THERMO FLUIDS IME-241L

LAB REPORT

EXPERIMENT No.2
“To Calibrate Bourdon Pressure Guage using Dead Weight Apparatus.”

SUBMITTED TO: Prof. Dr SALMAN HABIB

SUBMITTED BY: HASSAN ALI BUTT
REGISTERATION NO: 2017-IM-39

DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING

ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
 EXPERIMENT No.2

TITLE: To Calibrate Bourdon Pressure Gauge using Dead Weight Apparatus.

PROBLEM STATEMENT:
A Beverage company in a city which provides the Soft
Drinks in the whole city. They use pressure tubes along with pressure measuring
devices by which they fill the pressurized cold drink with gases in the bottles.
When these pressure measuring gauges used for a very long time then sometimes
there become a chance that they measure the inaccurate pressure at that point
which can cause some serious issues so to overcome these circumstances they have
to calibrate these pressure gauges according to the standardized gauge. At this
stage the calibration of pressure gauges plays an important role.
This calibration is also required for any water supply agency to correctly check the
pressure of water at the specific points or stages.
As in the Following figures the pressure gauge is attached with filling pipes to
measure pressure.

Pressure Gauge with pipes Bottle Filling

OBJECTIVE: Our main objective of this experiment is:
 Calibration of Bourdon pressure gauge.
 Understand the purpose of Calibration.
 Effects of the wrong Calibration.
APPARATUS:
 Dead weight calibrator
 Set of Test Weights
 Bourdon Pressure Gauge
 Mobile Oil
THEORY:
Calibration:
Calibration means to check the accuracy or irregularity of a
measuring instrument. Continuous use of gages, wear, and tear, also excessive
loading may cause error in their measurements. They must be calibrated and
corrected periodically.
Calibration in the measurement technology and metrology of measurement values
delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known
accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known
accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, or a
physical artefact, such as a meter ruler.[1]
Calibration Process:
The increasing need for known accuracy and uncertainty and the need to have
consistent and comparable standards internationally has led to the establishment of
national laboratories. In many countries a National Metrology Institute (NMI) will
exist which will maintain primary standards of measurement (the main SI
units plus a number of derived units) which will be used to provide traceability to
customer's instruments by calibration.[1]
Need of Calibration:
Calibration may be required for the following reasons:
 a new instrument
  after an instrument has been repaired or modified
 when a specified time period has elapsed
 when a specified usage (operating hours) has elapsed
 before and/or after a critical measurement
 after an event, for example
 after an instrument has been exposed to a shock, vibration, or
physical damage, which might potentially have compromised the
integrity of its calibration
 sudden changes in weather
 whenever observations appear questionable or instrument indications do not
match the output of surrogate instruments
 as specified by a requirement, e.g., customer specification, instrument
manufacturer recommendation.
Pressure:
Pressure (symbol: p or P) is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of
an object per unit area over which that force is distributed. [2]
Types of Pressure:
1. Atmospheric Pressure:
The pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere, which at sea level has a
mean value of 101,325 pascals (roughly 14.6959 pounds per square inch). [2]

2. Absolute Pressure:

Absolute
 pressure is zero-referenced against a perfect

vacuum, using an absolute scale, so it is equal to gauge

pressure plus atmospheric pressure. Gauge pressure is

zero-referenced against ambient air pressure, so it is

equal to absolute pressure minus atmospheric pressure.
[2]  Relation Between Absolute,
Atmospheric, Vacuum and
3. Vacuum Pressure: gage pressure.

Vacuum Pressure is the pressure which is below the

atmospheric Pressure. Vacuum pressure is
the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the
4. Gauge Pressure:
Gauge pressure (also spelled gage pressure) is the pressure relative to the
ambient pressure. 
Gage Pressure = Actual Pressure – Atmospheric Pressure
Units of Pressure:
Units of pressure are:
 Pascal (Pa) or N/m2
 Bar (bar)
 Technical Atmospheric Pressure (at)
 Standard Atmospheric Pressure (atm)
 Torr (torr)
 Pound per square inch (psi)
Pressure measuring devices:
Following are some pressure measuring devices:
Manometer:
It is the device which is used to measure the pressure of the fluid. It is
u shaped and open from both ends and the P atm tends to raise the liquid from
other side and it can cause difference in height and so the pressure is measured. [3]
Barometer:
It is the device used in the meteorology to measure the atmospheric
pressure. [3]
Piezometer:
It is a device used to measure the liquid pressure in the system by
measuring the height at which the liquid rises in the tube. [3]
Piezoelectric:
Uses the piezoelectric effect in certain materials such as quartz to
measure the strain upon the sensing mechanism due to pressure. [3]
Potentiometric:
Uses the motion of a wiper along a resistive mechanism to detect the
strain caused by applied pressure. [3]

Pressure Gauge:
Pressure Gauge is a device used for measurement of pressure. Pressure
Gauge finds its application in various industrial projects where pressure is
measured time and again; it is also used for specific pressure monitoring
applications. Pressure gauge is also used in monitoring air and gas pressure for
compressor, vacuum equipment, pressure lines etc. It is also used in measurement
of pressure in medical gas cylinder and fire extinguisher. Mechanical or analog
pressure gauge has analog face for display of pressure reading. [4]
Features of Pressure Gauge:
o They have adjustable pointer, which is adjusted to zero scale with the help of a
screw or knob.
o Maximum and minimum pointers are available to indicate maximum and
minimum pressure achieved.
o Stationary set hand pointer is used to indicate specifically set pressure.
o Pressure gauge has a throttling device which is used to reduce pressure impact
and movement of pointer caused by pressure vibrations.
o Electrical contacts are available which are used to turn on alarm, signal light or
pump.

