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Pirani Gauges:
In the Pirani gauge (PG) the voltage required to maintain the hot wire at
a constant temperature is used as a non-linear, gas-dependent, function
of pressure. Traditional Pirani gauges provide useful pressure readings
between 10-3 and 10 Torr. In convection-enhanced Pirani gauges, the
upper range is extended upward to 1000 Torr by taking advantage of
thermal convection currents created at the higher pressures.
Thermocouple Gauges:
In the thermocouple gauge (TC) the pressure is indicated by measuring
the small voltage of a thermocouple spot welded directly onto the hot
wire. The wire is fed with a constant current and its temperature
depends on the thermal conductivity and pressure of the gases present.
TC gauges display useful pressures between 10-3 and 1 Torr. TC gauges
have long been regarded a cost-effective means to
Monitor the fore line pressures of pumping stations
Crossover gauges for vacuum systems
However, they are being systematically replaced in all modern vacuum
systems by more accurate and reliable Pirani gauges, such as the
convection-enhanced Pirani gauge manufactured by Stanford Research
Systems.
Working Principal:
The working of a thermocouple type vacuum gauge is very similar to that
of a pirani gauge. The only difference is that the hot wire temperature is
measured directly with a thermocouple which is attached to a wire. For
different pressures, the temperature is measured by the fine-wire
thermocouple, the hating current being initially fixed by the resistance
as shown in the figure. This device is usually used for comparison
purposes. The sensitivity of such an instrument depends on the pressure
and the wire current.
Calibration:
Thermocouples gauges are calibrated such that the wire’s temperature is
displayed as a pressure reading. This allows such problems as a variations
in heat flow through the supporting electrodes to be taken into account.
Thermocouples gauges are not particularly accurate instruments. Most
often they are used as rough indicators of pressure where 10 to 20
percent accuracy is acceptable.
Applications:
Measuring low vacuum temperature.
Monitor the fore line pressures of pumping stations
Crossover gauges for vacuum systems in general
Comparison:
Pirani gauge is preferred over thermocouple gauge
It is ten time faster than thermocouple gauge
Wider range of pressure can be measured with a pirani gauge
Well designed pirani gauges offer better accuracy and response
time