COURSEWORK: CONTINUITY AND BERNOULLI’S EQUATION SPRING 2005

Issue date: Tuesday 1 March 2005

Hand-in date: Tuesday 15 March 2005

Question 1 (6 marks)

The critical Reynolds number for laminar-to-turbulent transition in a round pipe is 2300. At
what volumetric flow rate and mass flow rate is this attained in a 6-mm-diameter pipe for:
(a) air;
(b) water?
(You must look up the relevant fluid properties for yourself. Assume a sensible laboratory
temperature.)

Question 2 (10 marks)

Water is being siphoned from a large tank through a pipe of

30 mm h
diameter 30 mm, discharging through a nozzle of diameter
20 mm at a depth 2.5 m below the level of the water in the
tank. Assuming no losses and an atmospheric pressure of
101 kPa, find:
(a) the exit velocity;
(b) the quantity of flow;
2.5 m
(c) the maximum height h of the siphon tube if the
absolute pressure on its centreline is not to fall below
50 kPa. 20 mm

Question 3 (10 marks) 1 2 3

∆z3
Oil (s.g. 0.9) is being pumped at mass flow rate ∆z2
200 kg s–1 through a circular pipe whose diameter is
reduced from 0.4 m to 0.2 m. On the upstream side
of the contraction there is a piezometer and on the
downstream side a piezometer and Pitot tube as
shown. Assuming no losses, find the height
differences z2 and z3.
o
20

Question 4 (4 marks)

A V-notch weir is used to meter the flow of water to a laboratory flume. If the height over the
weir is 40 mm when the volumetric flow rate is 0.45 L s–1, find the volumetric flow rate when
the height over the weir is 80 mm.

Hydraulics 1 Coursework: Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation David Apsley

Answer 1

For a round pipe the Reynolds number is based on average velocity and diameter:
UD 4Q
Re = where U =
D2

Hence,
4Q
Re =
D

Rearranging for Q:
D Re

Q=
4

Here, D = 0.006 m, Re = 2300.

(a) For air, = 1.5×10–5 m2 s–1, = 1.2 kg m–3. Hence,

 

× 0.006 × 1.5 × 10 −5 × 2300



Q= = 1.626 × 10 − 4 m 3 s −1
4
m = Q = 1.2 × 1.626 × 10 −4 = 1.951 × 10 −4 kg s −1


(b) For water, = 1.0×10–6 m2 s–1, = 1000 kg m–3. Hence,

 

× 0.006 × 1.0 × 10 −6 × 2300



Q= = 1.084 × 10 −5 m 3 s −1
4
m = Q = 1000 × 1.084 × 10 −5 = 0.01084 kg s −1


Answers: (a) 0.163 L s–1 and 1.95×10–4 kg s–1; (b) 0.0108 L s–1 and 0.0108 kg s–1

Hydraulics 1 Coursework: Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation David Apsley

Answer 2

(a) Apply Bernoulli’s equation between the free surface of the tank (z = 0) and exit from
nozzle (z = –hexit):
0 + 0 + 0 = 0 − ghexit + 12 U exit
2

Hence,
U exit = 2 ghexit = 2 × 9.81 × 2.5 = 7.004 m s −1

 2
Dexit 

× 0.02 2
(b) Q = U exit × = 7.004 × = 2.200 × 10 −3 m 3 s −1
4 4

(c) First find the velocity in the main pipe:

4Q 4 × 2.200 × 10 −3
U= = = 3.113 m s −1


D 2
× 0.03 2 

Apply Bernoulli’s equation between free surface and the maximum height htop:
0 + 0 + 0 = ptop + ghtop + 12 U 2

− ptop − 12 U 2


htop =
g


The gauge pressure is ptop = 50000 – 101000 = –51000 Pa. Hence,

51000 − 12 × 1000 × 3.113 2
htop = = 4.705 m
1000 × 9.81

Answer: (a) 7.0 m s–1; (b) 2.2×10–3 m3 s–1; (c) 4.7 m

Hydraulics 1 Coursework: Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation David Apsley

Answer 3

The mass flow rate gives u1 and u2:

D2
m = uA = u

4
4m
u =
 2
D
Hence,
4m 4 × 200
u1 =
 2 = = 1.768 m s −1
D1 900 ×  × 0.4 2
4m 4 × 200
u 2 =
 2 = = 7.074 m s −1
D2 900 ×  × 0.2 2

Several methods can be used to find the height differences. They are all equivalent ... but
some are easier than others!

Consider the streamline which leads to the front of the Pitot tube. Let z1, z2, z3 be the heights
of the streamline and h1, h2, h3 be the actual water levels in the three tubes.

Method 1

Apply Bernoulli’s equation along the streamline:

p1 +
gz1 + 12
u12 = p 2 +
gz 2 + 12
u 22 = p3 +
gz 3 + 0 (*)

Let h be the water level in the first tube and apply hydrostatics along each tube:
 
p1 =  g (h − z1 ) p 2 =  g (h − z 2 − z 2 ) p3 =  g ( h + z 3 − z 3 )

Substituting these in (*):

gh + 1
u 2 =
g (h −  z ) + 1
u 2 =
g (h +  z )
2 1 2 2 2 3
Subtract  gh:
1

 
2 u1
2
= −
g z 2 + 12
u 22 =
g z 3
Divide by  g:
u12  u 22
= − z2 + =  z3
2g 2g
From these,
 z = u 2 − u1 = 2.391 m
2 2

2
2g
2
 z = u1 = 0.1594 m
3
2g

Method 2

Apply Bernoulli’s equation along the streamline:

Hydraulics 1 Coursework: Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation David Apsley

 p1 +
gz1 + 12
u12 = p 2 +
gz 2 + 12
u 22 = p3 +
gz 3 + 0 (*)

Apply hydrostatics along each tube by keeping the piezometric pressure p + gz constant, and
noting that p = 0 at the free surface:
p1 + gz1 = 0 + gh1
p 2 + gz 2 = 0 + gh2
p3 + gz 3 = 0 + gh3

Substituting these in (*):

gh + 1
u 2 =
gh + 1
u 2 =
gh
1 2 1 2 2 2 3
Divide by g:
u2 u2
h1 + 1 = h2 + 2 = h3
2g 2g
From these,
 z ≡ h − h = u 2 − u1 = 2.391 m
2 2

2 1 2
2g
2
 z ≡ h − h = u1 = 0.1594 m
3 3 1
2g

Method 3 (probably the quickest)

Note that the Pitot tube indicates the total head H (which is constant), whilst the piezometer
tubes indicate the piezometric heads h1 and h2, distances u12 / 2 g and u 22 / 2 g below it.
Hence,
u2 u2
h1 + 1 = h2 + 2 = H
2g 2g
whence
 z ≡ h − h = u 2 − u1 = 2.391 m
2 2

2 1 2
2g
2
 z ≡ H − h = u1 = 0.1594 m
3 1
2g
as above.

Answer: 2.4 m and 0.16 m

Hydraulics 1 Coursework: Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation David Apsley

Answer 4

Have H1 = 40 mm, Q1 = 0.45 L s–1, H2 = 80 mm.

Since Q ∝ H 5 / 2 ,
5/ 2 5/ 2
Q2 H2 80
= = = 25 / 2
Q1 H1 40
Hence,
Q2 = 2 5 / 2 Q1 = 2 5 / 2 × 0.45 = 2.546 L s −1

Answer: 2.55 L s–1

Hydraulics 1 Coursework: Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation David Apsley