E233 – Thermofluids

P01

Dimensions & units, temperature and

pressure

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Dimensions and Units
Any physical quantity can be characterised by dimensions. The
magnitudes assigned to dimensions are called units. Some
basic dimensions such as mass m, length l, time t and
temperature are selected as primary or fundamental
dimensions, while others such as velocity V, energy E and
volume  are expressed in term of the primary dimensions and
are called secondary dimensions or derived dimensions.
The four primary (or fundamental) dimensions and their units
Dimensions Units
Length meter, m
Mass kilogram, kg
Time second, s
Temperature kelvin, K

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 SI Units (Systeme International d’Unites)
In SI units, mass kg
length, distance m
area m2
time s
force, weight N (newton)
volume m3
density kg/m3
work, energy Nm or J (joule)
power W (N.m/s) (J/s)
pressure N/m2 or Pa (pascal) or bar**
gravity 9.807 m/s2 (use 9.81)
acceleration m/s2
**
1 N/m2=1 Pa, 1 bar=105 Pa

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Secondary (or Derived) Units
Secondary units are expressed in terms
of primary units, for example, velocity,
energy and volume.
Newton’s 2nd law is force equals to mass
times acceleration, F=ma. Force unit is the
newton (N), and it is defined as the force
required to accelerate a mass of 1 kg at a
rate of 1 m/s2. Use Newton’s 2nd law to
calculate the weight of a box of breakfast
cereal.
 1 kg  2  1N 
W = mg =  0.454 g     9.81 m/s   2 
= 4.454 N
 1000 g
    1kg x 1 m/s
  
To convert g to kg Newton's 2nd law

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Temperature
Temperature is a measure of ‘hotness’ and ‘coldness’. Based on
our physiological sensation, we can express the level of
temperature qualitatively as warm, hot, cold or freezing cold. But
we cannot assign numerical values to temperatures.
30oC 20oC I’m feeling cold
(freezing cold,
8oC)

I’m feeling
warm (hot,
42oC)

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Temperature (cont’d)
Temperatures are measured by
thermometers and the
measured values are compared
to the boiling or freezing
temperature of water in order to
know quantitatively the degree
of hotness or coldness.

The boiling temperature of water is

100oC and the freezing temperature
of water is 0oC.

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Absolute Temperature, -273.15oC
A constant-volume gas
thermometer is used to
measure the p-T relationship of
four gases; Gas A, Gas B, Gas
C and Gas D. When plotted and
extrapolated to absolute zero
pressure on a p-T graph, all the
lines converge to the same
point on the T-axis at -273.15oC,
which is called the absolute
zero point and it corresponds to
zero kelvin on the Kelvin scale.

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Thermal Contact & Thermal Equilibrium
• Thermal Contact
• Two objects are in thermal contact with each
other if heat exchange can occur between
them. The two objects are at different
temperatures
• Thermal Equilibrium
• It is a situation in which two objects in thermal
contact with each other cease to exchange
heat. The two objects are at the same
temperature

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

If objects A and B are in thermal

equilibrium with a third object, C, then A
and B are in thermal equilibrium with each
other.
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 TheZeroth Law (cont’d)
The Zeroth Law is the basis of temperature
measurement. When an object has equality of
temperature with the thermometer, one can say
that the object has the temperature one reads on
the thermometer.

Standard scale of temperature measurements

based on the SI units is the Celsius, the symbol
for which is oC. The absolute scale related to the
Celsius scale is the Kelvin scale and is
designated K.

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Celsius & Kelvin Temperature Scales Compared
Celsius Kelvin
scale, oC scale, K

100 373.15
Boiling Steam point
water

100 divisions
0 273.15
Ice point
Ice &
water

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 o
C & K Relationship
Celsius Scale
• It is expressed as oC
• It has 100 segments equally divided
between 0oC and 100oC. Each segment
is 1 Celsius degree
Kelvin Scale
• It is expressed as K
• It has 100 segments equally divided
between 273.15K and 373.15K. Each
segment is 1 kelvin
• 0(zero)K=-273.15oC is the absolute zero
point

K= oC+273.15
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 Pressure
Pressure is defined as a normal force exerted by a fluid
per unit area. Pressure has the unit N/m2 which is called a
pascal (Pa). Two other pressure units are also commonly
used . Pressure units are:
1 Pa = 1 N/m2
1 bar = 105 Pa = 100 kPa =0.1 MPa
1 atm =101,325 Pa = 101.325 kPa =1.01325
bar Multiple Prefix Symbol
10-3 milli m
103 kilo k
106 mega M

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Pressure at a Point
F (N) 2
From definition, P (N/m ) =
A (m2 )
A cylinder with a movable piston of 0.3 m diameter is
supporting a car of 20500 N. Calculate the pressure in the
liquid under the piston.

