FLUID

DYNAMICS
BERNOULLI EQUATION
SAMPLE CALCULATION

PREPARED BY:
MARCO H. GARCIA

QUICK REVIEW
Mass balance
Equation of Continuity
Incompressible and Compressible

Fluids
Laminar and Turbulent Flow
Equivalent Diameter

BERNOULLI EQUATION
The sum of the

potential, kinetic, and

pressure energy (or
head) of the fluid as it
travels inside the pipe is
constant.

BERNOULLI EQUATION
In terms of Pressure unit per Mass

where
P measured pressure of a fluid at a particular point
z elevation, in m or ft
u velocity of the fluid in a pipe or conduit, in m/s or ft/s
g gravitational constant, SI: 9.80665 m/s2; English: 32.174
ft/s2.
gc conversion factor, SI: 1kgm/s2/N; English: 32.174
lbmft/s2/lbf

BERNOULLI EQUATION
In terms of HEAD [of Fluid]
SI Units:

English Units:

FRICTIONAL LOSSES

FRICTIONAL LOSSES

ROTATING EQUIPMENT

MODIFIED BERNOULLI
EQUATION

where
hf frictional losses in the system
Ws theoretical shaft work caused by mechanical rotating
equipment (e.g. pumps). If actual power/work of the
equipment and the efficiency are given, Ws (theo) = h * Ws
(actual)

EVALUATION OF FRICTIONAL
LOSSES

SKIN FRICTION (DUE TO PIPE)

SKIN FRICTION (DUE TO PIPE)

SKIN FRICTION (DUE TO PIPE)

For laminar flow,

For turbulent flow,

Colebrook Equation:

Churchill Equation:

Blasius Equation (Smooth Pipes):

ENTRANCE AND EXIT LOSS

For sudden contraction (entrance loss),

For sudden enlargement/expansion (exit loss),

EXPRESSING FORM FRICTION

BY EQUIVALENT LENGTH METHOD

BY K-FACTOR METHOD (aka VELOCITY

HEAD METHOD)
BY CORRESPONDING EQUIVALENT

PRESSURE DROP

EXPRESSING FORM FRICTION

EXPRESSING FORM FRICTION

EXPRESSING FORM FRICTION

Typical values of pressure drops for piping
components and equipment are based on
heuristics and vary per industry.

MODIFIED BERNOULLI
EQUATION

of frictional losses due to entrance/exit,

fittings, valves, and equipment.

MODIFIED BERNOULLI
EQUATION

MODIFIED BERNOULLI
EQUATION

EXERCISE
Water is being pumped from a large

lake to a reservoir 25 m above at a

rate of 25L/s by a 10 kW (shaft)
pump. If the irreversible head loss
of the piping system is 5 m,
determine the mechanical
efficiency of the pump.

EXERCISE
Change in pressure: 0 (both are ATM)
Change in elevation: 25 m
Change in kinetic energy: 0

(assumed) since the area of the

source and the reservoir are very
large and that fluid at those locations
are stagnant.
Friction loss: 5 m

EXERCISE

5 m + 25 m = 30 m
Note: 30 m is called theoretical pump
head

EXERCISE

= 30 m
Converting to kJ/kg:
= 30 m * (g/gc)
= 30 m (9.80665m/s2)/(1kgm/s2/N)
*(1J/1Nm) * (1kJ/1000J)
= 0.2941995 kJ/kg

EXERCISE

= 0.2942 kJ/kg
Converting to kW:
= 0.2942 * (, kg/s)
= 0.2942 kJ/kg * (1000 kg/m3) *(25 L/s)*
* (1 m3/1000 L)
= 7.35499 kJ/s = 7.355 kW
This theoretical pump power is also called
Light Horsepower (LHP).

EXERCISE
=

7.355 kW

= 10 kW
Actual pump power is also called
Brake Horsepower (BHP)
Efficiency, h = Ws (theo)/ Ws (actual) x 100%
= 7.355 kW/10 kW x 100%
= 73.55 percent. (Ans)

APPLICATIONS
Basis for Pressure Differential

Flowmeters
Pump Hydraulics/Sizing
Line/Pipe Sizing
Control Valve Sizing
Equipment Design