TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING

PULCHOWK CAMPUS

LABORATORY REPORT

ON

BERNOULLI EQUATION

DATE: AUGUST 26th, 2009

SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:

Brian Campbell Davis Dr. Rajendra Shrestha

065/MSR/502 IOE, ME Department

1
Introduction
The converging-diverging nozzle test apparatus (Figure 1.1) is used to show the
validity of the Bernoulli Equation. It is also used to show the validity of the continuity
equation where the fluid flow is relatively incompressible. The data taken will also show
the presence of fluid energy losses, often attributed to friction and the turbulence and
eddy currents associated with a separation of flow from the conduit walls.

Figure 1.01 – Overall test setup for Bernoulli Equation validation experiment

Figure 1.02 – Test section positioned as “Converging” test section

Figure 1.03 – Test section positioned as “Diverging” test section

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Laboratory Procedure
This is the procedure used for the experiment in this report. The manual for the test
apparatus (Appendix A), may be consulted for further information regarding the
equipment and the procedure.

1. Plug the test apparatus into the mains and close the circuit breakers.
2. Place wood block under the apparatus stand, raising up the right side of the platform
3. Measure the height of the platform at both ends, and the distance between
measurement points.
4. Measure the distance between centerline of the manometers in the array.
5. Position the test section in the converging or diverging direction and record.
6. Open the air bleed valve at the top of the manometers.
7. Turn on the pump and adjust the globe valve to achieve a flow rate that results in all
manometers being in a readable range.
8. Close the air bleed valve at the top of the manometers.
9. Repeat steps 6 to 8 until all manometers are in a readable range.
10. Drop the stop plug into the basin.
11. Record the time for a specific amount of water to accumulate in the basin.
12. Open the stop plug in the basin and let the water drain out.
13. Repeat steps 10 to 12 and additional 3 times, resulting in 4 sets of flow rate data.
14. Move the dynamic pressure probe in line with the first static pressure port.
15. Record the manometer data for the dynamic pressure probe and static pressure port.
16. Move the dynamic pressure probe in line with the next static pressure port.
17. Record the manometer data for the dynamic pressure probe and static pressure port.
18. Repeat steps 16 to 17 until data has been taken inline with each static pressure port.
19. Turn off the pump.
20. Repeat steps 5 to 19 using different flow rates for both the converging and diverging
configuration of the test section. (Minimum two tests for each configuration)
21. Open the circuit breakers and remove the plug from the mains.

3
Experimental Data
During the testing performed, some testing runs did not produce valid data. This is why
the numbering of testing runs is not continuous.

Test # 1

Section Orientation Converging

Static Static + Dynamic

Order in
Port Manometer Manometer
Flow
(mm H20) (mm H20)
Flow Rate Data 1 a 89 69
Volume (L) Time (s) 2 b 74 71
3 35.44 3 c 57 71
3 37.51 4 d 39 66
3 36.99 5 e 11 64
3 38.54 6 f 25 26

Test # 3

Section Orientation Converging

Static Static + Dynamic

Order in
Port Manometer Manometer
Flow
(mm H20) (mm H20)
Flow Rate Data 1 a 125 105
Volume (L) Time (s) 2 b 105 105
3 34.93 3 c 87 105
3 35.96 4 d 70 100
3 36.73 5 e 40 99
3 36.21 6 f 55 65

Test # 4

Section Orientation Converging

Static Static + Dynamic

Order in
Port Manometer Manometer
Flow
(mm H20) (mm H20)
Flow Rate Data 1 a 93 72
Volume (L) Time (s) 2 b 84 72
3 60.20 3 c 75 72
3 61.50 4 d 68 72
3 61.76 5 e 55 70
3 61.76 6 f 56 55

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 Test # 5

Section Orientation Diverging

Static Static + Dynamic

Order in
Port Manometer Manometer
Flow
(mm H20) (mm H20)
Flow Rate Data 1 f 160 158
Volume (L) Time (s) 2 e 43 158
3 28.22 3 d 60 155
3 29.26 4 c 55 135
3 27.97 5 b 92 100
3 28.22 6 a 125 108

Test # 6

Section Orientation Diverging

Static Static + Dynamic

Order in
Port Manometer Manometer
Flow
(mm H20) (mm H20)
Flow Rate Data 1 f 70 66
Volume (L) Time (s) 2 e 35 68
3 43.95 3 d 40 65
3 46.01 4 c 50 66
3 44.98 5 b 45 36
3 45.23 6 a 65 45

5
Theoretical Calculations
The first and most crucial calculation is determining the incline of the apparatus.
This incline not only effects the elevation of fluid flow, but it also tilts the array of
manometers, making a correction calculation necessary to achieve accurate readings for
all pressure head data taken. The three measurements taken were the height of the
platform at both ends (Hi1 and Hi2) and the distance between the two height
measurements (Li). Using the following equations, the incline angle (β) was determined
in degrees and then converted to radians for ease of use.

