Pressure Measurement

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I&C.net - Technical Information Dec 2021
Pressure
Measurement
Version Date Description

A 2021/12/20 First Release
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Index
1. Pressure Concept 3
1.1 Pressure - Unit Conversion Table 4
2. Fluid Concept 5
2.1 Compressibility 6
2.1.1 Incompressible Fluids 6
2.1.2 Compressible Fluids 8
3. Pressure Types 9
3.1 Atmospheric Pressure 10
3.2 Differential Pressure 10
3.3 Absolute Pressure 11
3.4 Relative Pressure 12
4. Pressure Gauges 13
4.1 PI - Indicators 13
4.1.1 Pressure Gauges 13
4.1.2 Bourdon Tubes 14
4.2 PT - Transmitters 16
4.2.1 Piezo-Resistive 17
4.2.2 Capacitive 19
4.3 Selection Criteria 20
4.4 Process Connection 21
5. Pressure Suppliers List 21
6. References 22
https://instrumentationandcontrol.net Page 2 of 22
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Pressure is a basic variable in the design, construction and maintenance of

industrial processes.
Pressure measurement is the primary variable for a wide range of process

measurements, for example:
- Flow rate (measuring pressure loss through a restriction).

- Liquid level (measuring the pressure created by a vertical column of liquid).
- Density of the liquid (measuring the pressure difference across a defined
liquid height).
1. Pressure Concept
Pressure is defined as the ratio of the normal component of the force on a
surface to the area of that surface.
The knife will cut better the sharper it

is, because the force exerted is
concentrated on a smaller area.
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The skier does not sink into the snow

because the force is spread over a larger
area.
1.1 Pressure - Unit Conversion Table
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2. Fluid Concept
In general terms matter can be classified into solids and fluids. The word fluid
describes something that can flow (this includes liquids and gases).
The distinction between liquids and gases is not well defined, by varying the
environmental conditions it is possible to transform a liquid into a gas and
vice versa.
A fluid can be defined as a substance that does

not resist, in a permanent way, the deformation
caused by a force, therefore it changes its shape
(be water my friend).
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2.1 Compressibility
We will distinguish 2 types of fluids:
• Incompressible: they are little affected by pressure changes. Their density

is constant.
Most liquids are incompressible.
Gases can be considered incompressible when the pressure variation is
small with respect to the absolute pressure.
• Compressible: They are affected by pressure by varying their density. Most

of the gases are compressible.
2.1.1 Incompressible Fluids

According to Bernoulli, we can decompose the pressure of an incompressible
fluid into 2 components:
• Static pressure:
All points at the same depth will be subjected to the same pressure,
regardless of the shape of the vessel in which the liquid is contained.
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• Dynamic pressure:
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According to Euler's continuity equation (mass balance).
2.1.2 Compressible Fluids

As we know gases are highly compressible fluids.
From a mechanical point of view, the fundamental difference between liquids

and gases is that the latter can be compressed. Their volume, therefore, is
not constant and consequently neither is their density.
Considering the fundamental role of this physical quantity in fluid statics, it is

understandable that the equilibrium of gases must be considered separately
from that of liquids.
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Boyle's Law
“The volume of the gas contained in a container is reduced if the pressure is

increased.”
The theoretical study of the flow of a gaseous fluid is beyond the scope of this
presentation, as a note we indicate that the propagation of pressure within a
compressible fluid is performed at speeds close to the speed of sound.
3. Pressure Types
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3.1 Atmospheric Pressure

It is caused by the weight of the atmosphere. It depends on climatic changes,
the reference value is taken at sea level which is equal to 1013 mbar or 760
mmHg.
It can vary by ± 200 mbar depending on the height above sea level and ± 30
mbar per day depending on the weather conditions.
3.2 Differential Pressure

