Pressure Measurement

Dr V. Sugumaran
Pressure
Static pressure and Dynamic pressure
Different faces of pressure – An
illustration
Head as a measure of pressure

P  gh
Classification of pressure gauges
1. Gravitational transducer
a) Manometer
b) Dead weight tester
2. Elastic transducer
a) Bourdon tube pressure gauge
b) Elastic diaphragm pressure gauge
c) Bellows type pressure gauge
3. Electrical transducer
a) Variable resistance type
b) Strain gauge type
c) Variable capacitance type
d) LVDT type
4. Thermal transducer
a) Thermocouple type
b) Pirani gauge
5. Piezo- electric transducer
6. Miscellaneous
a) McLeod vacuum gauge
b) Ionisation gauge
Selection of Pressure gauge
 Low vacuum and ultra high pressure
 McLeod vacuum gauge.
 Thermal conductivity gauge.
 Ionisation gauge.
 Low Pressure
 Manometer.
 Medium and High Pressure
 Bourdon tube pressure gauges.
 Diaphragm gauge.
 Bellows gauge.
 Very high pressure
 Bourdon tube pressure gauge.
 Diaphragm gauge.
 Bulk modulus pressure gauge.
 U- tube manometer

P  1 gh1  Patm   2 gh2

P1  Patm  (  2 gh2  1 gh1 )

Advantages
1. Simple in construction and easy to
fabricate.
2. Accurate result.
3. Many fluids are available such as
mercury, water.
4. Maintenance is very less.
Disadvantages
 1. Leveling is needed.
 2. Error is introduced if the diameter of the tube
is less due to capillary action.
 3. As the glass tube is fragile, may break during
transport.
 4. The accuracy of the reading depends on
temperature, gravity.
 5. Interfacing with electronic/computer systems
is difficult.
 6. Skilled persons are required to use, as the
meniscus height has to be taken carefully.
Applications
 1. Used in Venturi-meter and other flow
meters.
 2. Used as level devices to sense liquid
heads.
 3. Used as primary standards for the
measurement of pressure.
Dead weight tester
Advantages
 Simple in construction and easy to use.
 Calibrates wide range of pressure gauges.
 Fluid pressure can be easily varied by
adding weights (or) by changing the
piston-cylinder arrangements.
Disadvantages
 Accuracy is affected due to the friction
between the piston and cylinder. This is
due to the uncertainty of the valve of
gravitational constant ‘g’.
Application
 To calibrate all kinds of pressure gauge
such as industrial pressure gauge, engine
indicator and Piezo-electric transducer.
Bourdon tube pressure gauge
 0.1 N/mm2 to 7 N/mm2 Phosphor bronze
 7 N/mm2 to 600 N/mm2 Alloy steel,
stainless steel etc.,
 The tubes are drawn, machined, heat
treated and coated (if corrosion is a
problem).
Bourdon tube pressure gauge
Advantages
 Cost is low
 Simple in construction
 Accurate results, Accuracy is high at high
pressures.
 Can be modified to give electrical output
 Calibration is easy.
 It is capable of measuring gauge pressure,
absolute pressure and differential
pressure.
Disadvantages
 They respond slowly to change in
pressure.
 Hystersis is more.
 Sensitive to shock and vibrations and
hence readability is poor.
 As the closed end displacement is small,
greater amplification is needed for better
accuracy.
Elastic diaphragm pressure gauge
Elastic diaphragm pressure gauge
 metallic, non-metallic, animal membranes,
and synthetic materials like polythene,
Teflon etc

 The metallic diaphragms like nickel,

chromium, alloy steels are cold rolled and
can be used up to 2750 kN/m2, whereas
the non-metallic type can be used up to
100 kN/m2
Bellows type pressure gauge
 The materials used
are phosphor bronze,
stainless steel, copper
alloy and brass alloy
Bellows type pressure gauge
Capacitive Pressure Sensor
Capacitive Pressure Sensor

3  Pmax 1   2 r 4
y max 
16  Et 3

P – Differential pressure (P1-P2)

 - Poisson’s ratio for diaphragm material
r – Radius
E – Bulk modulus
T – thickness of diaphragm
Pirani Gauge