Chapter 

(5)
Conservation laws of Fluid Flow
 Introduction

• This chapter deals with 3 equations commonly 
used in fluid mechanics
– The mass equation is an expression of the 
conservation of mass principle.

– The Bernoulli equation is concerned with the 
conservation of kinetic, potential, and flow energies 
of a fluid stream and their conversion to each other.

– The energy equation is a statement of the 
conservation of energy principle.  
 Conservation of Mass
• Conservation of mass principle is one of the most 
fundamental principles in nature.
• Mass, like energy, is a conserved property, and it 
cannot be created or destroyed during a process.  

• For closed systems mass conservation is implied

since the mass of the system remains constant
during a process.
• For control volumes, mass can cross the
boundaries which means that we must keep track
of the amount of mass entering and leaving the
control volume.
Conservation of Mass Principle

• The conservation of mass 
principle can be expressed 
as

dmCV
m in  m out 
dt
m in m out
• Where       and        are the 
total rates of mass flow into 
and out of the CV, and 
dmCV/dt is the rate of 
change of mass within the 
CV.
Steady—Flow Processes

• For steady flow, the total 
amount of mass contained in CV 
is constant.
• Total amount of mass entering 
must be equal to total amount 
of mass leaving
 m   m
in out
• For incompressible flows,

V A  V A
in
n n
out
n n
The Bernoulli Equation
Bernoulli Equation:
General Forum
Limitations Of Bernoulli Equation:
 Bernoulli Equation

The Bernoulli Equation is a p 1 2

 gz  V  C p
statement of the conservation  2
of ____________________
Mechanical Energy p.e. k.e.
p V2
z  H
 2g
p
 Pressure head Hydraulic Grade Line
 p
z
 Piezometric head
z  Elevation head
p V 2 Energy Grade Line
V2 z 
 Velocity head  2g Total head
2g
HGL,EGL
HGL,EGL
HGL,EGL
Applications
 Applications
Static, Stagnation, Dynamic, and Total Pressure: Bernoulli Equation

Static Dynamic Hydrostatic

Pressure Pressure Pressure

Static Pressure: moves along the fluid “static” to the motion.

p1  h
Dynamic Pressure: due to the mean flow going to forced stagnation.

Hydrostatic Pressure: potential energy due to elevation changes.

Following a streamline:
1 1
p2  V2 2  z2  p1  V12  z1 Follow a Streamline from point 1 to 2
2 2
0 0, no elevation 0, no elevation
1 p2  H
p2  p1  V12 Note: “Total Pressure = Dynamic Pressure + Static Pressure”
2
H>h
V1   H  h  In this way we obtain a measurement of the centerline flow with piezometer tube.
 Stagnation Point: Bernoulli Equation

Stagnation point: the point on a stationary body in every flow where V= 0

Stagnation Streamline: The streamline that terminates at the stagnation point.
Symmetric:

Axisymmetric:
If there are no elevation effects, the stagnation pressure is
largest pressure obtainable along a streamline: all kinetic
energy goes into a pressure rise:
V 2
p
2
Total Pressure with Elevation:
1
p V 2  z  pT  cons tan t on a streamline
2
Pitot Tubes

• Used to measure air speed on airplanes
• Can connect a differential pressure 
transducer to directly measure V2/2g
• Can be used to measure the flow of water 
in pipelines Point measurement!
 Pitot Tube

Stagnation pressure  Static pressure tap
tap
p1 V12 p2 V22
 z1    z2 
 2g  2g

2 V1 = 0 2
V 1 V  p1  p2 
z1 = z2 

Connect two ports to differential pressure transducer.

Make sure Pitot tube is completely filled with the fluid
that is being measured.
Solve for velocity as function of pressure difference
Example: Venturi
 The Venturi
Meter
uses the height a
tube of mercury
is raised to find
speed and
pressure in a
pipe
Commercial Venturi Meters
Example: Venturi

How would you find the flow (Q) given the pressure drop
between point 1 and 2 and the diameters of the two sections?
You may assume the head loss is negligible. Draw the EGL and
the HGL over the contracting section of the Venturi.

How many unknowns?

h What equations will you use?

1 2
Example Venturi

p1 V12 p2 V22
 z1    z2 
1 2g 2 2g Q  VA
p1 V22 V12
p2 V1 A1  V2 A2
  
  2g 2g
d12 d 22
 V1  V2
d  
4
2
p1 p2 V  4 4
  1  2  
2

  2g  d  
  1  V1d12  V2 d 22

2 g ( p1  p2 ) d 22
V2  V1  V2
 1  d 2 d1  4
 d12

2 g ( p1  p 2 )
Q  A2
 1  d 2 d 1  
4

 
 Uses of Bernoulli Equation: Free Jets
New form for along a streamline between any
two points:

If we know 5 of the 6 variable we can solve for the last one.

Free Jets: Case 1

Torricelli’s Equation (1643):

Note: p2 = p4 by normal to
the streamline since the
streamlines are straight.
Following the streamline between (1) and (2):
As the jet falls:

0 gage 0 h 0 gage V 0
 Uses of Bernoulli Equation: Free Jets
Free Jets: “Horizontal Nozzle: Sharp-Edge Corners”
Vena-Contracta Effect and Coefficients for Geometries
 Bernoulli & Flight
• Bernoulli’s 
Principle is what 
allows birds and 
planes to fly.
• The secret 
behind flight is 
‘under the 
wings.’
 AIRFOIL

On top: greater air speed and

less air pressure

On bottom: less air speed and

more air pressure
Spoiler – airfoil reversed

less air speed

more pressure

greater air speed

less pressure

net force: downward

 Racecar

Spoiler provides better traction

and avoids lift
In a serve storm how does a house loose its roof?
Air flow is disturbed by the house. The "streamlines" crowd around the top of the roof  
 faster flow above house  . reduced pressure above roof than inside the house 
room lifted off because of pressure difference

Why do rabbits not suffocate in the burrows?
Air must circulate. The burrows must have two entrances. Air flows across the two holes 
is usually slightly different   slight pressure difference   forces flow of air through 
burrow. 
One hole is usually higher than the other and the a small mound is built around the 
holes to increase the pressure difference.

Why do racing cars wear skirts?
35