AS3520 - Aero Lab II - Report

Calibration of Pirani Tube using McLeod Gauge

Mohammed Ajmal (AE14B043)

Abstract : McLeod gauge is the most accurate pressure measuring device because it
has almost only mechanical parts. We attempt to calibrate a Pirani Gauge using McLeod
Gauge. A linear relation between the pressure readings of Pirani Gauge and McLeod gauge
was obtained with a slope of 5.4138.

1
Aim
Calibration of Pirani Tube using McLeod Gauge.

Background
McLeod Gauge

Figure 1: McLeod Gauge Source: Wikipedia

A McLeod gauge is a scientific instrument used to measure very low pressures, down to
106 Torr. It was invented in 1874 by Herbert McLeod . Modern electronic vacuum gauges
are simpler to use, less fragile, and do not present a mercury hazard, but their reading is
highly dependent on the chemical nature of the gas being measured, and their calibration is
unstable. For this reason, McLeod gauges continue to be used as a calibration standard for
electronic gauges.

2
Pirani Gauge

Figure 2: Pirani Gauge Source: Wikipedia

The Pirani gauge is a robust thermal conductivity gauge used for the measurement of the
pressures in vacuum systems. It was invented in 1906 by Marcello Pirani.
A heated metal wire (also called a filament) suspended in a gas will lose heat to the gas
as its molecules collide with the wire and remove heat. If the gas pressure is reduced the
number of molecules present will fall proportionately and the wire will lose heat more slowly.
Measuring the heat loss is an indirect indication of pressure.
The gauge may be used for pressures between 0.5 Torr to 104 Torr.
The thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the gas may affect the readout from
the meter, and therefore the apparatus may need calibrating before accurate readings are
obtainable.

Method to find Calibrate Pirani Using McLeod Gauge

But Pirani Gauge and McLeod Gauge are connected to a common pressure reservoir
for reading the pressure value.

The reading in McLeod Gauge is taken and subsequently from Pirani Gauge is also
noted.

A graph is plotted putting Pirani Readings in X-axis and Mcleod Gauge readings in
Y-axis. It is then fitted to a linear curve.

Observation and Calculations

Measured pressure values
The pressure values measured for each trial is tabulated in the following table.
Pirani Gauge give readings in torr.
McLeod Gauge gives readings in mbar.
Thus the obtained Pirani Gauge readings are converted into mbar before plotting the
graph.
1 torr = 1.33 mbar

3
Results and Discussion
A graph was plotted and a linear straight line fit is assumed for the relation between
pirani gauge readings and McLeod gauge readings.

The following relation was obtained,

y = 5.4138 x - 2.651
where,
y is the McLeod gauge reading,
x is Pirani Gauge reading.

Thus, a linear relation between the pressure readings of Pirani Gauge and McLeod
gauge was obtained with a slope of 5.4138.

4
Bibliography
1 : Wikipedia : Wikimedia common license
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirani_gauge
2 : Wikipedia : Wikimedia common license
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLeod_gauge