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Pressure Measurment

Bellows Pressure gauge

Bellows: - A metallic bellows is a series of circular parts which are formed or joined in such a manner they are expanded or
contracted axially by changes in pressure. Materials commonly used are brass, bronze, beryllium copper, alloy of nickel and copper
etc.

Bellows pressure g aug e: - Bellows elements are used for the measurement of absolute, gauge and differential pressure. A bellows
pressure gauge is shown in fig.

There are two bellows. A and B. The pressure applied to bellows A is Pa and to bellows B is Pb. In case it is desired to
measured the absolute pressure. When gauge pressure is to be measured, than bellows B is opened up to atmosphere with pressure
Pb is equal to the atmospheric pressure and therefore the reading of scale is the gauge pressure. The differential pressure P=Pa-Pb is
measured when pressure Pa is applied to bellow A and pressure Pb is applied to bellows B. The gauge records pressures by means of
expansive and construction of flexible metal bellows, these being transmitted to an optical lever of high sensitivity and then to the
pointer.

Dead Weight Tester

Description: - The dead weight tester apparatus consists of a chamber which is filled with oil free impurities and a piston –
cylinder combination is fitted above the chamber as shown in diagram. The top portion of the piston is attached with a platform to
carry weights. A plunger with a handle has been provided to vary the pressure of oil in the chamber. The pressure gauge to be tested
is fitted at an appropriate plate.
Operation:-
The dead weight tester is basically a pressure producing and pressure measuring device. It is used to calibrate pressure
gauges. The following procedure is adopted for calibrating pressure gauges. Calibration of pressure gauge means introducing an
accurately known sample of pressure to the gauge under test and then observing the response of the gauge. In order to create this
accurately known pressure, the following steps are followed.

1.       The valve of the apparatus is closed.

2.       A known weight is placed on the platform.

 Now by operating the plunger, fluid pressure is applied to the other side of the piston until enough force is developed to lift the
piston-weight combination. When this happens, the piston weight combination floats freely within the cylinder between limit stops.

 In this condition of equilibrium, the pressure force of fluid is balanced against the gravitational force of the weights pulls the friction
drag.

 Therefore, PA = Mg + F

 Hence: P = Mg + F / A

 Where, P = pressure

 M = Mass; Kg

 g = Acceleration due to gravity; m/s²

 F = Friction drag; N

 A = Equivalent area of piston – cylinder combination; m²

 Thus the pressure P which is caused due to the weights placed on the platform is calculated.

 After calculating P, the plunger is released.

 Now the pressure gauge to be calibrated is fitted at an appropriate place on the dead weight tester. The same known weight
which was used to calculated P is placed on the platform. Due to the weight, the piston moves downwards and exerts a pressure P on
the fluid. Now the valve in the apparatus is opened so that the fluid pressure P is transmitted to the gauge, which makes the gauge
indicate a pressure value. This pressure value shown by the gauge should be equal to the known input pressure P. If the gauge
indicates some other value other than p the gauge is adjusted so that it reads a value equal to p. Thus the gauge is calibrated.

Applications:
 It is used to calibrate all kinds of pressure gauges such as industrial pressure gauges, engine indicators and piezoelectric transducers.

Advantages:
1.       It is simple in construction and easy to use.

2.       It can be used to calibrate a wide range of pressure measuring devices.

3.       Fluid pressure can be easily varied by adding weights or by changing the piston cylinder combination.

Limitations:
 The accuracy of the dead weight tester is affected due to the friction between the piston and cylinder, and due to the
uncertainty of the value of gravitational constant 'g'.

U-tube manometer
A well known very simple device used to measure the pressure is the U -tube manometer. The name U -tube is derived from its shape.
U -tube manometer is shown below,

Construction of U-tube Manometer:

 Let me explain you about the construction about the u-manometer. This manometer consists of a U shaped tube in which the
manometeric liquid is filled. The manometer is used to measure the pressure which is unknown by the balancing gravity force and
acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.81 m/sec 2

The manometer consists of a steel, brass and aluminum material. It has a glass tube made up of parallax glass. The graduations
are made on the tube in terms of mm or in some condition it is graduated in kilo Pascal.

