PRESSURE MEASUREMENT DEVICES

Pressure measurement is important because:

It is a quantity that describes a system.

It is invariably a significant process parameter.

Many a time, pressure difference is used as a means of measuring the flow rate of a fluid.

Units of pressure :

1Pascal(1N/m2) = 10dyne/cm2
1mmHg = 133.32pascals = 13.595mm Water
Standard atmosphere = 1.013 * 105N/m2
1 millibar = 1000 dyn/cm2
1 micron = 10-6mHg
1 torr = 1 mmHg = 1000micron

Pressure measurement scales

Absolute pressure is pressure measured from perfect vaccum. (psia).

Pressure above atmospheric pressure is called (positive) gage pressure (psig)

Pressure below atmospheric pressure is called vacuum pressure or (negative gage pressure)

Absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmospheric pressure

We can classify the pressure measuring instruments into 3 major categories

Moderate pressure measurement

A – Manometers
B – Mechanical displacement type
Ring balance manometer
Bell-Type Manometer
C-Elastic pressure transducer
-Bourdon tube pressure gage
-Diaphragm type gauge
-Bellow Gages
D-Electrical pressure transducers
-Resistance type pressure transducer
-Potentiometer devices
-Inductive type transducer
-Capacitive type transducer
-Piezoelectric pressure transducer

Very High-pressure Measurement

High Vacuum measurement or Low pressure measurements:

McLeod gage, Pirani gage, Ionization gage, Knudsen gage

Manometers:
One of the oldest means of pressure measurement.

Manometers can be used to measure gage pressure , absolute pressure, pressure difference.

This manometer is very easily constructed. It consists of a tube of glass bent into a U
shape. It is then filled with a fluid. The density of the fluid dictates the range of pressures
that can be measured.

Manometer fluid may be mercury , water etc…

If the manometer is connected to same pressure source (P1 = P2), the level of the manometer
will be same.

If the manometer is connected to two different pressure source there will be a difference in
level of the manometer fluid in both the limps.

Both ends of the tube are pressure ports. If one port is left open to the atmosphere and the
other port is connected to the pressure to be measured, the device acts as a gauge pressure
meter.

If both ports are connected to two different unknown pressures, the instrument acts as a
differential pressure gauge.

Pressure drop measurement:

The U-tube manometer is shown in fig. The difference in the height of the two columns is
due to the fact that p1 is greater than p2.

For hydrostatic balance we have as follows:

p1-p2=ρg(h+h1)-ρ1gh-ρgh1=hg(ρ-ρ1)

where
ρ1 is the density of the measurand fluid

ρ is the density of the fluid in the manometer.

Since h2=h+h1, The above equation becomes

Assuming that we have air as the measurand fluid ( the density is very very low compared to
density of manometric fluid, the equation above becomes:

Since g is the acceleration due to gravity and is a constant and the fluid density is a constant,
the difference in pressure is directly proportional to the difference in the heights of the
columns.

Rearranging the above equation gives:

Manometer fluid should

Not wet the wall, Not absorb gas, Not react chemically, Have low vapor pressure

Move freely.

Various types of manometers:

Well type Manometer

In a well type manometer, one leg is replaced by a large diameter well. Since the cross
sectional area of the well is much larger than the other leg, when pressure is applied to the
well, the manometer liquid in the well lowers only slightly compared to the liquid rise in the
other leg. As a result of this, the pressure difference can be indicated only by the height of the
liquid column in single leg.

For static balance,

P2-P1= gρ(h+x)---(1)
Mass balance

A1h=A2x ----(2)

From 1 and 2

P2-P1= gρ(1+A1/A2)h

where A1= area of smaller-diameter leg

A2= area of well

If A1/A2 << 1 then P2-P1 = hρg

If the area of well is 500 or more times larger than the area of vertical leg,

The error involved in neglecting the area is negligible.

Inclined-Tube Manometers:

The inclined leg expands the scale so that lower pressure differentials may be read easily.

Sensitivity of the manometer increases. The scale of the manometer can be extended greatly
by decreasing the angle of inclined leg to a small value.

P2-P1= gρ(1+A1/A2)R1sinα
where

A1= area of smaller-diameter leg, A2= area of well

Rm=vertical difference between the two limbs of manometer fluid.

α=angle of inclination of the tube with horizontal

If A1/A2 << 1 then P2-P1 = gρR1sinα

The mercury float manometer

It is a modification of the well type manometer. Because the buoyant force on the float is
sufficient to move a recording mechanism, the mercury float manometer can be used as a
differential pressure recording instrument. The manometer fluid does not have to be visible;
therefore, the manometer may be made of metal permitting its use at high pressure up to 5,00
psi.

Ring Balance Manometer:

The ring balance manometer is not a manometer in the true sense, but is commonly
considered so.

Construction:

In consists of a tube usually made of polythene or other suitable light and transparent
material. The material is bent in the form of a ring and is supported at its center with the help
of a suitable pivot. The tubular chamber is divided into tow parts by spilitting and sealing.
This chamber is filled with a light liquid like paraffin oil or kerosene. The pressure input
connections are made with flexible couplings and tubing’s so that the ring can move. A
counter-weight is attached to the ring.

