ESET-221-Topic C P1

Topic C
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
Numeric designations of figures, tables, equations, and text material are in reference to
APPLIED FLUID MECHANICS, 6th Edition, by Robert L. Mott.
Textbook Material: Chapter 3
C-1 ABSOLUTE PRESSURE AND GAGE PRESSURE
The lowest possible pressure is a perfect vacuum; this is the reference point for
measuring the absolute pressure p abs so that a perfect vacuum has p abs = 0 .
Most pressure-measurement devices however, actually measure the pressure above
(or below) atmospheric pressure p atm ; the pressure measured by such devices is thus
relative to the atmospheric pressure and is called the gage pressure p gage .
p abs = p gage + p atm

(3-2)

p abs : Absolute pressure (Pa(abs), psia)

p gage : Gage pressure (Pa(gage), psig)
p atm : Atmospheric pressure

Standard atmospheric pressure is p atm = 101 kPa(abs) = 14.7 psia

Example C-1-1 (Example Problem 3.2)
Express a pressure of 225 kPa(abs) as a gage pressure if the local atmospheric pressure
is 101 kPa(abs).

Example C-1-2 (Example Problem 3.4)

Express a pressure of 6.2 psig as an absolute pressure assuming standard atmospheric
pressure.

ESET-221-Topic C P2

C-2 CHANGE IN PRESSURE WITH ELEVATION: PASCALS PARADOX

Considering a small cylinder of liquid, within a large static body of liquid, located
between elevations z1 and z 2 (measured from the bottom of the liquid body), the
horizontal forces due to the pressure on the sides of the cylinder, at any elevation,
will always balance out to provide equilibrium, but the vertical forces due to the
pressure at the top and bottom must be different in order to provide equilibrium
since they must balance out with the weight of the cylinder taken into account.

FIGURE 3.5

FIGURE 3.6

The forces at the bottom must exceed the force at the top by an amount equal to the
weight of the cylinder, hence p1 A p 2 A = w = ( )( Adz ) which can be expressed as
the change in pressure p with the change in elevation h , depending on the specific
weight of the liquid, noting that the pressure must increase with increasing depth.
p = .h

(3-3)

p : Change in pressure with elevation (increasing with increasing depth)

: Specific weight of the liquid
h : Change in elevation (or depth)

Equation 3-3 cannot be applied directly to gases because their specific weight is not
constant, increasing with increasing pressure.

ESET-221-Topic C P3

Equation 3-3 applies to liquids regardless of the shape of the container, which may
widen downwards, or upwards, resulting in a larger, or smaller, section at the bottom
of the container that must support the full height of the liquid above; this observation
is called Pascals paradox, which is explained by the fact that fluid pressure on
horizontal and inclined walls of containers results in forces having vertical
components that act opposite to, or in the same direction as, the weight of the liquid.

FIGURE 3.7

Example C-2-1 (Example Problem 3.6)

Calculate the change in water pressure from the surface to a depth of 15 ft assuming
a specific weight of 62.4 lb/ft.

ESET-221-Topic C P4

C-3 MANOMETERS
The simplest device that measures pressure is the basic U-tube manometer, which
consists of a U-shaped tube containing a gage fluid (liquid), such as water or mercury,
that does not mix or interact with the fluid whose pressure is being measured; the first
end of the manometer is connected to the pressure source, shown at A, whose pressure
is to be measured, while the second end is left open to the atmosphere, so that the
pressure at A, which can be higher or lower than atmospheric pressure, will cause a
difference between the levels of the gage fluid in the two branches of the manometer.

FIGURE 3.9(b)

By applying Equation 3-3 in steps, starting from the known atmospheric pressure and
ending at the pressure source A, the pressure at A is determined; the pressure increases
with increasing depth (going down) and decreases with decreasing depth (going up).
Another type of manometer is the differential manometer, where the second end is
connected to a second pressure source; this is used to determine the pressure
difference between the two sources, but not the actual pressure at each source.
Manometers are limited to measuring relatively low pressures, since high pressures
require an excessively tall manometer, but they can measure vacuums.

ESET-221-Topic C P5

Example C-3-1 (Example Problem 3.8)

For the basic manometer shown, determine the gage pressure at A, assuming the water is
at a temperature of 15C.

FIGURE 3.9(b)

ESET-221-Topic C P6

C-4 PRESSURE GAGES AND TRANSDUCERS

Other types of pressure-measurement devices include the pressure gage, which gives
a visual pressure reading at the location of the pressure source; the most common
pressure gage is the Bourdon tube pressure gage, which uses the elastic deflection of
of a flexible tube to indicate the pressure.

FIGURE 3.15

Another type of pressure-measurement device, called a pressure transducer, is actually

an electronic pressure sensor that sends the measured pressure as an electric signal to a
central location for display or automatic control.
C-5 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
Problem C-5-1: Textbook Practice Problem 3.20
Problem C-5-2: Textbook Practice Problem 3.24
Problem C-5-3: Textbook Practice Problem 3.36
Problem C-5-4: Textbook Practice Problem 3.37 (assume a temperature of 77F)
Problem C-5-5: Textbook Practice Problem 3.62 (assume the water is at 15C)
Problem C-5-6: Textbook Practice Problem 3.63 (assume the water is at 60F)