Bernoulli appliance to garden hose

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of Bernoulli's equation to a garden hose scenario, specifically examining fluid dynamics in a hose without restrictions and the effects of pressure changes when the exit is partially restricted. Participants explore theoretical implications and practical measurements related to fluid velocity and pressure in these contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Ferex questions whether fluid velocities at two sections of a hose (v1 and v2) are equal when pressure changes from 3 bars to atmospheric pressure, and how pressure is affected when the exit is restricted.
  • Some participants argue that Bernoulli's equation applies only when there are differences in hose diameters, suggesting that pressure and velocity relationships depend on flow conditions and the geometry of the system.
  • Others mention that for incompressible flow, velocity remains constant in a constant diameter hose, but pressure differences must be considered at points of differing velocities.
  • A detailed calculation is provided by one participant, showing how to derive velocity and pressure values using Bernoulli's equation and incorporating factors like friction and hose dimensions.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the initial pressure value of 300 kPa, suggesting lower realistic values and proposing practical measurement methods to obtain accurate pressure readings and flow rates.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the application of Bernoulli's equation in this scenario, with multiple competing views on the effects of pressure and velocity in the hose. There is also disagreement regarding the realistic values of pressure in the system.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about incompressibility, the need for accurate measurements of hose dimensions and pressure, and the dependence on flow conditions that may not be fully addressed in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in fluid dynamics, particularly in practical applications related to gardening or plumbing, as well as those looking to understand the implications of Bernoulli's equation in real-world scenarios.

Ferex
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I know the topic has been dealt in the past, I read it but still couldn't extrapolate a satisfying answer.
I would like to know how Berboulli equation applies to a hose without restrictions in which fluid (water) exits at atmospheric pressure, the typical garden situation without any nozzle.
I have, let's suppose 3 bars at the initial section (1) and 0 bars (atmospheric pressure) at the discharge section (2). We consider z1 = z2, p1 = 3 bars, p2 = 0, the question is: does v1 = v2?

The second question is: if I put my finger at the exit section causing a little reduction in the section (but still allowing water flow) what happens to pressure??

Many thanks, Ferex
 
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Bernoulli's equation would not be applicable in your case unless you had two hoses of differing diameters, at which point the smaller diameter hose would have a faster flow and less pressure, regardless of which hose is first. It's really only applicable to the difference between the pressures immediately before and after the junction between the hoses.

Navier-Stokes, however, covers how pressure varies as a function of flow rate, but for incompressible flows of Newtonian fluids, such as water, it simiplifies to a linear solution involving pressure gradient, viscosity, and other body forces such as smoothness of the pipe or hose.

For a rigid hose, v1 is nearly equal to v2, the very slight difference being due to the very slight compressibility of water. For all practical garden hose purposes, however, they're equal, as water is considered to be incompressible for pressures encountered in a garden hose! Even at the 4 km depth in the ocean, at approximately 6,430 psi, there's only a 1.8% decrease in volume.

Pressure will vary linearly along the hose. If you restrict the exit such that P2>0, then P1 will increase as well, but not by the same amount, as your velocity will be reduced, and pressure differential per unit of length will be reduced as well.
 
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What your calculating is a delta velocity. The difference in pressure causes net force which drives the fluid. If the diameter stays constant, then the velocity also must due to conservation of mass (for incompressible flow).

However, when given a pressure difference, you must consider where that pressure is measured. That pressure is going to be at a location where the velocity is zero. Think of the water tower or some other plenum where the velocity of the fluid can be essentially negligible.

As you open the spigot, suddenly there is a delta P across the line, and the net force drives the fluid. So, to answer, no v1 does not equal v2 because they are taken at location of differing pressures (assuming z1=z2 of course).
 
Ferex: In scenario 1[/color], the hose outlet is perfectly straight, with no expansion nor contraction. Therefore, the exit head loss, he, is he = 0. Section 1 is immediately after the hose inlet, section 2 is immediately before the hose outlet, and section 3 is immediately after the hose outlet. The pressure at section 1 is given in post 1, p1 = 300 000 Pa.

p2 = p3 = 0, v1 = v2 = v3 = v, z1 = z2 = z3. For water at T = 15 C, density is rho = 998.7 kg/m^3, and absolute viscosity is mu = 1.14e-3 Pa*s. Let's assume the hose absolute roughness is e = 0.010 mm, the hose diameter is D = 15 mm, and the hose length is L = 5 m. The relative roughness is therefore e/D = 0.0007. Friction[/color] head loss is hf = 0.5*f*L*(v^2)/D. Initially assume fully turbulent flow. Therefore, going into the Moody chart, we see f = ~0.0180 for e/D = 0.0007. The Bernoulli equation, written between sections 1 and 2, is therefore as follows.