Types of Pressure Gauges:

Different types of pressure gauges are:
 Bourdon Gauge (measures pressure above Atmospheric Pressure).
 Vacuum Gauge (measures pressure below Atmospheric Pressure).
 Compound Gauge (measures pressure both above and below Atmospheric
Pressure).
1. Bourdon Gauge:

Bourdon tube pressure gauges are used for the measurement

of relative pressures from 0.6 ... 7,000 bars. They are
classified as mechanical pressure measuring instruments,
and thus operate without any electrical power
Bourdon Gauge

2. Vacuum Gauge:

A device which is used to measure the pressure below the

atmospheric pressure or simply negative pressures.

Vacuum Gauge

3. Compound Gauge:

A compound gauge is a device that can display both positive

and negative (vacuum) pressures. You need to use a compound
gauge when you are measuring a system that is exerting both
positive and negative pressure on the gauge. Compound Gauge

Construction and Working

Construction:
Bourdon Pressure Gauge consists of Bourdon tube, a sector gear and a pinion, a
link and a pointer with a dial. Bourdon tube is elliptical in cross-section and hence is
flexible and strong. Bourdon tubes are radially formed tubes with an oval cross-section.
The pressure of the measuring medium acts on the inside of the tube and produces a
motion in the non-clamped end of the tube. This motion is the measure of the pressure
and is indicated via the movement. [5]
 Bourdon Pressure Gauge

The C-shaped Bourdon tubes, formed into an angle of approx. 250°, can be used
for pressures up to 60 bars. For higher pressures, bourdon tubes with several
superimposed windings of the same angular diameter (helical tubes) or with a
spiral coil in the one plane (spiral tubes) are used. [5]
Working:
The Bourdon pressure gauge operates on the principle that, when pressurized, a
flattened tube tends to straighten or regain its circular form in cross-section.
In practice, a flattened thin-wall, closed-end tube is connected at the hollow end to
a fixed pipe containing the fluid pressure to be measured. As the pressure
increases, the closed end moves in an arc, and this motion is converted into the
rotation of a (segment of a) gear by a connecting link that is usually adjustable. A
small-diameter pinion gear is on the pointer shaft, so the motion is magnified
further by the gear ratio. The positioning of the indicator card behind the pointer,
the initial pointer shaft position, the linkage length and initial position, all provide
means to calibrate the pointer to indicate the desired range of pressure for
variations in the behavior of the Bourdon tube itself. Differential pressure can be
measured by gauges containing two different Bourdon tubes, with connecting
linkages. [5]
The pointer is mounted on the pinion axle which rotates accordingly on the dial of
the gage. The pointer is mounted on the axle which rotates accordingly on the deal
of the gage. [5]
APPARATUS ARRANGMENT:

Bourdon Pressure Gauge

PROCEDURE:
 Note the weight of plunger and its cross-section area.
 Remove piston and pour oil in it until over flow level.
 Prevent bubble trapping.
 Fix the gauge on one end of dead weight gauge tester and make sure
that valve is fully opened, meanwhile close the other valve tightly so
that there is no leakage of fluid.
 Put loads corresponding to known pressure on the middle spindle
ensuring that spindle should not touch the edges of the cylinder.
 Take the reading from the gauge.
 Now place the weights on middle of the spindle so that pressure
varies.
 Repeat procedure and take 5 or 6 readings.
 Note down readings for reducing weights.
OBSERVATIONS:

No. Applied Pressure in gauge (PA) Error

of
Obs pressure (P) (lb./Inch2)

lb.

Loading Unloading Mean

1 5 0 1 0.5 0.9

2 10 3 3 3 0.7

3 20 11 12 11.5 0.425

4 40 30 30 30 0.25

5 90 80 80 80 0.11

SPECIFIC CALCULATION:
Relative error = (90-80/90) = 0.11

% Error = (0.11) *100 = 11%

GRAPH:

Graph b/w actual and guage pressure

35
30
Guage pressure

25
20
15
10
5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Actual pressure
 Graph b/w % error and guage pressure
90
80
70
Guage pressure

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
% error

COMMENTS:
There are some errors in measuring the pressure due to different reasons somehow
there is a poor calibration of the pressure gauge due to which it can cause
difference in Applied Pressure and Gauge Pressure.

Difference b/w Applied Pressure & Gauge Pressure:

There is a difference b/w applied pressure and gauge pressure because of some
following reasons:

1. Temperature influence.
2. Vibration influence.
3. Gravity influence.
4. Calibration of Pressure Gauge.
RESULT:

At the end we concluded from this experiment that the difference in our pressure
measures is due to the poor calibration of gauge that’s why there occur an error in
our readings so to overcome this problem the standardized calibration of Pressure
gauge is necessary.

REFERENCES:
1. https://www.aicompanies.com/education/calibration/what-is-calibration.
2. https://en.wika.com/landingpage_differential_pressure_en_co.WIKA
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pressure_measurement
4. https://www.fluidpowerworld.com/what-are-gauges/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadweight_tester.