University of Luzon

College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

SUBJECT: TYPES OF PRESSURE MEASURING INSTRUMENTS USES AND APPLICATIONS

Summary of Points
1. Importance of pressure measurement and control
2. Definition and units
3. Types of pressure and pressure scales
4. Manometers
5. Bourdon tubes
6. Bellows
7. Diaphragms and capsules
8. Piezoelectric pressure gauge
9. Vacuum measuring Instruments

• In what follows, focus is made on the measurement of pressure, flow rate, temperature and liquid
level. The approach will emphasize the following points for any measuring element:
1. Basics
2. Description
3. Working principle
4. Ability to send or transmit a signal
5. Accuracy
6. Range
7. Sensitivity
Importance of Pressure Measurement
• Pressure influences boiling and condensation temperatures of some separation operations like
distillation and therefore their costs
• Pressure measurement is necessary for measurement of flow and level
Definition and Units of Pressure
• Pressure is the normal force exerted on unit area of a surface
• According to definition, SI unit of pressure is Pa or k Pa (Pa = N/m2) for low pressures, kgf / cm2 for
high pressures

• Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the atmosphere at sea level Patm = 101.3 kPa = 14.7
psi
Pressure Expressed as Head
• Pressure can be thought as produced by the weight of some liquid column of certain height

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

Types of Pressure (Text P. 68, 69)

1. Static pressure: is the pressure of fluids or gases that are not in motion (this the one usually measured)
2. Dynamic pressure: is the pressure exerted by a fluid or gas when it hits a surface or an object due to its
flow
3. Impact pressure: is the sum of the static and dynamic pressure on a surface

4. Atmospheric pressure: is the pressure on the earth’s surface due to the weight of the gases in the earth’s
atmosphere and is normally expressed at sea level as 14.7 psi, or 101.3 kPa. The atmospheric pressure is
dependent on weather conditions.
5. Total or absolute vacuum: is zero pressure
6. Vacuum: is a pressure value between total vacuum and normal atmospheric pressure
Pressure Measurement Scales (Text P. 69)
• Pressure is always measured with respect to a particular reference pressure.
• As such, there are three basic pressure scales:
University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023
ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS
1. Gauge pressure:
• Pressure is measured with respect to atmospheric
• Gauge pressure values could either be positive or negative values
2. Absolute pressure:
• Pressure is measured with respect to absolute vacuum
• Absolute pressures could only be positive values.
3. Differential pressure:
• Pressure is expressed with respect to another pressure and is therefore the difference between two
values.
• The difference could be either positive or negative

• Absolute pressure readings are generally more accurate than gauge readings. The reason is that the
reference of the gauge pressure measuring instruments which is the atmospheric pressure fluctuates
with weather conditions and altitude from the earth surface.
• The relation between absolute and gauge pressure is given by the equation:

Absolute pressure = Gauge pressure +Atmospheric pressure

EXAMPLE:
What is 4 kgf /cm2 gauge when expressed in absolute pressure? Atmospheric pressure = 101.3 k Pa , and 1 k
Pa = 0.0102 kg f /cm2
Solution
Absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmospheric pressure
= 4 + 101.3 X 0.0102 = 5.03 kgf /cm2
What is 300 k Pa when expressed as pressure head of water? given that g = 9.8 m/s 2 and

water = 1000 kg/m3

Solution:
Substituting in the equation:

P=ρ ×h ×g

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS
h = 300 X1000/(1000 X 9.8) = 30 m
Pressure Measuring Elements
A. U-tube Manometer (Text, P. 73&74)
1. Description: It consists of U-shaped transparent glass or plastic tube partially filled with a manometer
liquid (water or mercury). The scale of the manometer is usually calibrated in pressure units.

U-Tube Manometer
2. Principle:
• When both arms of a manometer are exposed to the atmosphere or when the pressures are equal,
the scale reading is zero

• When a pressure difference is applied to the arms, then the manometer liquid in rises in the lower
pressure arm and drops in the higher pressure arm giving a difference in height of the liquid between
the two arms

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

Differential Pressure Measurement with Manometer

P1 - P 2 = ρ g h
• The equation above is the manometer equation, (see example 5.11, Text P.75)
• ρ is the density of the manometer liquid and h is the difference in the height of manometer liquid
• 3. Pressure scales used:
• a) Differential pressure
• b) Gauge pressure (if p2 = patm )
• c) Absolute pressure ( if p2 = 0)
• d) Atmospheric pressure (if p1 = patm , p2 =0)
• 4. Indication and transmission: Local only i.e. manometer is not a transducer, no signal can be sent
out from a manometer
5. Range: low to medium range depending on the manometer liquid:
• Water for low pressure range
• Mercury for high pressure range
6. Accuracy: depending on the following sources of error:
a) Temperature effect on the density of the manometer liquid
b) Position of the manometer (must be kept vertical)
c) Trapping of gases in liquids or trapping of liquids in gases
• Well -type manometer: provides better accuracy, because zero level in the wide leg is kept almost at
the same position . The manometer is used for measuring low pressure difference by using low-
density liquid.