Equation (1.00)

Hi1 = 3.8 cm
Hi2 = 9.0 cm
Li = 36.5 cm

Figure 1.04 – Angle of incline diagram

The full expression for the Energy Grade Line, or Total Head, is shown below in
the familiar form of the Bernoulli Equation. For each location in the closed conduit, the
summation of the three terms will equal the total head.

Equation (1.01)

Neglecting friction losses, the total head will not change in the conduit, this is the basic
conclusion of the Bernoulli Equation.

Equation (1.02)

The first term, or Static Pressure Head at port x, can be read directly on the array of
manometers for any port location: a, b, c, d, e, f.

Equation (1.03)

The first two terms, or Static and Dynamic Pressure Head, can be read on the manometer
furthest to the right. This reading will be taken from whatever location the dynamic

6
pressure probe is located at. For this experiment, the probe is moved inline with one of
the static pressure ports and the reading is taken.

Equation (1.04)

In order to determine the experimental dynamic pressure head, Equation 1.03 is

subtracted from Equation 1.04.

Equation (1.04)

The above Equation 1.04 is also the governing equation for determining the dynamic
pressure head using a pitot tube, also known as a pitot probe. For determining the
theoretical dynamic pressure head, we use the continuity theorem and the assumption of
incompressible flow to arrive at the following equations for dynamic pressure head.

Equation (1.05)

Equation (1.06)

Due to the incline of the conduit, the elevation head (z) cannot be neglected. In
this case, the difference in elevation is the important figure and the first port is taken as
the datum where z = 0. The remaining five static pressure port locations are all at a
higher elevation than the first port, resulting in the negative sign in the equation. The
difference in elevation can be determined by using the appropriate trigonometric relation
and the angle of incline (β), where lx is the distance between the port and the datum.

Equation (1.07)

For the converging nozzle, the first port is “a” and the remaining ports listed in order are
“b, c, d, e, f”. For the diverging nozzle, the first port is “f” and the remaining ports listed
in order are “e, d, c, b, a”.

Combining the previous equations, we now have a Total Head that can be
calculated from the experimental dynamic pressure head and the theoretical dynamic
pressure head.

Equation (1.08)

Equation (1.09)

7
It is important to note that the difference here in “Experimental” and “Theoretical” only
refers to the derivation of the dynamic pressure head. In the results section, the
experimental dynamic pressure head and the theoretical dynamic pressure head will also
be compared to test the validity of the assumption of incompressibility. Also in the
results section we will be able to qualitatively and quantitatively show the losses in the
total head, due to friction and other minor losses. The modified Bernoulli Equation for
these losses between points 1 and 2 is shown below.

Equation (1.10)

Equation (1.11)

In addition to using trigonometry to determine the change in elevation head, it

must also be used to properly adjust the manometer readings (Figure 1.05). This is
because the manometer array is attached to the same platform as the conduit, and it has
been tilted at the same angle (β). The horizontal position of the manometers for ports “a,
b, c, d, e, f”, and the dynamic probe are not switched when the nozzle is changed from
converging to diverging. The manometer readings are relative to each other, due to this,
the x-y datum, will be the zero of the first manometer (port “a”).

Figure 1.05 – Trigonometric adjustments necessary to determine actual manometer height

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For port “a”, a single adjustment is all that is necessary.

Equation (1.12)

Equation (1.13)

For the other ports, the zero of the manometer is not at the datum, so a modified version
of Equation 1.12 must be used to before the same Equation 1.13 is used to determine the
actual height of the manometer fluid. For a generic port “x”, the following equations
apply where lm is the distance between centerlines of the manometer “x” and the
manometer “a”.

Equation (1.14)

Equation (1.15)

Due to equal spacing, lm can be expressed in the following equation, where “x -1” is the
manometer spaces between the manometer “x” and the datum manometer of port a.

Equation (1.16)

Furthermore, the static + dynamic pressure head manometer is always the furthest from
the datum manometer of port “a”, giving the following equation.

Equation (1.17)

Using this system of equations, the manometer readings taken during the experiment can
be converted into the actual fluid heights that they represent.