It is defined as the difference between two pressures, also known as dP,
pressure drop, etc….
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APPLICATIONS:
• Level measurement in closed tanks
• Density Measurement
• Flow Measurement
• Interface Level Measurement
• Distillation Col. monitoring Flooding
• Filter monitoring
• Pump and valve monitoring
• Fire System Monitoring - Sprinklers
• Process Feed Pressure Monitoring
3.3 Absolute Pressure

It is defined as the pressure referred to absolute zero pressure. It is
distinguished by the subscript abs. Another way of defining it is by adding the
atmospheric pressure to the relative / gauge pressure indicated by the
measurement.
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APPLICATIONS:
• Applications where high accuracy in vacuum measurement
is required
• Low pressure or vacuum applications where it is necessary
for pressure control to measure the influence of
atmospheric pressure.
- Low pressure measurement in vacuum distillation
columns
- Vacuum reactors
• Control of leaks in tanks and circuits
3.4 Relative Pressure

It is determined by an element that measures the difference between
absolute and atmospheric pressure.
It is distinguished by the subscript reg or g.
They make up 95% of the types of meters installed in the chemical industry.
It can be positive (P1>Patm) or negative also known as empty (P1<Patm).
APPLICATIONS:
• Level measurement in atmospheric tanks.
• Pressure measurement in circuits and pressure equipment where the
working pressure suffers variations greater than those caused by variations
due to the atmosphere.
• Air conditioning and control of air and corrosive gases - Clean rooms.
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4. Pressure Gauges
4.1 PI - Indicators
4.1.1 Pressure Gauges
Pressure gauges are primary standards of most national standards bureaus.
The main advantages of these instruments are their

high accuracy, low cost and simplicity, minimum
span with inclined ranges from 0 to 2.5mm H2O;
maximum span is 4bar.
The accuracy is 0.2 mmH2O for vertical and 0.05

mmH2O for inclined.
The major limitations are possible rupture and

problems related to the contained fluid.
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4.1.2 Bourdon Tubes
In1852 E.Bourdon patented a curved tube which, when held

and pressurized at its open end, produces a movement at its
closed end.
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Bourdon tubes are used to detect high pressures, not good at low pressures
or vacuum, span from 1bar to 6900bar.
Their accuracy varies from 0.25 to 5% of span. They are used as PI standard
in many process industries.
The main advantages are low cost, easy replacement.
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4.2 PT - Transmitters
These instruments are composed of two functional units:
• Primary Unit: The pressure transducer (primary unit) consists of the

interface to the process, the sensor and the primary electronics.
In the primary unit, the process fluid (L,G,V) exerts pressure on the
sensor through an insulating, flexible, corrosion-resistant diaphragm.
When the sensor detects pressure changes, it induces variations in the
primary physical value, which depends on the technology used
(piezoresistive or capacitive).
The primary electronics converts these variations into a digital signal that
feeds a microcontroller. This performs a linearization of the primary output,
compensating for sensor non-linearity, static pressure and temperature
changes.
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The measured values and sensor parameters are transferred to the subunit,
where the communications card is located. The output data value is
converted to a 4-20 mA signal.
• Secondary Unit: It consists of the rest of the electronics, the terminal block
and the enclosure.
4.2.1 Piezo-Resistive
It is the most popular pressure gauge.
It consists of the diffusion of resistive elements inside a single silicon chip,

acting as a diaphragm.
The silicon wafer is safer than the metal diaphragm because after being
deformed it returns to its original shape due to its excellent elasticity.
The thickness of the wafer determines the pressure range of the sensor.
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These sensors are small, inexpensive, accurate, highly repeatable and have
a wide measuring range from 0.08bar to 14000bar. Turndown 100..25 to 1.
Its accuracy varies from 0.2 to 0.5% of span.
They have good and quick response and good resistance to overpressure
and vibration.Their major limitation is the high sensitivity to temperature
variations.
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4.2.2 Capacitive
A capacitor consists of two parallel conducting plates separated by a small
gap. Pressure displaces one of the plates that acts as a diaphragm, changing
the capacitance of the circuit.The principle of operation is the measurement of
the change in capacity resulting from the movement of an elastic metallic
element (diaphragm).
The inlet pressure acts on the diaphragm causing a change in capacity. There
is a linear relationship between capacity and pressure.
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These sensors have an excellent response, accuracy, linearity, repeatability

