Pressure Instrumentation

Dr. Fahad Rehman

CUI, Lahore Campus
CLOs covered in this lecture
• CLO1: Describe the fundamentals of Process Instrumentation

• Contents
• We will talk about some fundamentals of Pressure measurement and
different types of Gauges used for Pressure measurement
Pressure Instrumentation
• A Pressure Instrument is used where indication and/or record of
pressure is required at a location not adjacent to the primary element.
• A Pressure Instrument is used where overall high performance is
mandatory.
• Both Electronic and Pneumatic instruments are used.
• These can be either Gauge, Absolute or Differential Pressure
Instruments .
Pressure Sensor

• The diagram shows an electronic differential

pressure sensor. This particular type utilizes a
two-wire capacitance technique.

• Another common measuring technique is a

strain gauge-will continue later on.

• Process pressure is transmitted through

isolating diaphragms and silicone oil fill fluid to
a sensing diaphragm.
Transmitter Measuring
Principles
• The sensing diaphragm is a stretched spring
element that deflects in response to the
differential pressure across it.

• The displacement of the sensing diaphragm

is proportional to the differential pressure.

• The position of the sensing diaphragm is

detected by capacitor plates on both sides of
the sensing diaphragm.
Transmitter Measuring
Principles
• The differential capacitance between the
sensing diaphragm and the capacitor plates is
converted electronically to a 4–20 mA or 1-5
VDC signal.
• For a gauge pressure transmitter, the low
pressure side is referenced to atmospheric
pressure.
The majority of industrial DP Transmitters
are fitted with diaphragm as the pressure
sensing element. This diaphragm is a
mechanical device. It is placed in between
the two pressure inlet ports. The diaphragm
will be deflected by the applied pressure.

This deflection is converted into an electrical

signal. This is normally done by the sensors.
The commonly used sensors are (a) Strain
Gauge (b) Differential Capacitance (c)
Vibrating wire. The sensor output is
proportional to the applied pressure.
 Strain Gauges

If a strip of conductive metal is stretched, it will become skinnier and longer,

both changes resulting in an increase of electrical resistance end-to-end.

Conversely, if a strip of conductive metal is placed under compressive force

(without buckling), it will broaden and shorten.

If these stresses are kept within the elastic limit of the metal strip (so that the
strip does not permanently deform), the strip can be used as a measuring
element for physical force, the amount of applied force inferred from
measuring its resistance.
Strain Gauges
Strain Gauges
Strain Gauges
. • A strain gauge’s conductors are very thin: if made of round wire, about 1/1000
inch in diameter.
• Alternatively, strain gauge conductors may be thin strips of the metallic film
deposited on a non-conducting substrate material called the carrier. The latter
form of the strain gauge is represented in the previous illustration.
• The name “bonded gauge” is given to strain gauges that are glued to a larger
structure under stress (called the test specimen).
• “Gauging” is a craft in its own right, absolutely essential for obtaining accurate,
stable strain measurements.
• It is also possible to use an unmounted gauge wire stretched between two
mechanical points to measure tension, but this technique has its limitations.
Strain Gauges
• Typical strain gauge resistances range from 30 Ω to 3 kΩ (unstressed).
• This resistance may change only a fraction of a percent for the full
force range of the gauge, given the limitations imposed by the elastic
limits of the gauge material and of the test specimen.
• Forces great enough to induce greater resistance changes would
permanently deform the test specimen and/or the gauge conductors
themselves, thus ruining the gauge as a measurement device.
• Thus, in order to use the strain gauge as a practical instrument, we
must measure extremely small changes in resistance with high
accuracy.
Bridge Measurement Circuit-Quarter
Measurement Circuit
• Such demanding precision calls for
a bridge measurement circuit.
• Unlike the Wheatstone bridge
using a null-balance detector and a
human operator to maintain a
state of balance, a strain gauge
bridge circuit indicates measured
strain by the degree of imbalance,
and uses a precision voltmeter in
the center of the bridge to provide
an accurate measurement of that
imbalance:
Quarter Bridge Circuit

• Typically, the rheostat arm of the

bridge (R2 in the diagram) is set at
a value equal to the strain gauge
resistance with no force applied.
• The two ratio arms of the bridge
(R1 and R3) are set equal to each
other. Thus, with no force applied
to the strain gauge, the bridge will
be symmetrically balanced and the
voltmeter will indicate zero volts,
representing zero force on the
strain gauge.
Quarter Bridge Circuit
• As the strain gauge is either
compressed or tensed, its
resistance will decrease or
increase, respectively, thus
unbalancing the bridge and
producing an indication at the
voltmeter.
• This arrangement, with a single
element of the bridge changing
resistance in response to the
measured variable (mechanical
force), is known as a quarter-
bridge circuit.
Strain Gauges
• Drawbacks???
• Limitations ???
Differential Pressure Sensor/Transmitter
There are unlimited industrial applications of Differential Pressure
Transmitters.

• Oil and Gas flow metering in onshore, offshore and subsea applications.
• Water and effluent treatment plants. It is largely used to monitor filters in
these plants.
• It is used to monitor Sprinkler Systems.
• Remote sensing of Heating Systems for Steam or Hot Water.
• Pressure drops across valves can be monitored.
• Pump control monitoring.
Differential Pressure Sensor/Transmitter
Differential pressure sensor/Transmitter
Differential pressure sensor/Transmitter
Advantages ???

Disadvantages ???
Next Lecture
• We will continue studying the pressure instrumentation and some
pressure safety equipment/devices as well.