7. Sensitivity: inclined manometers were developed to increase sensitivity of manometer readings and
therefore can measure low pressure difference

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

B. Bourdon Tube (Text, P.77)

1. Description: It consists of a C-shaped hollow elastic metal tube open at one end and connected to a
pointer-scale indicating mechanism at the other closed end.
• A special type of Bourdon tubes is the seal-type Bourdon tube which is used for measuring the
pressure of corrosive liquids, easily solidifying liquids, or liquids containing suspended solids

Bourdon Tube

Seal-type Bourdon tube

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS
2. Principle: If pressure is applied to the open end, then the hollow tube straightens causing the pointer to
move and indicates a higher pressure value on the scale
3. Pressure scales used:
Only gauge pressure
4. Indication and transmission: Local and remote transmission. The indicator mechanism may be replaced by
a transducer producing an electric signal
5. Range: Low to high depending on the tube radius of curvature, tube wall thickness, and material of
construction
6. Accuracy: main source of error is the temperature effect on metal expansion
7. Sensitivity: straightening of the C-shaped tube can be increased by using a helical Bourdon tube

Helical Bourdon Tube

C. Bellows (Text, P.77)
1. Description: It consists of an elastic metal cylinder with deep folds. Bellows resembles the Accordion
musical instrument.
• Bellows may be connected to an opposing spring that will help in having a desired range and
sensitivity and the spring will also help restore the shape of the bellows after measurement is done
2. Principle: When applying pressure a bellow expands or contracts and this causes a pointer mechanism to
indicate a higher pressure on the scale.
3. Pressure scales used:
• Gauge pressure
• Absolute pressure
• Differential pressure is measured by opposed bellows
• 4. Indication & transmission: local and remote transmission. The pointer mechanism may be
replaced by a linear variable differential transducer (LVDT) which senses the expansion and change it
into an electric signal.
• 5. Range: low to medium

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

Pressure Measurement and Signal Transmission by LVDT Transducer

Opposed Bellows for Measuring Differential Pressure

6. Accuracy: main source of error is the temperature effect on bellow metal expansion
D. Diaphragm (Text, P. 75,76 &77)
1. Description: It consists of a thin flat circular elastic metal plate. The diaphragm may be loaded with a
spring as in bellows for the same purposes explained before.
2. Principle: both sides of the diaphragm are exposed to different pressures. The diaphragm bends towards
the side that has the lowest pressure

Pressure Measurement with a Diaphragm

3. Pressure scales used:
• Gauge pressure
• Absolute pressure
• Differential pressure

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS
4. Indication & transmission: local and remote transmission. The pointer mechanism may be replaced by a
strain gauge which senses the bending and change it into an electric signal.
5. Range: low to high

Silicon Diaphragm with a strain gauge

6. Accuracy: main source of error is the temperature effect on diaphragm material expansion
7. Sensitivity: can be increased by using capsules connected together in series
• One capsule is formed of two diaphragms joined back to back
• Pressure is applied to the space between the two diaphragms

Increasing Sensitivity by Using Several Capsules Joined in Series

Electronic Pressure Sensor (Text, P. 79)

Piezoelectric pressure gauge:
It uses a piezoelectric crystal that produces a voltage between the opposite faces of the crystal if pressure is
applied to it
Vacuum Measuring Elements (Text, P. 80)
• Bourdon tubes, diaphragms and bellows can be vacuum gauges.
The following measuring devices can be used to measure very high vacuum (very low negative pressures
about 1 torr )
• Pirani gauge: see book
• Ionization gauge: see book

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz
 University of Luzon
College of Engineering and Architecture – ME326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Engr. Ronald Farinas
RESEARCH WORK No.1 PRESSURE INSTRUMENTS

University of Luzon – College of Engineering and Architecture SC2022-2023

ME-326L Mechanical Engineering LAB1-Jessie V. Quiroz