Hydraulic Fundamentals

Pressure The basic definition of pressure is force per unit area. As commonly used in hydraulics and in this reference book, it is expressed in bar or pounds per square inch (psi). In order to make calculations involving fluid pressure, the measurements must relate to some reference pressure. Commonly, this reference pressure is theAtmospheric Pressure, the force exerted on a unit area by the weight of the atmosphere. At sea level, atmospheric pressure is 1.01 bar (14.7 pounds per square inch). Using atmospheric pressure as a zero reference, Gage Pressure is a measure of the force per unit area exerted by a fluid. The unit measure is bar or psig. A gage pressure above atmospheric pressure is positive; gage pressure below atmospheric pressure is negative, or a vacuum. Pressure measured relative to a perfect vacuumthe lowest possible pressureis referred to as Absolute Pressure. Absolute pressure will always be positive. It equals atmospheric pressure plus the gage pressure and is measured in units of psia.

Fluid Fundamentals
Fluids include liquids, gases, and mixtures of liquids, solids, and gases. For the purposes of this reference book, the terms fluid and liquid are both used to mean a pure liquid or a liquid mixed with gases or solids that acts essentially like a liquid in a pumping application. Density or specific weight of a fluid is its weight per unit volume, often expressed in units of grams per cubic centimeter or pounds per cubic foot. The density of a fluid changes with temperature. Example: If weight is 36.36 kg (80 lb), density is 1.28 g/cm3 (80 lb/cu ft). Specific gravity of a fluid is the ratio of its density to the density of water. Since it is a ratio, it has no units associated with it. Example: Specific gravity = 80 lb/62.4 lb or, Specific gravity = 1.282

Relation of Pressure to Elevation

KEY P = static pressure Z = vertical distance A = constant In a static liquid (a body of liquid at rest), the pressure difference between any two points is in direct proportion to the vertical distance between two points. This pressure difference is due to the weight of the liquid and can be calculated by multiplying the vertical distance by the fluid density (or vertical distance x density of water x specific gravity of the fluid). In commonly used units:
P (static) = Z x Density H2O x S.G. A

Unit of Measure Metric English 2 P kg/cm psi Z meters feet 3 density of H20 1000 kg/m 62.4 lb/ft 2 2 A 10,000 cm /m 144 in2/ft2

Example: Calculate pressure difference between two points. Vertical distance = 5.49 m (18 ft), specific gravity = 1.23.
Metric 1000 P=Zx x S.G 10,000 P = 5.49 x 0.1 x 1.23 P = 0.6753 kg/cm2 English 62.4 P=Zx x S.G 144 P = 18 x .433 x 1.23 P = 9.59 psi

To obtain pressure in elevation units, the equation is rearranged:

Z = P static Density H20 x S.G. x A

Example: A pressure gauge reads 5.97 kg/cm2 (85 psi). The fluid has specific gravity of 0.95. What is the height of the equivalent column of fluid that would produce that same pressure?
Metric 5.97 x 10,000 Z= = 62.9 m 1000 x .95 English 85 x 144 Z= = 206.5 ft 62.4 x .95

Static headThe hydraulic pressure when the liquid is at rest. Friction headThe pressure loss due to frictional losses in flow. Velocity headThe energy in a fluid due to its velocity (e.g. head unit). Pressure headA pressure measured in equivalent head units. Discharge headThe outlet pressure of a pump in operation. Total headThe total pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of a pump in operation. Inlet headThe positive pressure on a pump inlet. Suction liftThe negative pressure on a pump inlet.