The differential pressure applied to the ring balance is proportional to the angle of rotation,
i.e. the angle of rotation is a measure of the pressure difference across the instrument.

Let pressure P1 and P2 act against the walls as shown. When the pressure at P1 connection
increases, it lowers the liquid on its side of the ring. This causes the ring to turn above its
center and as it becomes out of balance the counter weight W exerts a restoring moment to
bring back balance. At equilibrium, moment due to differential pressure is equal to the
restoring moment of counter weight.

Therefore, Rotating moment = Restoring moment

(P1-P2).A.r1= mgx=mgr2.sinϴ where

m = mass of counter weight, kg.

r2 = radius on which counter weight moves

r1 = mean diameter of ring, m

A = area of cross-section of ring,m2

∅ = angle of tilt of counter weight from the vertical axis.

X=horizontal distance moved by counter weight.

Bourdon tube pressure gage:

Bourdon Tube 0" to 12 PSI (small range ) 0 to 100,000 PSI (large range)

In its simplest form the Bourdon tube consists of a tube of oval section, bent in a circular arc.

Construction:

One end of the tube is sealed and attached by a link mechanism which operates the pointer.

The other end of the tube is fixed, and is open for the application of the pressure which is to
be measured. The internal pressure tends to change the section of the tube from oval to
circular, and this tends to straighten out the tube. The resulting movement of the free end of
the tube causes the pointer to move over the scale.

Where corrosion problems are not there, The MOC for Bouardon tubes is

Phosphor-Bronze tubes are used for ranges of 14 - 1000 psig;

Beryllium-copper tubes for up ranges to 5000 psig;

Steel tubes for ranges 1000 to 9000 psig.

When required to resist corrosion by the measured fluid, solid drawn carbon steel tubes used
for ranges 14 to 500 psig;

Stainless steel tubes for ranges 28 to 1000 psig and

Solid drawn "K" monel tubes with screwed and welded joints are used for ranges 1000 to
20000 psig.

(Monel K-500 (nickel-copper alloy+ aluminum and titanium ))

Liquid (glycerin) inside works to dampen the effect of pulsation and pressure spikes.
When Bourdon types of pressure gauges are used, the normal working pressure should not be
more than 60 per cent of the maximum pressure indicated by the gauge.

The nature of the liquid or gas whose pressure is being measured must also be considered
when choosing the suitable material for the tube.

Ex: If a gas corrodes the tube , it will soon alter its elastic properties and performance of the
instrument becomes unreliable.

If a gauge has been overloaded so that its pointer has gone off the scale, it should no longer
be regarded as being accurate until re calibration has shown it to be so.

The spiral Bourdon is used for lower pressure measurement. Usual range 0-30 mega pascals

Spiral type bourdon tubes are constructed by winding the long tube into several turns in the
form spiral shape. One end of the bourdon tube is opened through which the pressure to be
measured is applied whereas another end is closed. The sealed end of the bourdon tube
is mechanically connected to a pointer .

When the pressure to be measured is applied to the spiral, it tends to uncoil producing a
relatively long movement of the tip whose displacement can be used for deflection of the
pointer.

The accuracy of spiral tube element is higher than that of C type element. The spiral is made
from chrome molybdenum steel tubing. Sensitivity of the instrument is more compared to C
type Bourdon tube.

Helical Bourdon tubes:

The helical form is used for higher pressure. Range: 1.5 to 550 mega pascals. Beryllium-
copper is tough and has reliable elastic properties which make it very suitable for high
pressure elements.

This sensor produces greater movement of the tip whose displacement can be used for
deflection of the pointer.
Bellow gages:

A bellows gauge contains an elastic element that is a convoluted unit that expands and
contracts axially with changes in pressure. The pressure to be measured
is applied to the outside. When pressure is applied. These bellows squeezes and the link
to the pointer moves upwards. This movement can be calibrated in terms of
pressure. Like Bourdon tube elements, the elastic elements in bellows gauges are made of
brass, phosphorbronze, beryllium-copper stainless steel, or other metal that is suitable for
the intended purpose of the gauge. Used to measure pressure upto 100 psi.

Most bellows gauges are spring-loaded that ring opposes the bellows, thus preventing full
expansion of the bellows. Limiting the expansion of the
bellows in this way protects the bellows and prolongs its life.

In a spring-loaded bellows element, the deflection is the result of the force acting on
the bellows and the opposing force of the spring.

Although some bellows instruments can be designed for measuring pressures up to 800
psig, their primary application is in the measurement of low pressure or small pressure
differentials.

Bellow pressure gages are used to measure gage pressures , differential pressure and absolute
pressures.
 Fig: Differential pressure measurement

We have two bellows connected with each other and attached a pointer to the link that
connects these two bellows. When theses two bellows are connected to two unknown
pressure sources , the movement of the pointer against the scale will be the results of the
difference in the pressures p1 and p2. Here the instrument acts as differential pressure
measurement.

Fig: Absolute pressure measurement

Diaphragm Pressure gages:

Diaphragm pressure gages are based on the deflection of a flexible membrane that separates
regions of different pressures. The deformation of a thin diaphragm is dependent on the
difference in pressure between its two faces.

The amount of deflection is repeatable for known pressures so the pressure can be determined
using a suitable calibration.

Two types: metallic and non metallic diaphragms.