FUNDAMENTALS OF

FLUID FLOW

Prepared By: Engr. Brian Eurolfan

 Module Overview and Objective
• This module will deal with fluids in motion, or the properties,
characteristics and principles that is related to fluids in motion or
hydrodynamics.
• Specifically, to be able to:
– Understand the different energies and heads that contribute to the
motion of fluids
– Determine discharge and its importance to fluid flow
– Understand the continuity equation and Bernoulli’s equation
– Understand and interpret grade lines and how they are important to
fluid flows
– Understand the difference of Pumps and Turbines, and how they
generate power.
 Discharge
To measure the amount of fluid that will pass through a
certain point, we use discharge as measurement.

Discharge is the amount of fluid passing through a

section per unit of time.

Q = Av

Vol
Q=
t

Where:
Q = Discharge(m3/s)
A = Cross sectional area of the flow (m2)
v = mean velocity of flow (m/s)
Vol = total volume that passed through that section (m3)
t = total time for the total volume to pass through (s)
 Energy and Heads
Fluids may flow through pipes, tubes, orifice, rivers, streams, etc.
energy grade line (E.G.L.)
For fluids to flow, there are three “energy” or “head” that can cause it
to flow
a) Velocity head
V2 V2
2g 2g
P Hydraulic grade line (H.G.L.)
b) Pressure head
γ

c) Elevation head z P
γ
Where:
V = velocity of the fluid on that point (m/s)
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2)
P = Pressure at that point (KN/m2)
γ = specific weight of the fluid (KN/m3) 𝑧
z = elevation or vertical distance of the point from the datum line (m)
Datum Line
Note:
- Velocity head represents the kinetic energy per unit weight while V2 P
the pressure head and elevation head represents the potential Total head, E = + +Z
energy per unit weight 2g γ

- The units of heads are in meters (m) of fluid flowing.

 Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation
Continuity Equation Bernoulli’s Equation
“The amount of fluid per unit of time “The energy of the flowing fluid per unit time passing any
upstream section is the same as the energy per unit time
passing every section at a flowing passing any downstream section plus the loss of head
stream is constant” between the two sections”

Q1 = Q2 E1 = E2
energy grade line (E.G.L.)
V22
V12
2g
2g Hydraulic grade line (H.G.L.)

P2
P1
γ
γ

Point 1

Point 2
Z1 Z2
Datum Line
 Continuity and Bernoulli’s Equation
In reality, when fluids travel through a system, certain heads are lost
(Head Loss) due to frictions, bending of pipes, change in size, etc.
Thus: E1 = E2 + HL1-2
Actual energy grade line (E.G.L.)
HL1to2
V12 Theoretical energy grade line (E.G.L.)
V22
2g 2g

Hydraulic grade line (H.G.L.) P2

P1 γ
γ

Point 1

Point 2
Z1 Z2
Datum Line
 Sample Problem
1. Water flows in the pipe system
from point 1 to point 2 as shown and
has a discharge of 0.4 cu.m./s.
Determine the pressure at point 2.

P = 80 KPa
200mm dia.
Point 1 1.5m
Point 2
300mm dia.

Point 2
 Sample Problem
2. The 100mm diameter siphon shown discharges freely Summit
into air at “B”. The head loss from A to summit is 7cm
while the head loss from summit to B is 56cm. 1m
100mm
Determine the following
diameter
a) The discharge at B A
b) Pressure at the summit 5.2m
Water
a) Based on the Bernoulli’s Equation, theoretically,
Ea = Eb; also Ea = Esummit; and Esummit = Eb

Let us try
B
Ea = Eb
By assigning point B to be the datum of reference line.
Since head loss is given, we have to consider the VB2
actual energies, which means we must include the 0 + 0 + 4.2 = + 0 + 0 + (0.07 + 0.56)
(2∗9.81)
head loss, thus the equation would be: VB = 8.369 m/s
Ea = Eb + HLA-B From Discharge Formula
V A2 PA VB2 PB π
+ + ZA = + + ZB + HLA-B Q = AV; Q = ( *0.12) * 8.369
2g γ 2g γ 4
Q = 0.0657 cu.m./s or 65.73 L/s
 Sample Problem
1. The 100mm diameter siphon shown discharges freely Summit
into air at “B”. The head loss from A to summit is 7cm
while the head loss from summit to B is 56cm. 1m
100mm
Determine the following diameter
A
a) The discharge at B 5.2m
b) Pressure at the summit Water

b) For pressure at B, we can use

Ea = Esummit; and Esummit = Eb
For this lecture we will use Esummit = Eb
B
VS2 PS VB2 PB
2g + γ + ZS = 2g + γ + ZB + HLS-B
Substituting that in our formula and assigning point B to
be the datum
Let us first consider the continuity equation where V S2 PS VB2 PB
Qs = Qb + + ZS = + + ZB + HLS-B
2g γ 2g γ
AsVs = AbVb 8.3692 PS 8.3692
+ + 5.2 = + 0 + 0 + 0.56
But since the siphon does not change in size, does (2∗9.81) γ (2∗9.81)
the area in summit is the same as the area in B, thus
Vb = Vs = 8.369 m/s PS = – 45.518 KPa
 Power
In a system, power can either be added or subtracted from the energies in
the system by using PUMPS or TURBINES
Pumps are used to increase the head Turbines or motors which extract flow
or to raise water from a lower to energy to do mechanical work which is
higher elevation. converted into energy for turbines.
1 2 1 2
P T

E1 + HA = E2 + HL1-2 E1 - HE = E2 + HL1-2
E1 = E2 + HE + HL1-2
Power (rate at which work is done) given by
pumps, or received by turbines, can be calculated Where:
by: P = Power in Watts (Nm/s) * (1HP = 746 Watts)
P=QγE Q = discharge in the system (m3/s)
γ = specific weight of the fluid (N/m3)
P=QγH
E or H = energy received or given (m)
 Sample Problem
3. Water enters through a 600mm diameter pipe at
point 1, then through a motor (turbine) then leaves at
the 900mm diameter pipe at point 2. If pressure at 600mm dia
point 1 is 14KPa and at point 2 is 4KPa, determine the 1 T
power supplied to the motor in HP when the discharge 14 KPa
is 500 L/s. 2.5m

4 KPa
To know power in turbine, we need the energy given in
turbine. 2
Since we only have two known points, thus; 900mm dia
E1 = E2
1.7682 14 0.7862 4
But since no head loss is given, we will compute this + + 2.5 = + + 0 + He
theoretically. And since turbine is there, thus; 2∗9.81 9.81 2∗9.81 9.81
E1 = E2 + He
V12 P V 2
P He = 3.647 m
2g + γ + Z1 = 2g + γ + Z2 + He
1 2 2

To know the velocity of point 1 and 2, use continuity equation P = Q γ H; since specific weight must be in N/m3
where Q1 = Q2 = 0.5 cu.m./s P = 0.5 * 9810 * 3.647
P = 17888.535 W
A1V1 = 0.5 A2V2 = 0.5
π π Convert it into HP thus divide it by 746
(4*0.62) * V1 = 0.5 (4*0.92) * V1 = 0.5
V1 = 1.768 m/s V2 = 0.786 m/s
P = 23.979 HP
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!