PIEZOMETER (Pressure Tube)

PIEZOMETER ( Pressure Tube )
Figure 3.1: Piezometer inside a pipe

A Piezometer is used for measuring pressure inside a vessel or pipe in which liquid is there. A
tube may be attached to the walls of the container (or pipe) in which the liquid resides so that
liquid can rise in the tube. By determining the height to which liquid rises and using the relation
p1 = ρgh, gauge pressure of the liquid can be determined. It is important that the opening of the
device is to be tangential to any fluid motion, otherwise an erroneous reading will result.
Although the Piezometer tube is a very simple and accurate pressure measuring device, it has
several disadvantages. It is only suitable if the pressure in the container (pipe or vessel) is greater
than the atmospheric pressure (otherwise air would be sucked into system), and the pressure to
be measured must be relatively small so that the required height of column is reasonable. Also,
the fluid in the container in which the pressure is to be measured must be a liquid rather than a
gas.
BAROMETERS
Figure 3.2: Mercury Barometer

A Barometer is a device used for measuring atmospheric pressure. A simple Barometer consists
of a tube of more than 30 inch (760 mm) long inserted into an open container of mercury with a
closed and evacuated end at the top and open tube end at the bottom and with mercury extending
from the container up into the tube. Strictly, the space above the liquid cannot be a true vacuum.
It contains mercury vapour at its saturated vapour pressure, but this is extremely small at room
temperatures (e.g. 0.173 Pa at 20oC). The atmospheric pressure is calculated from the relation
patm = ρgh where ρ is the density of fluid in the barometer. There are two types of Barometer;
Mercury Barometer and Aneroid Barometer.
BOURDON GAUGE
Bourdon Gauge is used to measure pressure differences that are more than 1.2 bar. The pressure
to be measured is applied to a curved tube, oval in cross section. Pressure applied to the tube
tends to cause the tube to straighten out, and the deflection of the end of the tube is
communicated through a system of levers to a recording needle. This gauge is widely used for
steam and compressed gases. The pressure indicated is the difference between that
communicated by the system to the external (ambient) pressure, and is usually referred to as the
gauge pressure.
MANOMETERS
The relationship between pressure and head is utilized for pressure measurement in the
manometer or liquid gauge. We can measure comparatively high pressures and negative
pressures with the manometer. The following are a few types of manometers:
a) Simple manometer,
b) Differential manometer and
c) Inverted differential manometer.
SIMPLE MANOMETER
A simple manometer is a tube bent in U-shape. One end of which is attached to the gauge point
and the other is open to the atmosphere as shown in Figure. The liquid used in the bent tube or
simple manometer is generally mercury which is 13.6 times heavier than water. Hence, it is also
suitable for measuring high pressure. Now consider a simple manometer connected to a pipe
containing a light liquid under high pressure. The high pressure in the pipe will force the heavy
liquid, in the left-hand limb of the U-tube, to move downward. This downward movement of the
heavy liquid in the left-hand limb will cause a corresponding rise of the heavy liquid in the right-
hand limb. The horizontal surface, at which the heavy and light liquid meet in the left-hand limb
is known as a common surface or datum line. Let B-C be the datum line, as shown in Figure.
h1 = Height of the light liquid in the left-hand limb above the common surface in cm.
h2 = Height of the heavy liquid in the right-hand limb above the common surface in cm.
A p = Pressure in the pipe, expressed in terms of head of water in cm.
P ω = Specific weight of the light liquid
Q s = Specific gravity of the heavy liquid.
In this case, the negative pressure in the pipe will suck the light liquid which will pull up the
heavy liquid in the left-hand limb of the U-tube. This upward movement of the heavy liquid, in
the left-hand limb will cause a corresponding fall of the liquid in the right-hand limb as shown in
Figure.
DIFFERENTIAL MANOMETER
It is a device used for measuring the difference of pressures, between two points in a pipe, or in
two different pipes. A differential manometer consists of a U-tube, containing a heavy liquid
with two ends connected to two different points. We are required to find the difference of
pressure at these two points, as shown in Figure. A differential manometer is connected to two
different points A and B. A little consideration will show that the greater pressure at A will force
the heavy liquid in the U-tube to move downwards. This downward movement of the heavy
liquid, in the left hand limb, will cause a corresponding rise of the heavy liquid in the right-hand
limb as shown in Figure.
h = Height of the light liquid in the left-hand limb above the datum line.
h1 = Height of the heavy liquid in the right-hand limb above the datum line
h2 = Height of the light liquid in the right-hand limb above the datum line
pA = Pressure in the pipe A, expressed in term of head of the liquid in cm
pB = Pressure in the pipe B, expressed in term of head of the liquid in cm
ωP = Specific weight of the light liquid
ωQ = Specific weight of the heavy liquid
INVERTED DIFFERENTIAL MANOMETER
It is a particular type of differential manometer, in which an inverted U-tube is used. An inverted

differential manometer is used for measuring the difference of low pressure, where accuracy is
the prime consideration. It consists of an inverted U-tube, containing a light liquid. The two ends
of the U-tube are connected to the points where the difference of pressure is to be found out as
shown in Figure. Now consider an inverted differential manometer whose two ends are
connected to two different points A and B. Let us assume that the pressure at point A is more than
that at point B, a greater pressure at A will force the light liquid in the inverted U-tube to move
upwards. This upward movement of liquid in the left limb will cause a corresponding fall of the
light liquid in the right limb as shown in Figure. Let us take C-D as the datum line in this case.
h = Height of the heavy liquid in the left-hand limb below the datum line,
h1= Height of the light liquid in the left-hand limb below the datum line ,
h2= Height of the light liquid in the right-hand limb below the datum line,
ωP= Specific weight of the light liquid
ωQ= Specific weight of the heavy liquid
1. What is the gauge pressure of the water at A if h1 = 0.6 m and the mercury in the right
hand limb, h2 = 0.9 m as shown in the figure below?
2. In the figure below, fluid at A is water and fluid B is mercury (s =13.6). What will be the
difference in level h if the pressure at X is 140 kN/m2 and a =1.5 m?
3. Assuming that the atmospheric pressure is 101.3 kN/m2 find the absolute pressure at A in
the figure below when a) fluid P is water, fluid Q is mercury ω = 13.6, a = 1 m and h =
0.4 m. b) fluid P is oil ω = 0.82, fluid Q is brine ω = 1.10, a = 20 cm and h = 55 cm.
4. In the figure below, fluid P is water and fluid Q is mercury (specific gravity=13.6). If the
pressure difference between A and B is 35 kN/m2, a = 1 m and b = 30 cm, what is the
difference in level h?
5. In the figure below, fluid Q is water and fluid P is oil (specific gravity = 0.9). If h = 69
cm and z = 23 cm, what is the difference in pressure in kN/m2 between A and B?

PIEZOMETER (Pressure Tube)

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PIEZOMETER ( Pressure Tube )

Figure 3.1: Piezometer inside a pipe

Figure 3.2: Mercury Barometer

P ω = Specific weight of the light liquid

Q s = Specific gravity of the heavy liquid.

INVERTED DIFFERENTIAL MANOMETER

It is a particular type of differential manometer, in which an inverted U-tube is used. An inverted

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