Fluid Mechanics 1

Head and Headloss

Energy and Head
• Energy is defined as ability to do work.
• Kinetic energy and potential energy are the two
commonly recognized forms of energy.
• Energy per unit weight of fluid is termed as head.
• Now this energy can be in the form of pressure
energy, kinetic energy or potential energy.
Head : (H)
The total energy of the fluid particles per unit weight is
known as head.
Units: The unit of head is meter.
Kinetic Energy and Velocity Head
Kinetic energy is the ability of a mass to do work by
virtue of its velocity.
Elevation Energy and Elevation Head
In connection to the action of gravity, elevation
energy is manifested in a fluid by virtue of its
position or elevation with respect to a horizontal
datum plane.
Pressure Energy and Pressure Head
A mass of fluid acquires pressure energy when it is
in contact with other masses having some form of
energy. Pressure energy therefore is an energy
transmitted to the fluid by another mass that
possesses some energy.
Bernoulli’s principle states that
The total mechanical energy of the moving fluid comprising
the gravitational potential energy of elevation, the energy
associated with the fluid pressure and the kinetic energy of
the fluid motion, remains constant.
 Bernoulli's Equation and Limitations

Bernoulli’s equation formula is a relation between

pressure, kinetic energy, and gravitational potential
energy of a fluid in a container.
𝑝1 𝑉1 2 𝑝2 𝑉2 2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔

Where p is the pressure exerted by the fluid, v is the

velocity of the fluid, ρ is the density of the fluid and Z is
the potential head.
 Bernoulli's Equation and Limitations
• Bernoulli's equation has some
restrictions in its applicability, 𝑝1 𝑉1 2 𝑝2 𝑉2 2
they are: 𝜌𝑔
+
2𝑔
+ 𝑧1 =
𝜌𝑔
+
2𝑔
+ 𝑧2

‒ Flow is steady;
‒ Density is constant (which
also means the fluid is
incompressible);
‒ Friction losses are
negligible.
‒ The equation relates the
states at two points along
a single streamline, (not
conditions on two
different streamlines).
𝜌𝑔 = 𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑎 = 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Water enters a horizontal pipe of non-uniform cross-section with a velocity of 0.6m/s
and leaves the other end with a velocity of 0.4m/s. At the first end, pressure of water is
1600N/m 2 . Calculate the pressure of water at the other end. Density of water = 1000
kg/m 3 ?

Bernoulli's equation for

a horizontal pipe can
be used to find the
pressure at the second
point of the pipe,
which is

𝑝1 𝑉1 2 𝑝2 𝑉2 2
+ + 𝑧1 = + + 𝑧2
𝜌𝑔 2𝑔 𝜌𝑔 2𝑔
Water is flowing at a rate of 2m3/s through a tube with a diameter of 1m. If the
pressure at this point is 80kPa, what is the pressure of the water after the tube
narrows to a diameter of 0.5m?
ρwater=1.0kg/l
The problem statement doesn't tell us that the height changes, so we can remove the last term on each side
of the expression, then arrange to solve for the final pressure:

We know the initial pressure, so we still need to calculate the initial and final velocities. We'll use the
continuity equation:
Rearrange for velocity
Energy and Hydraulic Grade Lines
The Energy Grade Line is a plot of the sum of the three terms of the Work-Energy equation or Bernoulli theorem:
Fluid Head = The Kinetic energy + The pressure energy + The Potential energy.

EGL = v²/2g + P/y + elevation

v = velocity
g = acceleration due to gravity
P = pressure
y= fluid density

The Hydraulic Grade Line is a plot of the sum of two of the terms of the Bernoulli theorem:
Fluid Head = The pressure energy+ The Potential energy.

HGL = P/y + elevation

P = pressure
y = fluid density

Figure 86 Hydraulic Grade Line

 The continuity equation
Continuity Equation proves the law of
conservation of mass in fluid
dynamics.

The continuity equation provides very useful information about the

flow of fluids and their behaviour during their flow in a pipe or
hose. Continuity Equation is applied on tubes, pipes, rivers, ducts
with flowing fluids or gases and many more.

The transfer of various quantities, such as fluid or

gas, is described by the continuity equation. The
formula describes how a fluid conserves mass while
moving. How a fluid conserves mass while moving is
described by the equation