BERNOULLIS THEOREM

Daniel Bernoulli (1700--1782) --- The Swiss Mathematician

The Energy and Hydraulic Gradients

Bernoulli, the French scientist established important

principles of Hydraulics on which this branch of science
stands and operates.

The Fig. 9 shows a fluid flowing through an inclined pipe

and total energy at point 1 and Point 2 is obtained by
summation of potential + pressure + kinetic energies (as
just explained).

Bernoullis Theorem
The total energy of a fluid flowing in a pipe at any point is
the sum of the potential, pressure and kinetic energy.If
friction loss is ignored, the total energy at any point
remains constant, provided no energy is added to or
taken from a piping system. It is also known as the law
of conservation of energy to the flow of a fluid in a
pipe.

P1 and P2 indicate internal pressures in a pipe at points

1 & 2. Pressure intensity at Point 2 is less because the
pipe is NOT horizontal but in an inclined position. Besides
this, there is pressure loss due to pipe friction. Therefore
the line joining P1 and P2 always drops in the direction
of flow. This line is called Hydraulic Gradient. Velocity
head at P1 and P2 in this case is the same because the
pipe is having the same diameter at point 1 & 2.

The total energy at any point above some datum is equal

to the sum of :1)

Elevation Head (Z) (also called potential energy)

2)

Pressure Head in mlc (P/ )

(where P is abs. Pressure in Kg/m2)

When values V12/2g and V22/2g are added to ordinates

P1 & P2 at Points 1 & 2 and joined by a line we get the
Energy Gradient. It runs parallel to the Hydraulic
Gradient. These are straight lines and are useful for
assessing total energy at any point between 1 & 2. (As
shown at A above arbitrary datum plane)

It is the energy contained in the fluid as a result of

its pressure.
3)

Velocity Head in mlc. It represents kinetic energy in

a flowing liquid (V2/2g)

Thus total energy at any point in a fluid in metre

=Elv. Head + Pressure Head + Velocity Head.

In this case, Hydraulic and Energy gradients run parallel,

because pipe diameter in the system is the same.

This will be better explained in Fig. 9 below :

The pressure head and velocity head are two different

forms of energy, but they are interdependent; that means
if there is a gain in one energy it is at the expense of the
other.

An example on Bernoullis theorem will make the concept

quite clear (Fig. 10).

EXAMPLE : (Based on Bernoullis Theorem)

A pump is discharging 570m3/h at 150m head, through

a horizontal pipe section as shown overleaf. Two
pressure gauges are mounted 3.0 m apart before and
after the taper piece. Pressure at B=146 mlc. Find
frictional head loss between A & B.

Fig. 9 : Energy balance for two point 1 and 2 in a fluid

Z1 +
Here

P1
g

+
V12
2g

V12
2g
=

= Z2 +

V22
2g

P2
g

V2 2
+ hf
2g

Let us assume the datum Z- Z as the pipe centreline.

Hence Z=0. The flow in two sections of pipe i.e. at A and
B has to be the same, however flow velocities differ due
to difference in pipe sizes.

because the pipe diameter

is the same.

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Fig. 10 : Two forms of energy

Here the velocity head at Section A and B is to be determined first. And for that flow velocities at A & B are
to be calculated, using the formula V = Q
(Refer page 17)
A
A Section
B Section
570
VA =

1
x

3600

570
VB

(0.25)2

1
x

= 3.23 m/s.
V2 A
2g

= 8.96 m/s

(3.23)2
=

x (0.15)2

3600

V 2B

= 0.53 m
2 x 9.81

= 4.09 m

2g

As total energy at A &B sections of the pipe is constant

PA + V2A / 2g = PB + VB2 / 2g + Frictional head loss
150 + 0.53 = 146+ 4.09 + Friction head loss
Friction head loss = (150 + 0.53) - (146 + 4.09)
= 0.44 m head loss between A & B

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS OF HEADS

What is Head ?
The word HEAD is frequently spoken in the field of water
works, pumping etc.
A column of water or any liquid in a vertical pipe exerts a
certain pressure (force per unit area) on a horizontal
surface at the bottom, this pressure is expressed in kg/
cm2 or metres of liquid column (mlc)
The height of a liquid column is known as HEAD.
Fig. 11 : Concept of Head

This is explained in Fig. 11.