Differential Manometers

Differential manometers are used to measure the pressure difference between two points in a pipe
or in two different containers. There are three types of differential manometers: (i) U-tube
differential manometers (ii) Inverted u-tube differential manometers (iii) Micro manometers or u-
tube double reservoir manometers.
(i) U-tube differential manometers: It consists of a u-tube, containing a heavy liquid. The two ends
are connected to two different points whose pressure difference is to be measured.

From Fig. 3.4 (a) A and B are two points at different heights which are connected by two ends of the
u-tube as per the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.4 (a).
Let
w
1
= sp. weight of liquid at A;
1
= sp. weight of liquid at A;
w
2
= sp. weight of liquid at B;
2
= sp. weight of liquid at B
w
g
= sp. weight of liquid at manometric liquid say mercury;
g
= sp. weight of liquid at manometric
liquid say mercury
h
2
- difference of mercury level in the U-tube
h
1
- distance of the centre of B, from the mercury level in the right limb
(h
3
+h
1
)= x= Distance of the centre of B, from the mercury level in the right limb
Datum line at C-D
P
A
= Pressure at A & P
B
=Pressure at B.

Pressure above C-D in the left limb=

A
P x h g
1 1

Pressure above C-D in the right limb=
B
P gh gh
2 2 1 1





Taking CD as equi-pressure line, Pressure at C (left limb) = Pressure at D (right limb).
P
A
+ w
1
(h
1
+ h
2
+ h
3
) = P
B
+ w
g
h
1
+ w
2
h
2

or P
A
P
B
= h
1
(w
g
-w
1
) +h
2
(w
2
-w
1
)-w
1
h
3


Difference of pressure between A and B = h
1
(w
g
- w
1
) + h
2
(w
2
- w
1
)- h
3
w
1
.
From Fig. 3.4 (b) A and B points are in the same level.

Pressure at C (left limb) = Pressure at D (right limb)
P
A
+ (h
1
+h
2
)w
1
= w
g
h
1
+w2 h
2
+ P
8

or P
A-
P
B
= w
g
h
1
+ w
2
h
2
- w
1
h
1
- w
1
h
2


Difference in pressures between A and B = h
2
(w
g
-w
1
) + h
2
(w
2
-w
1
)
[Note that if we put h3 = 0, for Fig. 3.4(a) we will reach to the same equation for Fig. 3.4(b)](H)

(ii) Inverted u-tube differential manometers: It is used for measuring difference between
low pressures. Fig. 3.5 shows an inverted u-tube differential manometer.

Pressure at C (left limb) = Pressure at D (right limb)
P
A
w
1
(h
1
+h
2
+h
3
) = P
B
-w
2
h
2
- w
g
h
3

Or P
A
- P
B
= w
1
(h
1
+ h
2
+ h
3
) w
2
h
2
w
g
h
3

Difference in pressures between A & B.= w
1
h
1
+ h
2
(w
1
-w
2
) + h
3
(w
1
w
g
)