9
Results & Conclusion
Test 1: Converging Nozzle

110.00

100.00

90.00

80.00
Head (mm)

Exp Total
Theo Total
70.00
Contant EGL
Static + Elev
60.00

50.00

40.00

30.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Port Number

Figure 1.06 – Test 1: Head vs. Port Number for converging section and flow rate = 4.85 L/min

Test 3: Converging Nozzle

150.00

140.00

130.00

120.00

110.00
Head (mm)

Experimental
Theoretical
100.00
Contant EGL
Static + Elev
90.00

80.00

70.00

60.00

50.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Port Number

Figure 1.07 – Test 3: Head vs. Port Number for converging section and flow rate = 5.01 L/min

10
 Test 4: Converging Nozzle

110.00

105.00

100.00

95.00
Head (mm)

Experimental
Theoretical
Contant EGL
90.00 Static + Elev

85.00

80.00

75.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Port Number

Figure 1.08 – Test 4: Head vs. Port Number for converging section and flow rate = 2.94 L/min

Test 5: Diverging Nozzle

210.00

190.00

170.00

150.00
Head (mm)

Experimental
Theoretical
130.00
Contant EGL
Static + Elev
110.00

90.00

70.00

50.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Port Number

Figure 1.09 – Test 5: Head vs. Port Number for diverging section and flow rate = 6.33 L/min

11
 Test 6: Diverging Nozzle

110.00

100.00

90.00

80.00
Head (mm)

Experimental
Theoretical
Contant EGL
70.00 Static + Elev

60.00

50.00

40.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Port Number

Figure 1.10 – Test 6: Head vs. Port Number for diverging section and flow rate = 4.00 L/min

Test 1: Converging Nozzle

110.00

100.00

90.00

80.00
Head (mm)

Exp Total
Theo Total
70.00
Contant EGL
Static + Elev
60.00

50.00

40.00

30.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Port Location (mm)

Figure 1.11 – Test 1: Head vs. Port Location for converging section and flow rate = 4.85 L/min

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 Test 3: Converging Nozzle

150.00

140.00

130.00

120.00
Head (mm)

110.00 Experimental
Theoretical
Contant EGL
100.00 Static + Elev

90.00

80.00

70.00

60.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Port Location (mm)

Figure 1.12 – Test 3: Head vs. Port Location for converging section and flow rate = 5.01 L/min

Test 4: Converging Nozzle

110.00

105.00

100.00

95.00
Head (mm)

Experimental
Theoretical
Contant EGL
90.00 Static + Elev

85.00

80.00

75.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Port Location (mm)

Figure 1.13 – Test 4: Head vs. Port Location for converging section and flow rate = 2.94 L/min

13
 Test 5: Diverging Nozzle

200.00

180.00

160.00

140.00
Head (mm)

Experimental
Theoretical
Contant EGL
120.00 Static + Elev

100.00

80.00

60.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Port Location (mm)

Figure 1.14 – Test 5: Head vs. Port Location for diverging section and flow rate = 6.33 L/min

Test 6: Diverging Nozzle

110.00

100.00

90.00
Head (mm)

Experimental
Theoretical
80.00
Contant EGL
Static + Elev

70.00

60.00

50.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Port Location (mm)

Figure 1.15 – Test 6: Head vs. Port Location for diverging section and flow rate = 4.00 L/min

Due to the flexible nature of the dynamic probe, in some place it was pushed to
the edge of the conduit, giving falsely low data. For both converging and diverging
configurations, test point 1 is inaccurate due to this issue. For diverging configuration

14
only, test point 5 is inaccurate due to this issue. For analyzing the fluid flow, the other
data points will be considered.

All three of the converging nozzle tests show good correlation between the
Experimental Total Head and the Theoretical Total Head. The overall generally flat
slope of the data points in the converging section shows a low frictional head loss there.
While there are not multiple data points in the diverging section for this configuration, it
still can be seen that most of the head loss is in the diverging section. Specifically, most
of the losses are between ports “e” and “f” (ordered 5 and 6), which shows that the larger
loss is experienced in the expansion portion of the conduit.

The two diverging nozzle tests do not show as good a correlation between the
Experimental Total Head and the Theoretical Total Head. The Experimental Total Head,
which is taken from the moving pressure probe, is similar to data taken in the converging
nozzle tests. It is the data from the static pressure ports, which result in the Theoretical
Total Head, which are too low. It is concluded that during the expansion, there is
separation of flow causing a reduction in flow cross sectional area and an increase in
velocity and dynamic head. This increase in dynamic head explains why the theoretical
dynamic head is less, resulting in a lower Theoretical Total Head than the Experimental
Total Head.

In the converging configuration, while the expansion is steeper, the diverging

configuration shows that even when the expansion is more gradual than the contraction,
the expansion causes most of the losses in the conduit. This is shown directly in the
diverging configuration charts that plot the total head vs. x-distance in mm.

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Appendix A: Lab Apparatus Manual

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