hydraulic head | Energy Glossary

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hydraulic head

1. n. []

The force per unit area exerted by a column of liquid at a height above a depth (and pressure) of interest. Fluids flow down a hydraulic gradient, from points of higher to lower hydraulic head. The term is sometimes used synonymously with hydrostatic head.

See: hydrostatic headhydrostatic pressurenormal pressure

Pressure versus depth plot