LABORATORY

FACULTY OF INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING

TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING

ENGINEERING LABORATORY 2
(LAB 3 - BERNOULLI PRINCIPLE)

BMIA 2121 SEMESTER 2 SESSION 2024/2025

BERNOULLI PRINCIPLE
Learning outcome:
After completing this laboratory, student should be able to:
1. Do investigation and verification of Bernoulli’s principle
2. Determine static pressures and total pressure distribution along the Venturi nozzle
3. Determine the flow coefficient at different flow rates

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Bernoulli's principle, physical principle formulated by Daniel Bernoulli that states as

the speed of a moving fluid (liquid or gas) increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases.
The phenomenon described by Bernoulli's principle has many practical applications; it is
employed in the carburetor and the atomizer, in which air is the moving fluid, and in the
aspirator, in which water is the moving fluid. In the first two devices air moving through a tube
passes through a constriction, which causes an increase in speed and a corresponding reduction
in pressure. As a result, liquid is forced up into the air stream (through a narrow tube that leads
from the body of the liquid to the constriction) by the greater atmospheric pressure on the
surface of the liquid. In the aspirator air is drawn into a stream of water as the water flows
through a constriction. Bernoulli's principle can be explained in terms of the law of
conservation of energy (see conservation laws , in physics). As a fluid moves from a wider pipe
into a narrower pipe or a constriction, a corresponding volume must move a greater distance
forward in the narrower pipe and thus have a greater speed. At the same time, the work done
by corresponding volumes in the wider and narrower pipes will be expressed by the product of
the pressure and the volume. Since the speed is greater in the narrower pipe, the kinetic energy
of that volume is greater. Then, by the law of conservation of energy, this increase in kinetic
energy must be balanced by a decrease in the pressure-volume product, or, since the volumes
are equal, by a decrease in pressure.

Bernoulli's equation is essentially a more general and mathematical form of Bernoulli's

principle that also takes into account changes in gravitational potential energy. Bernoulli's
equation relates the pressure, speed, and height of any two points (1 and 2) in a steady
streamline flowing fluid of density (ρ). Bernoulli's equation is usually written as follows,

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The variables P1, υ1, Һ1 refer to the pressure, speed, and height of the fluid at point 1 and the

variables P2, υ2, Һ2 refer to the pressure, speed, and height of the fluid at point 2 as seen in the
diagram below. The diagram below shows one particular choice of two points (1 and 2) in the fluid,
but Bernoulli's equation will hold for any two points in the fluid.

Bernoulli's principle is a result of the more general equation called Bernoulli's equation for
cases where the height of the fluid does not change significantly.

1.1 About The Experiment

Bernoulli’s principle describes the relationship between the flow velocity of a fluid and
its pressure. An increase in velocity leads to a reduction in pressure in a flowing fluid, and vice
versa. The total pressure of the fluid remains constant. Bernoulli’s equation is also known as
the principle of conservation of energy of the flow. This experimental unit is used to
demonstrate Bernoulli’s principle by determining the pressures in a Venturi nozzle. The
experimental unit includes a pipe section with a transparent Venturi nozzle and a movable Pitot
tube for measuring the total pressure. The Pitot tube is located within the Venturi nozzle, where
it is displaced axially. The position of the Pitot tube can be observed through the Venturi
nozzle’s transparent front panel. The Venturi nozzle is equipped with pressure measuring
points to determine the static pressures. The pressures are displayed on the six tube
manometers. The total pressure is measured by the Pitot tube and displayed on another single
tube manometer. The experimental unit is positioned easily and securely on the work surface
of the HM 150 base module. The water is supplied and the flow rate measured by HM 150.

1.2 Venturi Nozzle

The velocity of the flowing fluid is at its greatest at the narrowest cross-section
(continuity equation A·v = const). Bernoulli discovered that a part of the pressure energy is
converted into kinetic energy. When velocity increases it therefore results in a drop in pressure,
so that the lowest pressure occurs in the narrowest cross-section. Bernoulli’s equation states
that the energy of a frictionless flowing, incompressible fluid is constant. The applications of
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this principle include water jet pumps, carburetors and flow measurement.

