PRESSURE
MEASUREMENT
Pressure Sensors
“In any given plant, the number
of pressure gauges used is
probably larger than all other
instruments put together”
Pressure Definition
Static Pressure. Pressure, P, is defined as
force, F, per unit area, A:
P = F/A
Pressure Measurement
1. Pressure = Force / Area
2. Pressure can be used to measure other variables
such as Flow and Level
3. Pressure plays a major role in determining the
Boiling Point of Liquids
4. Fluids exerts pressure on the containing vessel
equally and in all directions
Pressure Measurement Methods
1. Mechanical Methods
1. Electrical Methods
Types of Pressure
measurements
Absolute pressure is measured
relative to a perfect vacuum
(psia)
Gauge pressure is measured
relative to ambient pressure
(psig)
Differential pressure is the
difference in pressure between
two points of measurement.
(psid).
Note that the same sensor may
be used for all three types; only
the reference is different.
Pressure Sensing Pressure
Pressure is sensed by mechanical
elements such as plates, shells, and Sensing
tubes that are designed and Element
constructed to deflect when pressure
is applied. displacement
This is the basic mechanism
converting pressure to physical Transduction
element
movement.
Next, this movement must be electric
transduced to obtain an electrical or
other output. Signal
Finally, signal conditioning may be Conditioner
needed, depending on the type of
sensor and the application. Figure
illustrates the three functional blocks.
V or I output
Pressure Measurement Methods
1. Manometer method
2. Elastic pressure transducers
3. Pressure measurement by measuring vacuum
4. Electric pressure transducers
5. Pressure measurement by balancing forces
produced on a known area by a measured force
Manometers
Manometers measure a pressure difference by
balancing the weight of a fluid column between
the two pressures of interest.
Where
p is unknown pressure
Po is Ambient pressure
is fluid density
g is gravitational force
h is fluid column
Pressure by Elastic Transducers
Bourdon
Bellows
Diaphragm
Uses flexible element as sensor. As pressure changes,
the flexible element moved, and this motion is used to
rotate a pointer in front of dail
Sensing Elements
The main types of
sensing elements are
Bourdon tubes,
diaphragms, capsules,
and bellows
All except diaphragms
provide a fairly large
displacement that is
useful in mechanical
gauges and for electrical
sensors that require a
significant movement
Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge
Bourdon tubes are generally are of three types
1. C-type
2. Helical type
3. Spiral type
12
Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge
13
Output of LVDT
14
Uses B-tube as elastic transducer & LVDT as an inductive transducer
Pressure Measurement
Bourdon gauge
A Bourdon gauge uses a coiled tube, which, as it expands
due to pressure increase causes a rotation of an arm
connected to the tube.
Pressure Measurement
Diaphragm
A second type of aneroid gauge uses the deflection of a
flexible membrane that separates regions of different pressure. The
amount of deflection is repeatable for known pressures so the
pressure can be determined by using calibration. The deformation of
a thin diaphragm is dependent on the difference in pressure between
its two faces.
The reference face can be open to
atmosphere to measure gauge pressure,
open to a second port to measure
differential pressure, or can be sealed
against a vacuum or other fixed reference
pressure to measure absolute pressure.
The deformation can be measured using
mechanical, optical or capacitive
techniques. Ceramic and metallic
diaphragms are used.
Diaphragm Pressure Gauge
Diaphragm are popular because they required less space
and the motion they produce is sufficient for operating
electronic transducers
Diaphragm Pressure Gauge
They are used to measure gauge pressures over very low ranges.
Two types of diaphragm pressure gauges are:
1. Metallic diaphragms gauge (brass or bronze)
2. Slack diaphragms gauge (Rubber)
Bellows
The bellows pressure sensor is made
of a sealed chamber that has multiple
ridges like the pleats of an accordion
that are compressed slightly when the
sensor is manufactured. When
pressure is applied to the chamber,
the chamber will try to expand and
open the pleats. which uses a spring
to oppose the movement of the
bellows and provides a means to
adjust the amount of travel the
chamber will have when pressure is
applied
Bellows
More sensitive than bourdon type
gauge.
Used to measure low pressures
Brass, phosphor bronze, stainless
steel, beryllium copper etc.
Doesn’t work well with
dynamic pressure due mass & large
displacements
Electric Pressure Transducers
Mechanical Pressure Transducers
to
Pneumatic Pressure Transmitters
to
Electric Pressure Transmitters
PEC – UET Lahore Dr. Shahid Naveed 25. April 2025 / Dr. –Ing Naveed Ramzan
23
Electric Pressure Transducers
Why Electrical Pressure Transducers?
Transmission requirements for remote display as electric
signal transmission can be through cable or cordless.
Electric signals give quicker responses and high accuracy in
digital measurements.
The linearity property of the electric signal produced to
pressure applied favors simplicity.
They can be used for extreme pressure applications, i.e. high
vacuum and pressure measurements.
EPTs are immune to hysteresis, shock and mechanical
vibrations.
Electric Pressure Transducers
1. Pressure sensing element such as a bellow , a diaphragm or a
bourdon tube
2. Primary conversion element e.g. resistance or voltage
3. Secondary conversion element
Types of Electric Pressure Transducers
Piezoelectric pressure transducers
Capacitive pressure transducers
Inductive transducers
Strain gauge pressure transducers
Potentiometer pressure transducers
Piezoelectricity
Phenomenon of generating an electric charge in a
material when subjecting it to a mechanical stress
(direct effect) and Generating a mechanical strain in
response to an applied electric field (converse effect).
Piezoelectric materials are Anisotropic – Electrical
and mechanical properties differ along different directions
27
28
Pressure Measurement
Piezoresistor
For typical values of the stress voltage drop along the resistor Vr
varies
Pressure Measurement
Strain Gauge
00 900 180 2700
0
Pressure measurement – Capacitive Tducer
In a capacitance-type
pressure sensor, a high-
frequency, high-voltage
oscillator is used to charge
the sensing electrode
elements. In a two-plate
capacitor sensor design, the
movement of the diaphragm
between the plates is
detected as an indication of
the changes in process
pressure.
Pressure measurement – Capacitive Tducer
Pressure measurement – Capacitive Tducer
The variable gap created by a moving diaphragm can be used as a capacitance
sensor.
The capacitance of the sensor is related to pressure.
Pressure measurement – Capacitive Tducer
Advantages:
1.More sensitive than piezoresistive
2.Less temperature dependant
3.Great dynamic pressure sensor
Disadvantages
1.Requires special diaphragm
2.Diaphragm mechanical properties
Pressure Measurement
Potentiometer
The potentiometric pressure sensor provides a simple
method for obtaining an electronic output from a
mechanical pressure gauge. The device consists of a
precision potentiometer, whose wiper arm is
mechanically linked to a Bourdon or bellows element.
The movement of the wiper arm
across the potentiometer converts
the mechanically detected sensor
deflection into a resistance
measurement, using a
Wheatstone bridge circuit
Pressure Measurement
Resonant of wire
The resonant-wire pressure transducer was introduced in the late
1970s. In this design, a wire is gripped by a static member
at one end, and by the sensing diaphragm at the other.
An oscillator circuit causes the wire to
oscillate at its resonant frequency. A
change in process pressure changes
the wire tension, which in turn
changes the resonant frequency of
the wire. A digital counter circuit
detects the shift. Because this change
in frequency can be detected quite
precisely, this type of transducer can
be used for low differential pressure
applications as well as to detect
absolute and gauge pressures.
Applications
AUTOMOTIVE
MEDICALDEVICES
ERGONOMICS
ROBOTICS
