A simple U tube manometer connected to a pipe in which liquid is flowi...
U-tube manometer and pressure measurement
- In fluid mechanics, a manometer is a device used to measure the pressure of a fluid by comparing it to the pressure of another fluid or a vacuum.
- The U-tube manometer is a simple and commonly used type of manometer. It consists of a U-shaped tube filled with a liquid, usually mercury or water, and connected to the pipe or system where pressure measurement is required.
Types of pressure
- In fluid mechanics, there are three main types of pressure measurements:
a) Absolute pressure: It is the pressure with respect to absolute vacuum. It includes the atmospheric pressure as well as the pressure exerted by the fluid.
b) Vacuum pressure: It is the pressure below atmospheric pressure. It is measured in negative values.
c) Gauge pressure: It is the pressure above atmospheric pressure. It is measured in positive values.
Pressure measurement using U-tube manometer
- When a U-tube manometer is connected to a pipe in which a liquid is flowing with uniform speed, it measures the gauge pressure.
- Gauge pressure is the pressure difference between the fluid in the pipe and the atmosphere.
- The U-tube manometer measures this pressure difference by comparing the height difference of the liquid in the two arms of the U-tube.
- The liquid in the U-tube manometer will rise in one arm and fall in the other arm due to the pressure difference.
Working of U-tube manometer
- When there is a positive gauge pressure in the pipe, the liquid in the U-tube manometer will rise in the arm connected to the pipe and fall in the arm open to the atmosphere.
- The height difference of the liquid columns in the two arms is directly proportional to the gauge pressure in the pipe.
- Similarly, when there is a negative gauge pressure in the pipe (vacuum pressure), the liquid in the U-tube manometer will rise in the arm open to the atmosphere and fall in the arm connected to the pipe.
- Again, the height difference of the liquid columns in the two arms is directly proportional to the absolute value of the vacuum pressure.
Conclusion
- In conclusion, a simple U-tube manometer connected to a pipe in which liquid is flowing with uniform speed will give the gauge pressure.
- The U-tube manometer measures the pressure difference between the fluid in the pipe and the atmosphere, providing a direct indication of the gauge pressure.
- It does not measure the absolute pressure or the vacuum pressure.
A simple U tube manometer connected to a pipe in which liquid is flowi...
Concept:
U tube manometers:
- A U-tube manometer is the simplest pressure measurement device.
- Its name comes from the U-shape formed when the two ends of a flexible tube full of liquid are raised to keep the liquid from coming out the ends.
- A simple U tube manometer connected to a pipe in which liquid is flowing with uniform speed will give Gauge pressure.
Gauge pressure:
Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to atmospheric pressure. Most of the pressure measuring devices are calibrated to read gauge pressure.
- Gauge pressure is positive for pressures above atmospheric pressure.
- Gauge pressure is negative for pressures below atmospheric pressure.
- Gauge pressure is zero at atmospheric pressure.
Atmospheric pressure:
Atmospheric pressure or barometric pressure is the pressure within the atmosphere of Earth. Atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point.
Patm = 1.013 bar.
Absolute pressure:
Absolute pressure is the sum of gauge pressure and atmospheric pressure.
Pabs = Pgauge + Patm .
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