Bernoullis Equation

Start with a force balance on a fluid element, i.e.,

the differential form of the steady momentum equation

V V p g z
use the vector identity
1
V V 2 V V V V
and substitute
1

V V V V p g z
2

rearranging and dividing by

1
p
V V
g z V V
2

take the dot product with a length element in the streamwise direction ds
1

z

2
ds V V ds

Note that ds
dx
dy
dz d
x
y
z
and V V ds 0

See next
slide for
proof

1
d V 2 gdz 0
2
Next, integrate along a streamline from a ref. point to another point
dp

in the flow
1
d V 2 gdz 0 ds const.

dp

dp

V2

gz 0 ds const.

Proof
The curl of V V
w v w u v u
V
i
j k
y z x z
x y

V ui vj wk
V V v w i u w j u v k
V ui vj wk
ds

V
V
V V ds

u v w v u w wu v
V

Case: Incompressible flow along a

streamline
dp

1 2
2 V gz const.
Can't integrate the first term unless we know
how p relates to
Assuming const., i.e., incompressible
p

1 2
V gz const.
2

Case: Irrotational, Incompressible Flow

1
p
V V
g z V V
2

if V 0 irrotational
then for any direction of integration

1
d V 2 gdz const.

dp

V2
2 gz const.
and for incompressible flow
dp

V2

gz const.
2
p

This is true throughout the flow field. Since the

flow is irrotational, the integration may be
carried out in any direction.

Solution Strategy
Strategy for solving incompressible, inviscid
flow
Obtain the velocity field from the governing
equations
Obtain the pressure field from Bernoullis eqn
using the known velocity field
p - pressure (gage or absolute)
1
V 2 - dynamic pressure
2
V 2
p
- total pressure
2

BERNOULLIS EQN FROM AN

ENERGY PERSPECTIVE

For 1d, steady flow with one inlet and one outlet
2

Vout
Vin2
p
p
m uout uin
g zout zin Qin Wsh ,out
2
out in

if there is no shaft work, Wsh ,out 0

2
Vout
Vin2
Qin
p
p

g
z

uout uin
out in


2
m
out in

recall that for inviscid flow, Bernoulli's eqn was

2
Vout
Vin2
p
p
g zout zin 0

2
out in

Comparing the two, they are the same when

Qin
uout uin 0
m

They are the same when the internal energy

change is equivalent to the heat addition
per unit mass

V2
Consider
gz to be the useful or available energy
2
p

Qin
Then
uout uin represents the loss of useful energy in an
m
incompressible fluid due to friction between the inlet and outlet or
Qin
loss
uout uin empirical evidence shows that this is >0
m

p - pressure (gage or absolute)

1
V 2 - dynamic pressure
2
V 2
p
- total pressure
2

Now, let's assume the loss term is proportional to the kinetic

2
Vout
Qin
energy per unit mass, i.e., loss K L

uout uin
2
m

2
2
Vout
Vin2
Vout
p
p
gzout
gzin K L
0

2
2
out
in 2
neglecting changes in potential energy yields

pout

Vout2
2

p0,out

p0,out p0,in

Vin2
Vout
pin
KL
2
2

p0,in

in uout uin
m

2
Qin

Vout
KL

uout uin 0
2
m

Vin 0
Vin 0

Vout

Compare volume flow rate for two different vent configurations each
having a hole diameter of 120 mm

1 a cylindrical hole with K L 0.5

2 a well-rounded cylindrical hole with K L 0.05
Assume incompressible, steady flow. The room pressure is held constant
at 1 kPa. The outlet pressure is atmospheric.

Vout

2
2
Vout
Vin2
Vout
p
p

g zout zin K L

2 in
2
2
out
solve for Vout
2
out

2
p p

pin pout
Vout
2 K L
2
2

in out

Vout

Vout

KL
2

2 pin pout

1 K L

The volume flow rate is Q Vout Ah Vout

d h2

Substituting numbers, we get

3
2

m
0.372
Vout 4 d h
s

cyl. hole

m3
V
d

0.445
out 4 h
s

rounded hole

We get much more flow out of

the hole having a well-rounded
inlet.

Q Ah Cd

Cd

pin pout
2

Ah

Cd

Ah

pin pout
2

1
1 K L

Cd cyl. hole 0.81

Cd rounded hole 0.916

Ah

2 pin pout
1 K L
pin pout
2

0.95

0.9

Discharge coeff, C

0.85

0.8

0.75

0.7

0.65

0.6

0.55

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1
1.2
Loss coeff, K L

1.4

1.6

1.8