as an absolute pressure. The local atmospheric pressure is 98 kPa.
= +
= 155 + 98 = 253

(b) Express pressure of 225 kPa as gage pressure. The local atmospheric pressure is 101 kPa.
= −
= 225 − 101 = 124
(c) Express pressure of 75.2 kPa as gage pressure. The local atmospheric pressure is 103.4
kPa.
= −
= 75.2 − 103.4 = −28
It can be referred to as

Problem 2-11

On the suction side of a pump a gauge shows a negative pressure of 0.35 bar. Express this
pressure in terms of:

i. Intensity of pressure, kPa,

ii. N/m2 absolute,
iii. Metres of water gauge,
iv. Metres of mercury gauge,

Take atmospheric pressure as 76 cm of Hg and relative density of mercury as 13.6

Solution

i. Intensity of pressure, kPa,

= 0.35 = 0.35 10 /

= 0.35 10 / = 35
ii. N/m2 absolute,
ℎ = 76
76
(13 9810) = 101 396 /
100
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 = ℎ −
= −
= 10101396 − 35000 = 66396 /

iii. Metres of water gauge,

= ℎ
0.35 10
ℎ ( )= = = 3.567 ( )
9810

iv. Metres of mercury gauge

0.35 10
ℎ = = 0.2623
13.6 9810

Problem 2-12

Figure below shows a tank of oil with one side open to the atmosphere and the other side
sealed with air above the oil. The oil has a specific gravity of
0.9. calculate the gage pressure at points A,B, C, D, E and F.
(w = 0.9 9.81 = 8.83 / )

Point A

P = wh

h=0

P =0( )

Point B

P = P + wh = 0 + 8.81 x 3 = 26.49 kN/m ( )

Point C

P = P + wh = 26.49 + 3 8.81 = 53 / ( )

Or

P = wh = 8.81 6 = 53 / ( )

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Point D

P = P 26.49 kN/m ( )

Since point D and B are at the same horizontal level, pressure will be the same

Point E

P =P =0

Since point D and B are at the same horizontal level, pressure will be the same

Point F

P = −wh = −8.83 1.5 = −13.22 /

Air pressure will remain −13.22 / or 13.22 / below atmospheric pressure

Problem 2-13

The inlet to pump is 10.5 m above the bottom of sump from which it draws water through a
suction pipe. If the pressure at the pump inlet is not to fall below 28 kN/m2 absolute, work out
the minimum depth of water in the tank. Assume atmospheric pressure as 100 kPa.

Solution. Given: = 100 kPa = 100 kN/m2; = 28 kN/m2

- Let =be the vacuum (suction) pressure at the pump inlet

- Then
= −
= (1000 − 28) = 72 / 7200 /
- let h be the distance between the pump inlet and free water surface in the sump.

= ℎ

72000 = 9810 ℎ

72000
ℎ= = 7.339
9810

minimum depth of water

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 10.5 − 7.339 = 3.161

2.4 Pressure measurement

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

1. Manometers:

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

- Piezometer,
- U-tube manometer, and
- Single column manometer.

(b) Differential manometers.

2. Mechanical gauges:

These are the devices in which the pressure is measured by balancing the fluid column by
spring (elastic element) or dead weight. Generally, these gauges are used for measuring high
pressure and where high precision is not required. Some commonly used mechanical gauges
are:

- Bourdon tube pressure gauge,

- Diaphragm pressure gauge,
- Bellow pressure gauge, and
- Dead-weight pressure gauge

2.4.1 Simple Manometers

2.4.1.1 Piezometer
A piezometer is the simplest form of manometer which can be used for measuring moderate
pressures of liquids. It consists of a glass tube inserted in the wall of a vessel or of a pipe,
containing liquid whose pressure is to be measured. The tube extends vertically upward to such
a height that liquid can freely rise in it without overflowing. The pressure at any point in the
liquid is indicated by the height of the liquid in the tube above that point, which can be read on

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the scale attached to it. Thus, if w is the specific weight of the liquid, then the pressure at point
A(p) is given.

2.4.1.2 U -tube manometers

Piezometers cannot be employed when large pressures in the lighter liquids are to be measured,
since this would require very long tubes, which cannot be handled conveniently. Furthermore
gas pressures cannot be measured by the piezometers because a gas forms no free atmospheric
surface. These limitations can be overcome by the use of U-tube manometers. A U-tube
manometer consists of a glass tube bent in U-shape, one end of which is connected to a point
at which pressure is to be measured and other end remains open to the atmosphere as shown in
Figure below.

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