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Intended Learning Outcomes

Ch.E. Applications in
Fluid Statics
Topic 1b

At the end of this topic, you should be able to:

L1.1 Define Fluid Mechanics, differentiate among its
sub branches, and give its connection with related
sciences;
L1.2 Recognize the contribution of prominent
scientists to Fluid Mechanics;
L1.3 Define fluid, viscosity, recall Newtons Law and
differentiate between Newtonian and Non-Newtonian
fluids ;
L1.4 Explain the basic principles and equations related
to Fluid Statics;
L2.1 Apply the equations of Fluid Statics to cases
related to Chemical Engineering.
UST ChE Department

About Fluid Mechanics

(From Wikipedia Sources)
Fluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the
forces on them. (Fluids include liquids, gases,
and plasmas.) Fluid mechanics can be divided
into fluid statics, the study of fluids at
rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in
motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the
effect of forces on fluid motion. It is a branch
of continuum mechanics, a subject which
models matter from a macroscopic viewpoint
rather than from a microscopic viewpoint.

Fluid Statics
The word statics is derived from Greek word
statikos= motionless
For a fluid at rest or moving in such a manner that
there is no relative motion between particles there
are no shearing forces present: Rigid body
approximation
Fluid statics is also known as Hydrostatics or the
scientific study of fluids at rest, especially when
under pressure.
Practical applications of hydrostatics are called
Hydraulics.

UST ChE Department

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Hydraulics vs Hydrostatics

Definition of Pressure
Pressure is defined as the amount of force
exerted on a unit area of a substance:

Fluid Pressure Images

(from Felder)

Force N

Pa
Area m 2

Pascals Laws
Pressure acts uniformly in all directions
on a small volume (point) of a fluid at
rest (isotropic).
In a fluid confined by solid boundaries,
pressure acts perpendicular to the
boundary it is a normal force.

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Direction of Fluid pressure on

Boundaries

Absolute and Gage Pressure

Absolute pressure: The pressure of a fluid is
expressed relative to that of vacuum (zero)

Furnace duct

Pipe or tube
Heat exchanger

Pressure is a Normal Force

(acts perpendicular to surfaces)
It is also called a Surface Force
Dam

Units for Pressure

Unit
1 pascal (Pa)

Definition or
Relationship
1 kg m-1 s-2

1 bar

1 x 105 Pa

1 atmosphere (atm) 101,325 Pa

1 torr

1 / 760 atm

760 mm Hg

1 atm

14.696 pounds per

sq. in. (psi)

1 atm

Gage pressure: Pressure expressed as the difference

between the pressure of the fluid and that of the
surrounding atmosphere (barometric).
Usual pressure gages record gage pressure. To
calculate absolute pressure:

Pabs Patm Pgage

Measurement of Pressure
Mechanical pressure measuring device:
When a pressure acts on an elastic structure it will
deform. This deformation can be related to the
magnitude of the pressure.
Bourdon pressure gage

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Measurement of Pressure

Hydrostatic Pressure

Electronic pressure measuring devices:

Pressure transducers
convert pressure into an
electrical output
Strain-gage pressure
transducers are suitable
for rapid changes in
pressure and cover big
ranges of pressure values

Pressure Distribution for a Fluid at Rest

What are the z-direction forces?

Lets determine the pressure

distribution in a fluid at rest in
which the only body force
acting is due to gravity
The sum of the forces acting
on the fluid must equal zero

Let Pz and Pz+z denote the

pressures at the base and top
of the cube, where the
elevations are z and z+z
respectively.
Since F = PA and W =mg ..

PA z z
z

y
x

mg Azg
PA z

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Pressure distribution for a fluid at rest

Liquids are incompressible i.e. their density is assumed to be

constant:

A force balance in the z direction gives:

Incompressible Fluid

0 PA z PA z z Azg

P2 P1 g ( z2 z1 ) gh

Pz z Pz
g
z

When we have a liquid with a free surface the pressure P at

any depth below the free surface is:

For an infinitesimal element (z0)

Po is the pressure at the

free surface (Po=Patm)

P gh Po

dP
g
dz

By using gage pressures we can simply write:

P Po Pgage gh

Pascals Principle
(The Hydrostatic Paradox)

Buoyancy (Archimedes Principle)

The pressure in a homogeneous, incompressible fluid at rest

depends on the depth of the fluid relative to some reference
plane, and it is not influenced by the size or shape of the tank
or container.

A body immersed in a fluid experiences a vertical buoyant

force equal to the weight of the fluid it displaces
A floating body displaces its own weight in the fluid in
which it floats
Free liquid surface

Fluid is the same in all containers

The upper surface of the

body is subjected to a
smaller force than the lower
surface
A net force is acting
upwards

F1

h1

h2

Pressure is the same at the bottom of all containers

F2

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Buoyant Force (FB)

The net force due to pressure in the vertical
direction is:
FB = F2- F1 = (Pbottom - Ptop) (xy)
The pressure difference is:
Pbottom Ptop = g (h2-h1) = g H
Combining:

Measurement of Pressure
The atmospheric pressure can be
measured with a barometer.

patm gh pvapor
For mercury barometers
atmospheric pressure

FB = g H (xy)
Thus the buoyant force is:
FB = g V

(101.33kPa) corresponds to
h=760 mmHg (= 29.2 in)
If water is used h = 10.33 m
H2O (= 34 ft)

Measurement of Pressure
Manometers are devices in which one or more
columns of a liquid are used to determine the
pressure difference between two points.
U-tube manometer
Inclined-tube manometer

Measurement of Pressure Differences

Apply the basic equation of static
fluids to both legs of manometer,
realizing that P2=P3.

P2 Pa b g ( Z m Rm )
P3 Pb b g ( Z m ) a gRm
Pa Pb gRm ( a b )

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Inclined Manometer

Compressible Fluid

To measure small pressure differences needs to

magnify Rm some way.

Gases are compressible i.e. their density varies with

temperature and pressure : =P M /RT
For small elevation changes (as in engineering
applications, tanks, pipes etc) we can neglect the
effect of elevation on pressure
In the general case start from:
dP
g
dz

for T To const:
For Derivation:

Pa Pb gR1 ( a b ) sin

Compressible Fluid
Linear Temperature Gradient

g M ( z2 z1 )
P2 P1 exp

RTo

Atmospheric Equations
Assume constant

T T0 ( z z0 )
p

dp
gM
p R
p0

dz
T ( z z0 )
z0 0

T ( z z0 )
p ( z ) p0 0

T0

For Derivation!

gM

p ( z ) p0 e

gM ( z z0 )

RT0

Assume linear
T ( z z0 )
p ( z ) p0 0

T0

gM

Temperature variation with altitude

for the U.S. standard atmosphere

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Compressible Isentropic Case

P

P1

constant

T P

T1 P1

Cp
Cv

For Derivation:

1 gM z
P2 P1 1

RT1

Gravity Decanter

1 y

1 gM z
T2 T1 1

RT1

Application: bottom hole conditions in gas wells

Gravity Decanter
Hydrostatic Balance
Z B b Z A1 A Z A 2 A
For Derivation:

Z A2 ZT B
A
Z A1

1 B

When BA interface location is very sensitive to height

of heavy liquid overflow leg. This leg is often has
adjustable height to give the best separation.

Team Problem Set

(Fluid Statics)
From Felder (pages 72 to 75)
Numbers 3.33 to 3.37
Numbers 3.39 to 3.43

From Geankoplis (pages 110-111)

Numbers 2.2.1 to 2.2.8

4 or 5 Compressible Fluid Problems for

research or creation by each Team
member.