and stability.
Measuring range from 0.0008bar up to 350bar. Rangeability 20 to 1.Its

accuracy varies from 0.1 to 0.2% of span. They are elatively high cost
compared to piezoresistive (10:1).
They can be sensitive to magnetic fields and are affected by temperature,

vibration and variations in the dielectric constant of the process fluid.
4.3 Selection Criteria
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4.4 Process Connection
5. Pressure Suppliers List

• ABB Instrumentation (www.abb.com/us/instrumentation)
• Barton Instruments (www.barton-instruments.com)
• Brooks Instrument (www.brooksinstrument.com)
• Dresser Instrument (www.dresserinstruments.com)
• Endress + Hauser Inc. (www.us.endress.com)
• Fisher controls (www.fisher.com)
• Foxboro/Invensys (www.foxboro.com)
• Honeywell (www.iac.honeywell.com)
• Marsh Bellofram (marshbellofram.com)
• Moore Industries (www.miinet.com)
• Rosemount/Emerson (www.rosemount.com)
• Siemens (www.sea.siemens.com)
• United Electric (www.ueonline.com)
• Youkogawa Corp. of America (www.yca.com)
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6. References
• ANSI/ISA-50.1-1982 (R1992) formerly ANSI/ISA-S50.1-1982 (R1992)

Compatibility of Analog Signals for Electronic Industrial Process Instruments
• LIPTAK,B. (2003) Instrument Engineers Handbook.Process Measurement

and Analysis
• BEAMEX (2012) Ultimate Calibration
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I&C.net - Technical Information Dec 2021

Version Date Description

Pressure is a basic variable in the design, construction and maintenance of

Pressure measurement is the primary variable for a wide range of process

- Flow rate (measuring pressure loss through a restriction).

The knife will cut better the sharper it

The skier does not sink into the snow

1.1 Pressure - Unit Conversion Table

A fluid can be defined as a substance that does

• Incompressible: they are little affected by pressure changes. Their density

• Compressible: They are affected by pressure by varying their density. Most

2.1.1 Incompressible Fluids

According to Euler's continuity equation (mass balance).

2.1.2 Compressible Fluids

From a mechanical point of view, the fundamental difference between liquids

Considering the fundamental role of this physical quantity in fluid statics, it is

“The volume of the gas contained in a container is reduced if the pressure is

3.1 Atmospheric Pressure

3.2 Differential Pressure

3.3 Absolute Pressure

3.4 Relative Pressure

It is distinguished by the subscript reg or g.

4.1.1 Pressure Gauges

Pressure gauges are primary standards of most national standards bureaus.

The main advantages of these instruments are their

The accuracy is 0.2 mmH2O for vertical and 0.05

The major limitations are possible rupture and

4.1.2 Bourdon Tubes

In1852 E.Bourdon patented a curved tube which, when held

The main advantages are low cost, easy replacement.

These instruments are composed of two functional units:

• Primary Unit: The pressure transducer (primary unit) consists of the

It consists of the diffusion of resistive elements inside a single silicon chip,

These sensors have an excellent response, accuracy, linearity, repeatability

Measuring range from 0.0008bar up to 350bar. Rangeability 20 to 1.Its

They can be sensitive to magnetic fields and are affected by temperature,

4.3 Selection Criteria

4.4 Process Connection

5. Pressure Suppliers List

• ANSI/ISA-50.1-1982 (R1992) formerly ANSI/ISA-S50.1-1982 (R1992)

• LIPTAK,B. (2003) Instrument Engineers Handbook.Process Measurement

• BEAMEX (2012) Ultimate Calibration

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