Mechanical

Engineering Dept.

Thermo Fluid Lab-1 "ME 383"

Experiment 4: Calibration of Bourdon

Gauge
 ‫قسم الهندسة‬
‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬
‫وزارة التعليم‬
‫جامعة القصيم‬
‫ عنيزة‬-‫كلية الهندسة‬
‫الميكانيكية‬

1. A brief concise: The bourdon gauge is the most popular pressure measuring device for
both liquids and gasses. It can be connected to any source of pressure such as a pipe or vessel
containing a pressurized fluid. The connection can either be direct or via a small tube called a
capillary tube. This means that it can be mounted at any convenient location. It is also very
versatile in that it can be designed to operate over virtually any range of pressures. The Bourdon
gauge normally measures so called Gauge Pressure, which is the difference between the pressure
in the pressure source and the current atmospheric pressure. It can however be modified to
measure difference in pressure between two sources of pressure (i.e. pressure difference or
differential pressure). The Bourdon gauge is an indirect measuring device which depends for its
operation on the tendency of an internally applied pressure to cause an initially bent tube (called
a bourdon tube) to straighten. Because the measurement is indirect and it is necessary to calibrate
the gauge before it can be use. The calibration consists of applying a known pressure to the
gauge and noting the position of the gauge needle on the scale. The gauge can be calibrated in a
wide variety of units to suit the particular application provided that there is a linear relationship
between actual pressure and the unit of calibration.

2.Objective: The objective of this experiment is to calibrate a Bourdon tube pressure gauge
using dead weights.

3 Equipments : The dead weight pressure gauge calibrator consists of a precision machined
piston and cylinder assembly mounted on levelling screws. A Bourdon gauge is supplied for
calibration. The weights supplied are added to the upper end of the piston rod which is rotated to
minimize friction effects. The gauge is thus subject to known pressures which may be compared
with the gauge readings and an error curve drawn.
4.Theory : The pressure intensity at any point in static or moving fluid can be measured using
various types of pressure measuring instrument. One of these devices is the Bourdon tube
 ‫قسم الهندسة‬
‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬
‫وزارة التعليم‬
‫جامعة القصيم‬
‫ عنيزة‬-‫كلية الهندسة‬
‫الميكانيكية‬

pressure gage. Bourdon-tube pressure gages are most widely used now-a-days because of their
reliability, compactness, low cost and ease of use. It consists of a curved tube of elliptical cross-
section bent into a circular arc as shown in Figure. 1. When pressure is applied to the tube, it
tends to straighten out, and the deflection of the end of the tube is communicated through a
system of levers to a recording pointer. This gauge is widely used for steam and compressed
gases. The pressure indicated is the difference between the system pressure and to the external
(ambient) pressure, and is usually referred to as the gauge pressure

Figure No 1

5 Procedure/Methodology:

1. The weight of the Piston, and its cross sectional area should be noted.
2. The piston should be removed, and oil is poured into the cylinder until it is full to the
overflow level.
 ‫قسم الهندسة‬
‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬
‫وزارة التعليم‬
‫جامعة القصيم‬
‫ عنيزة‬-‫كلية الهندسة‬
‫الميكانيكية‬

3. Any air trapped in the tube may be cleared by tilting and gently tapping the apparatus. A
small amount of air left in the system will not affect the experiment, however, a large
amount of air would cause the piston to bottom on the base of the cylinder.
4. The piston is then re-placed in the cylinder and allowed to settle and ensure that the
cylinder is vertically upright.
5. Weights are now added in convenient increments, and at each increment, the pressure
gauge reading is observed.
6. A similar set of results is then taken with decreasing weights.
7. To guard against the piston sticking in the cylinder, it is advisable to rotate the piston
gently while the pressure gauged is being read.
5.1 Observations:

Useful Data

1 pascal = 1 N/m2

1 bar = 105 N/m2

Area = 0.000125 m2

5.2 Observation Table

Applied Load N Applied pressure Indicated pressure Difference

kN/m2 kN/m2 kN/m2

5.3 Sample Calculations:

 ‫قسم الهندسة‬
‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬
‫وزارة التعليم‬
‫جامعة القصيم‬
‫ عنيزة‬-‫كلية الهندسة‬
‫الميكانيكية‬

force applied on the piston

Pressure = piston Area
N/ m2

6.Result : Determined the sensitivity or percentage error for the bourdon gauge