Al-Balqa Applied University

Faculty of Engineering Technology

Report of Fluid mechanics Lab

Experiment No. (3)

Bourdon gage
An equipment for measure a gage pressure

Edited by:
Zaid Al-jonaidy
301070041
Engineering of Chemical Industries Technology
Tuesday (11-2)

Supervisor: Dr. Mohammad Al-Shannag

 Fluid Mechanics Lab
Experiment No.3: Bourdon Gauge
Abstract:
This experiment is about learning some facts about pressure measurement by
bourdon gauge, in this experiment we will study the basic concepts of bourdon gauge and
to study and analyze the sources of errors may affect on the accuracy of the gauge.
After doing this experiment, the main result that we obtained is that the max error in
the gauge's reading was 28% resulted from many sources of errors discussed in this
report.
But in general, if we treat the error sources, we can consider the bourdon gauge as
the best mechanical equipment can be used in the pressure measurements applications.

Objectives:
1- To check the accuracy of the bourdon gauge.
2- To measure the error in accuracy of the results.
3- To study the basic concept of the actual pressure.

Introduction:
We often need to measure the gauge pressure in applications of engineering like
chemical reactors, factories and distillation columns, and to do this we need to an
apparatus like bourdon gauge.
Bourdon gauge is described as the instrument consists of a hollow tube bent into an
arc of a circle and sealed at one end, as shown in figure (1). The tube, which has an
elliptical cross section, is connected to the system pressure. As the pressure inside the
tube increases, the elliptical cross section deforms into a more circular one. Because of
the difference in areas between the inside and outside diameters, the tube tends to
straighten out. As shown, the sealed end of the tube is connected via a linkage to a pinion-
gear arrangement. Thus, as the tube straightens out, a needle pointer rotates with the
pinion to indicate the system pressure on the dial face.
Bourdon gauge is read a gauge pressure and calibrated to read pressures in any
desired set of units, such as psi, psf, pascals, bars, inches of water, and millimeters of
mercury.
The gauge calibrate at zero when the external pressure exerted on the outside the
tube (local atmospheric pressure) equal to the pressure inside the tube, thus, the gauge
reads the gauge pressure.
Bourdon gauge is also can be calibrated to measure Suction pressure. When
system pressure becomes less than atmospheric pressure, the tube tends to contract,
causing the needle to rotate in the opposite direction.
The advantages of using bourdon gauge is: 1) it can be used for a wide range of
pressures (from 0 to 7000 atm) 2) it can be used instead of manometers at extreme
pressures and temperatures.
The disadvantages is that the measurement of pressure at high temperatures may
cause deformation in the gauge, resulting in systematic errors.
Theory:
Pressure is defined as the exerted force per unit area:
F
P=
A
Where:
P Pressure (Pa)
F Exerted force (N)
A Area under the effect of force (m2)

In the fluid science, pressure may be defined in three types: atmospheric pressure,
absolute pressure, and the gauge pressure. And to measure the pressure we use different
instruments like bourdon gauge, these instruments almost measures the gauge pressure.
And to find the other related types of pressure we can use the following equation:
Pabs = Patm + Pgauge
Where:
Pabs is the absolute pressure (in any unit)
Patm is the atmospheric pressure in the same unit (constant at a certain temp.).
Pgauge is the gauge pressure measured in the same unit.
To find the actual pressure exerted on the area of the piston of bourdon gauge we use the
following equation:
W
P=
A
Where:
P The pressure measured (Pa)
W Exerted weights (N)
A Area of the piston (m2)
In our results we find that there a difference between the actual pressure and the
measured pressure resulted from many sources like the friction resulted from the
movement of the piston against the resistance of the cylinder.

Methodology:
Apparatus & Equipments:

The apparatus which used in this experiment (bourdon gage) is shown in the figure (1)
below.

Figure (1): Bourdon Gauge

To do this experiment we should have the following materials and equipments.

1- Bourdon gauge to measure gauge pressure.
 2- Liquid to fill the gauge.
3- Known weights.

Procedure:
1- Obtain the bourdon gauge and fill it with incompressible liquid.
2- Be sure that the reading of the gauge before adding the weights equal to zero.
3- Start increase pressure by adding weights, record the weight and the reading of the
gauge.
4- Execute the back reading of pressure by removing the weights gradually.
5- Record the weights and the pressure.

Operating Fluids:
In this experiment we will measure the gauge pressure by using bourdon gauge filled by
engine oil.

Sample of calculations:
Mass Added = 1kg
⇒ Weights on piston (N) = 1*9.81 = 9.81N
W 9.81 9.81
⇒ Act. P on piston (Pa) = = π 2 = π 2
= 31242 Pa
A 4 d 4 (0.02)
Bourdon gauge reading = 25000
⇒ Absolute Error = 31242 – 25000 = 6242 Pa
Actual - reading 31242 - 25000
relative error = = × 100% = 20%
Actual 31242
Results:
Adding Weights
Weights on Act. P on piston Gauge reading
Abs. Error (Pa) Rel. Error (%)
piston (N) (Pa) (Pa)
9.81 31242 25000 6242 20
19.62 62484 45000 17484 28
29.43 93726 81000 12726 14
34.34 109363 105000 4363 4
39.24 124968 125000 32 0.03
44.15 140605 140000 605 0.43
Table (1)

Removing Weights
Weights on Act. P on piston Gauge reading
Abs. Error (Pa) Rel. Error (%)
piston (N) (Pa) (Pa)
44.15 140605 140000 605 0.43
39.24 124968 125000 32 0.03
34.34 109363 100000 9363 8.6
29.43 93726 85000 8726 9.3
19.62 62484 60000 2484 4
9.81 31242 30000 1242 4
Table (2)
Results and discussion:
In this experiment, the main result is that the maximum error in reading is 28%, and the
minimum error in reading is 0.03, this error obtained when we add the weights because of
friction existence between the piston and the cylinder, also because the oil in the piston is
discharge and cause an error in reading.
Plot (1): The relation between the actual pressure and
the measured pressure in case of adding weights

150000

130000
Actual Pressure (Pa)

110000

90000

70000

50000

30000

10000
10000 30000 50000 70000 90000 110000 130000 150000
Measured Pressure (Pa)

Plot (2):The relation between the actual pressure and the

measured pressure in case of removing weights

150000

130000
Actual Pressure (Pa)

110000

90000

70000

50000

30000

10000
10000 30000 50000 70000 90000 110000 130000 150000
Measured Pressure (Pa)

Error Analysis:
As we see in the results and calculation section, the error resulted from this experiment
effects on the actual pressure and it differs according to the conditions at which the
experiment done, thus in case of adding weights the error is large than in case of removing
weights
Conclusions and recommendation:
The errors in this experiment can be decreased if we use a piston which distance between
them and the cylinder is zero (no discharge of oil in the gauge) and by decrease the
friction between the piston and the cylinder by using materials that prepared to this
purpose.
If we use a small weights to affect on the piston in the bourdon gauge, the error can
be decreased, because of the small change of pressure.

References:
1. Anthony Esposito, Fluid mechanics with application, 1998.
2. B.S Massey, mechanics of fluids, 6th edition, 1989, Chapman and Hall.
3. Visual Encyclopedia of Chemical Engineering Equipment.