1.3 Flow coefficient

The flow coefficient of a device is a relative measure of its efficiency at allowing fluid
flow. It describes the relationship between the pressure drop across an orifice valve or other
assembly and the corresponding flow rate. It can be determined from the pressure lost ∆h at a
known flow rate using the following equation:

2.0 TOOLS/EQUIPMENTS/MATERIALS

Layout of experimental unit for HM150.07

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Measuring the pressures in a Venturi nozzle
1: tube manometers for displaying the static pressures,
2: Venturi nozzle with measuring points,
3: Pitot tube for measuring the total pressure, axially movable

Pressure curve in the Venturi nozzle:

blue: total pressure,
red: static pressure,
green: dynamic pressure

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 Layout of experimental unit for HM150

1: flow control valve, 4: gate valve for emptying the measuring

2: overflow, tank,
3: storage tank with submersible pump, 5: measuring tank level indicator,
6: measuring tank

3.0 METHODOLOGY

1. Open the HM gate valve

2. Open outlet, and flow control valve but keep the inlet close.
3. Turn on power, turn on pump and slowly open inlet all the way. (all 4 valves are open
and water flow at max rate.
4. Open overflow valve completely (black colour).
5. Close the outlet valve until all the water in tubes are flushed out completely.
6. Then reopen the outlet valve.
7. Open bleed valve then closed the overflow valve. After this, for the remaining
experiment, both bleed and overflow remain in this position.
8. Regulate the water level in the tubes so that the water level does not exceed upper limit
of the lower limit. This is by close the inlet valve partially which cause the water level
to drop. Then close the outlet valve partially and slowly adjust both outlet and inlet
valve so that all the 7 water level in the tubes are in the limit. (e.g. let the water level
at point 1~280mm and water level at point 3~70mm)
9. Record all the 6 water level on the measuring tubes in the table.

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 10. Then to measure the total pressure, moved the tip of pitot tube at the Venturi nozzle to
the corresponding measuring level and record the total pressure. Wait approximately 1
min before taking the reading.
11. Record all the 6 total pressure by moving the tip at the measuring point accordingly.
12. Finally, determine the flow rate of the water by measuring the time required to fill up
the measuring tank on the HM 150 from 10L to 20L.
13. To do this, first close the HM gate valve and wait until the water level reach 10L and
immediately start the timer.
14. Stop the timer once the water level reach 20L and make sure to open the sliding valve.
15. Repeat the step 8 -12 for 2 different flow rates by adjusting either the inlet or outlet
valve to decrease or increase the water level.

4.0 RESULT ANALYSIS

a) Fill in Table 1 with the data obtained from the test and calculate the flow rate and total
pressure. Show the calculation
b) Determine the flow coefficient based on the pressure loss and flow rate and fill in the
Table 2. Show the calculation.
c) Plot the velocity profile in the venture nozzle.
d) Plot the pressure profile in the venture nozzle
e) Draw the diagram of relationship between cross section, pressure and velocity.

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 Table 1: Data collection for Height, Velocity, Time and Flow rate

Venturi 1 2 3 4 5 6 Time,t Flow rate,

point (s) 10L 𝑉̇(L/s)
A (mm2) 338.6 233.5 84.6 170.2 255.2 338.6
Height,h
(mmWC)
hstat
htotal
hdyn
Velocity,
υ (m/s)
Height,h
(mmWC)
hstat
htotal
hdyn
Velocity,
υ (m/s)
Height,h
(mmWC)
hstat
htotal
hdyn
Velocity,
υ (m/s)

Table 2: Flow coefficient value for pressure lost at different flow rate

Flow rate, 𝑉̇(L/s) ∆h=h1-h3,(mmWC) Kv (mm2)

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8.0 DISCUSSION

a) Discuss the relationship between the pressure and velocity.

b) Discuss the difficulties encountered during the test.

c) State the parameter(s) that influence the results obtained.

d) List down the precautions to minimize measurement error.

e) Describe the application of Bernoulli principle in engineering.

9.0 DISCUSSION

a) Conclude your main findings.