Working of U-tube Manometer:

The unknown pressure is applied in the one arm of the tube and the mercury in the tube or manometeric liquid filled in the
tube moves in the tube or rises to the constant region and then the movement is stopped. The height of the liquid is measured and
noted. The pressure is calculated by using the formula,

P1-P2 = Pmhg

The above equation is arrived by

P1 = Pthg = P2+Pmhg

P1-P2 = g (Pt – Pm)

 P1 = applied pressure

 P2 = 0

 Pt = specific gravity of the liquid or water

 g = acceleration due to gravity.

P1 – P2 is approximately equal to Pmhg.

Advantages of U-tube Manometer:

1.       Simple in construction

2.       Low cost

3.       Very accurate and sensitive

4.       It can be used to measure other process variables.

Disadvantages of U-tube Manometer:

1.       Fragile in construction.

2.       Very sensitive to temperature changes.

3.       Error can happen while measuring the h.

Characteristics of liquid used in U-tube Manometer:

1.       Viscosity should be low.
2.       Low surface tension is required.

3.       The liquid should stick on the walls.

4.       Should not get vaporized.

"C" type Bourdon tube Pressure Gauge

Basic Principle of C type Bourdon tube pressure gauge:

 When an elastic transducer (bourdon tube in this case) is subjected to a pressure, it defects. This deflection is proportional to
the applied pressure when calibrated.

Description of Bourdon tube Pressure Gauge:

 The main parts of these instruments are as follows:

 An elastic transducer that is bourdon tube which is fixed and open at one end to receive the pressure which is to be
measured. The other end of the bourdon tube is free and closed.

The cross-section of the bourdon tube is elliptical. The bourdon tube is in a bent form to look like a circular arc. To the free end of
the bourdon tube is attached an adjustable link, which is intern connected to a sector and pinion as shown in diagram. To the shaft of
the pinion is connected a pointer which sweeps over a pressure calibrated scale.

Operation of Bourdon tube:

The pressure to be measured is connected to the fixed open end of the bourdon tube. The applied pressure acts on the inner
walls of the bourdon tube. Due to the applied pressure, the bourdon tube tends to change in cross – section from elliptical to circular.
This tends to straighten the bourdon tube causing a displacement of the free end of the bourdon tube.

 This displacement of the free closed end of the bourdon tube is proportional to the applied pressure. As the free end of the
bourdon tube is connected to a link – section – pinion arrangement, the displacement is amplified and converted to a rotary motion
of the pinion. As the pinion rotates, it makes the pointer to assume a new position on a pressure calibrated scale to indicate the applied
pressure directly. As the pressure in the case containing the bourdon tube is usually atmospheric, the pointer indicates gauge
pressure.

Applications of Bourdon Tube pressure gauge:

 They are used to measure medium to very high pressures.

Advantages of Bourdon tube pressure gauge:

1.       These Bourdon tube pressure gauges give accurate results.
2.       Bourdon tube cost low.

3.       Bourdon tube is simple in construction.

4.       They can be modified to give electrical outputs.

5.       They are safe even for high pressure measurement.

6.       Accuracy is high especially at high pressures.

Limitations of bourdon tube pressure gauge:

1.       they respond slowly to changes in pressure

2.       They are subjected to hysteresis.

3.       They are sensitive to shocks and vibrations.

4.       Amplification is a must as the displacement of the free end of the bourdon tube is low.

5.       It cannot be used for precision measurement.

Spiral Type bourdon tube

A spiral type bourdon pressure gauge is shown in fig. Spiral tubes are made by winding several turns of the with the flattened cross-
sectional in the form of a spiral.

When the pressure to be measured is applied to the spiral, it tends to uncoil producing a relatively long movement of the tip
whose displacement can be used for deflection of the pointer. The accuracy of spiral tube element is higher than that of C type
element.