2.

0 Experimental design

Figure 2.1 Pressure Measurement Bench

Figure 2.2 Pressure and vacuum tank
Figure 2.3 Vacuum Tank
 Figure 2.4 Pressure tank

2.1 Materials and Apparatus

 Pressure measurement bench

 Air
 Pressure calibrator device
 Pressure and vacuum pump

2.2 Methods

For the pressure gauge calibration experiment, the reading must be at zero whereas for the
vacuum gauge calibration experiment, the scale must show the maximum reading before the
experiment starts. The eye level was perpendicular to the scale reading to avoid parallax error.
Moreover, the relief valves were opened to release the pressure in the tank before carrying out
each experiment. On the other hand, the hoses are ensured to be secured tightly to prevent any
pressure leakage to the surrounding atmosphere.

2.3 Procedures

Pressure gauge calibration

1. Valve 8 was opened to allow the pressure to escape from the tank.
2. The gauge pressure was checked to ensure that the reading shows zero.
3. Later, one of the outlet valves of the pressure tank (valve 5) was connected to the pressure
calibrator device while the other valve (valve 6) was connected to the pressure gauge.
4. Valve 8 was closed and the inlet valve of the pressure tank (valve 7) was opened.
5. Once the pressure pump was switched on, the pressure in the tank was adjusted to 5.0, 9.5
and 13.0 psi by rotating the knob at the pump.
6. The readings of pressure gauge and the pressure calibrator device were recorded and
tabulated in Table 3.1. All the readings were recorded in psi.
7. Once the readings were recorded, the pressure pump was switched off and valve 8 was
opened to release the built up in pressure inside the tank for the next experiment.

Vacuum gauge calibration

1. The relief valve (valve 4) was opened to allow the pressure to escape from the tank.
2. The vacuum gauge on the vacuum tank was checked to have the maximum reading to ensure
the release of the pressure in the tank.
3. Later, one of the outlet valves of the vacuum tank (valve 1) was connected to the pressure
calibrator device while the other valve (valve 2) was connected to vacuum gauge.
4. Valve 4 was closed and the inlet valve of the vacuum tank (valve 3) was opened.
5. Once the vacuum pump was switched on, the vacuum supply from the tank was adjusted to -
75, -140 and -240 mmHg by rotating the knob at the pump.
6. The readings of vacuum gauge and the pressure calibrator device were recorded and
tabulated in Table 3.2. All the readings were recorded in mmHg.
7. Once the readings were recorded, the vacuum pump was switched off and valve 4 was
opened to enable the vacuum pressure to escape from the tank.

Differential pressure calibration

1. Both the relief valves (valve 8) and (valve 4) were opened to release the pressure inside the
tank.
2. The outlet valve of pressure tank (valve 6) and vacuum tank (valve 2) were connected to the
‘HIGH’ and “LOW’ port of the differential pressure gauge respectively.
3. Meanwhile, the other outlet valves of pressure tank (valve 5) and vacuum tank (valve 1) were
connected to the high pressure inlet and low pressure inlet of the pressure calibrator device
respectively.
4. The relief valves were closed and the inlet valves of the pressure tank (valve 7) and vacuum
tanks (valve 3) are opened.
5. Later, the pump was switched on.
6. The differential pressure gauge was adjusted to 10, 15 and 20 psi by rotating the knob at the
pump. The readings of the pressure tank, vacuum tank and the pressure calibrator device
were recorded and tabulated in Table 3.3.
7. The readings of vacuum tank were recorded in cmHg and later were converted to psi to make
all the readings have same units.
8. After the readings are recorded, the pump was switched off and the relief valves were
opened.