p1/rho + 0.5*v1^2 = p2/rho + 0.5*v2^2 + hf + he​

You could also divide through the above equation by g, if you wish, but I did not. Therefore, (p1 - p2)/rho + 0.5(v1^2 - v2^2) = hf + 0. This gives, p1/rho + 0 = 0.5*f*L*(v^2)/D. Solving for v gives, v = [2*p1*D/(rho*f*L)]^0.5. Therefore, we currently have v = {2(300 000 Pa)(0.015 m)/[(998.7 kg/m^3)(0.0180)(5 m)]}^0.5 = 10.01 m/s.

Now compute the Reynolds number. Re = rho*v*D/mu = 998.7*10.01*0.015/1.14e-3 = 1.32e5. Going back into the Moody chart for e/D = 0.0007, we see f = 0.0191, which does not match our previous value. Therefore, recompute v = [2*300 000*0.015/(998.7*0.0191*5)]^0.5 = 9.714 m/s.

Now Reynolds number becomes Re = 1.28e5. Going back into the Moody chart, we see f = 0.0192, which reasonably matches our previous value. Therefore, v = [2*300 000*0.015/(998.7*0.0192*5)]^0.5 = 9.689 m/s. The flow rate is Q = v*A = 0.001 712 (m^3)/s = 1.71 L/s.

In scenario 2[/color], where the hose exit is contracted by your finger, v1 = v2 ≠ v3, p1 ≠ p2 ≠ p3, p3 = 0. Let v = v1 = v2. Let's say D3 = 10.61 mm; therefore, A3/A2 = 0.50. Compute the hose exit head loss, he, which will now be nonzero due to the outlet contraction. he = 0.5*kc*v3^2, which would perhaps be he = 0.5*0.2*v3^2 (?). We know v3 = v2*A2/A3 = 2*v; therefore, he = 0.4*v^2. Now write the Bernoulli equation between sections 1 and 3, and solve for v, which gives v = {(p1/rho)/[(0.5*f*L/D) + 1.9]}^0.5. Solve for v iteratively, as we did before. I ended up with f = 0.0213, and v = 7.424 m/s. Now write the Bernoulli equation between sections 1 and 2, and solve for p2. Simplifying gives, p2 = p1 - 0.5*rho*f*(L/D)*v^2 = 300 000 - 0.5*998.7*0.0213*(5/0.015)*7.424^2 = 104 590 Pa = 104.6 kPa.
 
Oh yes! great work! I couldn't be more satisfied, thanks for your work nvn, and thanks to others who answered me. Now everything is clear!
 
I am thinking p1 = 300 kPa is too high at section 1 to be realistic. I am thinking 200 kPa would be a more realistic maximum value; and 100 kPa might be a realistic minimum value (?). You can buy an inexpensive pressure gauge at hardware stores or home supply stores. At the same stores, you can also buy a T (or Y) adapter that temporarily screws onto your outdoor water tap (spigot), where you normally attach your garden hose. Attach the T adapter to your outdoor tap, then screw your water pressure gauge and garden hose onto the adapter. Also buy a cap that screws onto the adapter, or garden hose, so you can measure static pressure, when no water is flowing.

Now fully open your outdoor tap valve, to measure the dynamic water pressure, p1, at section 1 while the water is flowing through your garden hose. This would give us a better p1 value at section 1 for the above calculations. We would also need the exact inside diameter of the garden hose, measured to the nearest tenth of a millimeter.

You can also measure the average horizontal travel distance of the output stream in scenario 1. From this, we can compute the stream exit velocity, v3, at section 3, knowing that the flight time will be exactly t = (2*h/g)^0.5, where h = horizontal stream outlet height.

Also measure the dimensions of a large container, compute the container volume, then measure the time for the scenario 1 output stream to fill the container. This would give us the garden hose flow rate.

Similarly, you can attach the T adapter and water pressure gauge to section 2 of the garden hose, to measure the dynamic water pressure at section 2 in scenario 2.

If anyone ever tries this experiment, and posts any of the above measurements here, we could rerun the calculations in post 4, to obtain more realistic values.
 

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