Bourdon Negative Pressure

Measurement Trainer

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. Technical Specifications

3. Front Panel Controls

4. Operating Instructions

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Bourdon Tube
Bourdon Tubes are known for its very high range of differential pressure measurement in the range of almost
100,000 psi (700 MPa). It is an elastic type pressure transducer.

The device was invented by Eugene Bourdon in the year 1849. The basic idea behind the device is that,
cross-sectional tubing when deformed in any way will tend to regain its circular form under the action of
pressure. The bourdon pressure gauges used today have a slight elliptical cross-section and the tube is
generally bent into a C-shape or arc length of about 27 degrees. The detailed diagram of the bourdon tube
is shown below.

As seen in the figure, the pressure input is given to a socket which is soldered to the tube at the base. The
other end or free end of the device is sealed by a tip. This tip is connected to a segmental lever through an
adjustable length link. The lever length may also be adjustable. The segmental lever is suitably pivoted and
the spindle holds the pointer as shown in the figure. A hair spring is sometimes used to fasten the spindle of
the frame of the instrument to provide necessary tension for proper meshing of the gear teeth and thereby
freeing the system from the backlash. Any error due to friction in the spindle bearings is known as lost
motion. The mechanical construction has to be highly accurate in the case of a Bourdon Tube Gauge. If we
consider a cross-section of the tube, its outer edge will have a larger surface than the inner portion. The tube
walls will have a thickness between 0.01 and 0.05 inches.

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As the fluid pressure enters the bourdon tube, it tries to be reformed and because of a free tip available, this
action causes the tip to travel in free space and the tube unwinds. The simultaneous actions of bending and
tension due to the internal pressure make a non-linear movement of the free tip. This travel is suitable guided
and amplified for the measurement of the internal pressure. But the main requirement of the device is that
whenever the same pressure is applied, the movement of the tip should be the same and on withdrawal of
the pressure the tip should return to the initial point.

A lot of compound stresses originate in the tube as soon as the pressure is applied. This makes the travel of
the tip to be non-linear in nature. If the tip travel is considerably small, the stresses can be considered to
produce a linear motion that is parallel to the axis of the link. The small linear tip movement is matched with
a rotational pointer movement. This is known as multiplication, which can be adjusted by adjusting the length
of the lever. For the same amount of tip travel, a shorter lever gives larger rotation. The approximately linear
motion of the tip when converted to a circular motion with the link-lever and pinion attachment, a one-to-
one correspondence between them may not occur and distortion results. This is known as angularity which
can be minimized by adjusting the length of the link.

Other than C-type, bourdon gauges can also be constructed in the form of a helix or a spiral. The types are
varied for specific uses and space accommodations, for better linearity and larger sensitivity. For thorough
repeatability, the bourdon tubes materials must have good elastic or spring characteristics. The surrounding
in which the process is carried out is also important as corrosive atmosphere or fluid would require a
material which is corrosion proof. The commonly used materials are phosphor-bronze, silicon-bronze,
beryllium-copper, inconel, and other C-Cr-Ni-Mo alloys, and so on.

Description
Deflection gauges measure true pressure via deflection of a bourdon tube, independent of the type of gas in
a system. Bourdon tubes are constructed in either C-tube or helical coil geometries and of these two, helical
Bourdon tubes provide the greatest sensitivity.
MDC Bourdon gauges are designed for rough vacuum measurements in the range of 30 inches of mercury
and positive pressures to 30psig. As a general rule, all vacuum components and chambers are rated for
vacuum service and should never be internally pressurized.

Vacuum gauges are devices for measuring vacuum or sub-atmospheric pressures. A vacuum is a space in
which the pressure of a gas is low compared to the atmospheric pressure. The measure of vacuum is
associated with pressure. Vacuum gauges and instruments are used in conjunction with vacuum sensors to
monitor and control the vacuum pressure in a system.

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1. The trainer consists of a Vacuum pump DC Operated 12v.

2. A bourdon vacuum gauge of 30 InHG Range.

3. A wheat stone based piezo vacuum sensor is connected with parallel to Bourdon vacuum gauge.

4. From Vacuum pump the vacuum is connected to bourdon gauges, sensor and to control valve.

5. The Vacuum sensor is connected to signal condition circuit.

6. The vacuum is display in digital panel meter.

7. All controls ie offset, gain control as well as pump speed controls are provided.

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1. Switch on the trainer.

2. Switch ON the Vacuum pump.

3. Keep the pump speed control potentiometer knob fully clockwise ie maximum.

4. Keep the control valve fully open.

5. Now adjust the “OFFSET” Control potentiometer to zero at display.

6. Now keep the control valve fully closed.

7. Observe the Reading in the BOURDON Vacuum Gauge and adjust the “GAIN” Potentiometer to readings
of the bourdon gauge equal to display reading.

8. Now adjust the Control valve very very fine movement, ie very slowely to open or close.

9. With help of control valve, keep the vacuum at 5 InHG At bourdon gauge and measure the readings at
display and note down.

10. Like wise adjust the control and keep at vacuum from 5 InHG TO 15 InHG In steps of 2 InHG And take
corresponding readings in the display.

SL NO: VACUUM METER READING VOLTAGE OUTPUT

1. 5
2. 7
3. 9
4. 10
5. 12
6. 14
7. 15
8. 17

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Bourdon Negative Pressure

( Sr. No:............................)

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