20500
P= = 2.9x105 N/m2
  0.3 
2

P
Liquid
4

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Hydraulic Lift
A simple hydraulic lift schematic is shown below. Understanding of pressures
and forces enables us to calculate the value of the applied force F1 required to
lift a car of weight F2. The pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the enclosure is
the same throughout. Therefore,
F1 F2 A1
P= = ; giving F1 = F2 . Since A 2 > A 1;
A1 A 2 A2
F1 < F2 ; that is, a smaller F1 is required to lift
a larger F2 . But the distance
moved by F1 is greater than
the distance moved by
the car according to the
relationship, A1d1 = A 2d2

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Hydraulic Lift (cont’d)
If the radius of the smaller piston is 2 cm and the radius of the larger piston is
20 cm, what weight can the larger piston support when a force of 250 N is
applied to the smaller piston? If the smaller piston moves 500 cm, how far
does the larger piston move?
A1 =  r12 ; A 2 =  r22
A2  r22 202
F2 = F1 = 2 F1 = 2  250  = 25000 N
A1  r1 2
A1  r12
d2 = d1 = 2 d1
A2  r2
22
= 2  500  = 5 cm
20

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Absolute, Gauge & Vacuum Pressures
Gauge pressure is positive when the measured pressure is above the
atmospheric pressure. Gauge pressure is negative when the
measured pressure is below the atmospheric pressure, and it is often
called the vacuum pressure.

Patm=101.325 kPa
Pgauge Pabs = Patm +Pgauge
Pvac
Pabs = Patm - Pvac
Pabs

Patm Patm
Patm, atmospheric pressure
Pabs Pgauge, gauge pressure
Pabs, absolute pressure
Pvac, vacuum pressure
Pabs=0

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Absolute Pressures in a Chamber
ground A gauge connected to a
Pgauge
Patm=100 kPa chamber read 40 kPa at
a location where the
Pvac
atmospheric pressure is
Pabs 100 kPa. Determine the
Patm Patm absolute pressure in the
chamber if the gauge (a)
Pabs
is a pressure gauge, (b)
is a vacuum gauge.
Pabs=0

(a) Pabs = Patm +Pgauge =100 + 40 =140 kPa

(b) Pabs = Patm - Pvac =100 - 40 = 60 kPa
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 Variation of Pressure with Depth
Consider a column of water, abcd,
which is in equilibrium with the
surrounding water where:
Patm = Atmospheric pressure
Ph = Pressure at depth h
h = Column height
A = Column cross section area
M = Mass of column of water
Equating forces in the vertical direction
gives:.
Ph A = Patm A +Mg and noting that M = hA,
Ph = Patm +  gh
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 Understanding Question
From the definition of density, verify that
M=hA. Verify also that mass, M, has a unit of
kg.
mass M
density = =  M = hA
volume hA
kg
 = 3 ; Click
h = mhere m2 solutions
; Ato=see
m
kg
Therefore, M = 3  m m2 = kg
m
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 Pressure at same depth, h

Ph = (Patm +  gh) = PA = PB = PC = PD
Pressure in a liquid is the same at all points at the same
h. Shape of vessel does not affect the pressure
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 Pressure Measurement - Barometer
The figure shown is a simple
Vacuum barometer. The pressure at point B at
(P=0)
C the surface of the mercury is the
atmospheric pressure, and the
pressure at C is zero. The pressure
at A is due to the column of mercury
of height h. Since points A and B are
h
at the same level, their pressure is
Atmospheric equal, Thus,
pressure
Patm=gh
A B Hence, by measuring h, Patm can be
Hg determined, where  is the density of
mercury.
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 Barometer (cont’d)
Vacuum Determine the atmospheric
C (P=0) pressure at a location where the
barometer reading is 740 mm Hg.
The gravitational acceleration
g=9.81 m/s2 and the density of
mercury is 13600 kg/m3.
740 mm

Atmospheric Patm =  gh
pressure
 740 
=  13600  9.81 
A B
 1000 
Hg = 98728 Pa

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Conceptual Question
A can be mercury or water. Density of
mercury is 13.6 times heavier than
water. From your understanding of
Patm=gh, which of the following is true?

hmercury >hwater
hmercury = hwater
hmercury <hwater
For practical design of a barometer,
which is preferred for A, mercury or
water? Why?
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 Pressure Measurement – U-tube Manometer

Patm The figure shows a basic

manometer. It is
connected to a pipe. The
gas pressure inside the
pipe is to be measured.
Gas at
Pressure at B is (Patm+
Pgas
gh). Since A and B are at
the same level, PA=PB.
End A is connected to the
pipe, and therefore
Pgas = PA = PB =  Patm + ρgh Pgas=PA.

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 U-tube Manometer – Practice Question

A U-tube manometer filled with water measures the difference in pressure of gas
A and gas B as h=25 cm. (a) Is PA>PB, PA=PB or PA<PB? (b) What is the
difference in pressure of gas A and gas B? If the right branch is tilted to make an
angle  =30o, what should be the length l ?
(a) PA > PB
(b) Difference in pressure =  gh = 1000  9.81 0.25 = 2452.5 Pa
Click here to see the answers
The vertical h in the tilted branch must be the same as the original h,
and therefore,  = (h/sin  ) = (25/sin30 ) = 50 cm
o

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering

 Pressure in a Tank
A manometer is used to measure
the pressure in a tank. The fluid
used has a specific gravity of 0.85
Tank
and the manometer column height is
55 cm. If the local atmospheric
pressure is 96 kPa, determine the
absolute pressure and the gauge
pressure within the tank.
 fluid used
SG =   fluid used = SG   water  = 0.85(1000) = 850 kg/m3
 water
 55 
Ptank = Patm +  fluid usedgh = 96000 +  850  9.81  = 100600 Pa
 100 
Pgauge = Ptank - Patm = 100600 - 96000 = 4600 kPa
E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering
 What have you learned?

1.The importance of Dimensions and

Units.
2. Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics.
3.Temperature scales
4.Pressures and pressure
measurements.

E233 Thermofluid, School of Engineering