EXPERIMENT No.

1
1.0 Title:
Measure water pressure by using Bourdon’s Pressure Gauge and U – tube
Manometer. Also measure Discharge of water using tank and stop watch..
2.0 Prior Concepts:
Pascal’s Law, Force, Unit Area, Specific gravity of Liquid, Density
3.0 New Concepts:
Pressure Intensity, Bourdon tube, U tube Manometer, Pressure Measurement
Concept Structure:

Apparatus:
Centrifugal Pump, Pressure Gauge, Glass U Tube Manometer and Vacuum Gauge.
Specifications:
To write the specifications available in the laboratory.
1. Centrifugal pump of...................capacity with strainer.
2. Water tank.................. litre capacity.
3. Glass U tube manometer with mercury fluid.
4. Pressure gauge fixed on delivery pipe (Range:......................)
5. Flow control valve at delivery pipe.
6. Vacuum gauge fixed on suction pipe (Range:......................)
Diagram:
Pressure gauge, U tube manometer
6.0 Diagram:

Fig: Experimental Set up for measuring discharge

7.0 Stepwise Procedure:

For Bourdon tube pressure gauge:
1. Start the pump and fluid will flow in pipe line.
2. Note the units indicated on both gauges.
3. Record the magnitude and pressure.
4. Adjust and change position of flow control valve to other positions and record readings of
pressure and vacuum gauge.
For Mercury Manometer:
5. Observe the manometer connected to pipe through which the liquid is flowing.
6. Remove the air from legs or limbs of U tube mercury manometer.
7. Record down height of mercury column in the right and left column with the help of scale.
8. Record the absolute difference.

9. Calculate the head in meters of water, meters of liquid and in N/m2.

(Repeat procedure for different flow rates.)
Observations:
Pressure Gauge Readings: Vacuum Gauge Readings:

1..........................kg/cm2. 1..........................kg/cm2.

2..........................kg/cm2. 2..........................kg/cm2.

3..........................kg/cm2. 3..........................kg/cm2.
Manometer Readings:
S1: Specific gravity of liquid flowing in pipe (water) =.....................
S2: Specific gravity of manometer fluid (mercury) =.....................
Reading for finding out differential head.
Sr. No. Height of Hg Height of Hg Difference Differential Differential
in left limb in right x=(h2-h1) head in meters of Head in N/m2
(h1) Limb water (P)
(h2) H = x(S2-S1)/S1

Sample Calculation:
For x = .................. cm= ................. m
Differential head in meters of water
H = x(S2-S1)/S1

H = _______________

Pressure Intensity P = w ( )xh

(where w ( ) – Specific weight of water = 9810 N/m3

P = 9810 x _____________ = _____________.N/m2

Result:
1. Pressure intensity by using manometer for First Flow rate:
For Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge : _____________________N/m2.

For U- Tube Manometer : ___________________ N/m2.

2. Pressure intensity by using manometer for Second Flow rate:
For Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge : _____________________N/m2.

For U- Tube Manometer : ___________________ N/m2.

3. Pressure intensity by using manometer for Third Flow rate:

For Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge : _____________________N/m2.

For U- Tube Manometer : ___________________ N/m2.

Questions for confirming of learning:

1. State the reason behind placing the water tank on the top of the building?
Ans: hydrostatic pressure produced by elevation of water (due to gravity) to push the water into
water distribution systems at high pressure.
2. Explain the effect of leakage of water at the pipe joints on the pressure ?
Ans: Due to leakage at the pipe joints, the pressure in the pipe decreases.
3. State the reason behind use of mercury in U tube manometer.
Ans: We use mercury in U tube Manometer due to following reason -
1. It has high density and due to this it requires less Hg column
2. Mercury has a low vapor pressure, so it does not evaporate easily.
3. It does not mix up with the liquids in the pipe.
4. It is shiny, does not stick to the surface of tube and can be easily noticed while taking
the readings.
4. State the reason behind use of elliptical cross section tube in Bourdon tube Pressure Gauge ?
Ans: The elliptical cross-section of a "C" shaped Bourdon tube will become more rounded when
the tube, sealed at one end, experiences an increase in pressure at the other end. This slight
change in shape is amplified by the "c" shape and mechanical linkage so as to produce gage
pointer movement in dial.
5. Name the most accurate device of pressure measurement among Bourdon Tube Pressure
Gauge and U tube manometer ?
Ans: Moderate pressure can be measured with sufficient accuracy by using simple pressure
gauges like U-tube manometers. But when very low or high pressures are to be measured with
high accuracy, advanced and more complex gauges like Bourdon tube pressure gauges are
required.
6. State the care that should be taken about air while measuring pressure using U tube
manometer ?
Ans: Air should be removed from U tube to get accurate result in pressure measurement using
U tube manometer.
Conclusion:
 The result obtained shows for every time when valve is regulating, pressure of water
shown by both pressure measuring devices is different (same / different).
 Calculations are does not required ( required / does not required ) to interpret readings
obtained from Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge.
 Readings obtained from U tube manometer need (need / does not need) further
calculations.
 Measurement of pressure using Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge (Bourdon Tube
Pressure Gauge / U tube manometer

Question:
1. State requirements of manometric fluid.

Ans: We use mercury in U tube Manometer due to following reason -

a) It has high density and due to this it requires less Hg column
b) Mercury has a low vapor pressure, so it does not evaporate easily.
c) It does not mix up with the liquids in the pipe.
d) It is shiny, does not stick to the surface of tube and can be easily noticed while taking
the readings

2. Explain any three techniques to measure pressure with the help of pressure gauge.

Ans:

a) Piezometer
b) Simple U tube Manometer
c) Single Column Manometer (Micro manometer)
3. State atmospheric pressure in different units ( i.e. bar, KPa, mm of Hg, meter of water
column)

Ans: Atmospheric pressure

a) in bar = 1 Bar
b) in KPa = 101.325 KPa
c) in mm of Hg = 760 mm
d) Meter of water = 10.3 m

4. Is it possible to measure the vacuum pressure and gauge pressure with a single pressure
gauge ? Give reason.

Ans: No it is not possible to measure the vacuum pressure and gauge pressure with a single
pressure gauge because Differential pressure can be measured by gauges containing two
different Bourdon tubes, with connecting linkages. Bourdon tubes measure gauge pressure,
relative to ambient atmospheric pressure, as opposed to absolute pressure; vacuum is sensed
as a reverse motion.

5. Oil tank and water tank of same capacity are installed 10 meter above the ground. Two
separate pipes of same diameter carry oil and water from tank to ground. If pressure gauge is
fitted 1 meter above the ground on each pipe line, will it show same reading ? Give reason.

Ans: The pressure gauge will show different readings, as the specific gravity of oil is 0.8 and
specific gravity of water 1.0 then water shows more pressure as it has more sp. gravity.

Since Pressure P = w(liquid) x h (where w – specific weight , h – height of liquid column)

w (liquid) = S x w (of water)