Instrumentation and Control

Unit-I -Measurement of process

pressure, Fluid level and Fluid Flow
 basics

• one of the oldest type of pressure measurement

• used to measure gauge pressure, differential pressure
and absolute pressure
• compressive force acting perpendicularly to the surface
of a body acting per unit area.
• Expressed as force per unit area: P=F/A
• expressed in units of Pascals (Pa), newtons
per square meter (N/m2 or kg/m. s2), or pounds
per square inch.
• Other units include the atmosphere (atm), torr, bar,
and meters sea water (msw).
• The pressure measured from absolute vacuum
pressure(p=0) is called Absolute pressure.
• If the pressure is measured using a guage and
it is above atmospheric pressure(air) called
gauge pressure
• Vacuum pressure is measured below
atmospheric pressure called negative pressure
• Atmospheric pressure surrounded in the
atmosphere .
 TYPES OF PRESSURE
• Gauge pressure is the pressure measured relative
to the atmospheric pressure.
• Eg instruments,tank,pipe
• Gauge pressure measured can be above or
below atmospheric pressure.
• The pressure above atmospheric pressure is
positive gauge pressure.
• If the pressure measured is below atmospheric
pressure, it indicates a negative gauge pressure
or vacuum pressure.
TYPES OF PRESSURE
 SimpleManometers

A simple manometer is one which consists of a

glass tube, whose one end is connected to a point
where pressure is to be measured
• and the other end is open to atmosphere.
• Devices used for measuring pressure at a point in
a fluid balancing the column of a fluid with the
same or another fluid
piezometer
• Piezometer
Piezometer is one of the simplest
forms of manometers. Used to
measure pressure in pipes and
vessels
• It can be used for measuring
moderate pressures of liquids.
• The setup of piezometer consists of a
glass tube, inserted in the wall of a
vessel or of a pipe.
• The tube extends vertically upward
to such a height that liquid can freely
rise in it without overflowing.
• The pressure at any point in the
liquid is indicated by the height of the
liquid in the tubeabovethatpoint.
Pressure at point A can be computed by measuring the height to which the
liquid rises in the glass tube.

The pressure at point A is given by p = wh, where w is the specific weight of

the liquid
Limitations of Piezometer
1. Piezometers can measure gauge pressures only. It is not suitable for
measuring negative pressures.

2. Piezometers cannot be employed when large pressures in the lighter

liquids are to be measured since this would require very long tubes, which
cannot be handled conveniently.

3. Gas pressures cannot be measured with piezometers, because a gas forms

no free surface. -
 ADVANTAGES
• GOOD ACCURACY
• HIGH SENSITIVITY
• REQUIRES LESS MAINTANCE
• SUITABLE FOR LOW PRESSURE AND LOW
DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE.
• RELATIVELY IN EXPENSIVE
U tube is made of glass.The tube is filled with a
fluid known as Manometer fluid.Manometer
fluid may be mercury , water etc…If the
manometer is connected to same pressure
source (P1 = P2) the level of the manometer
will be same.
 CONTD
• It consist a U – shaped bend whose one end is
attached to the gauge point ‘A’ and other end
is open to the atmosphere.
• It can measure both positive and negative
(suction) pressures.
• It contains liquid of specific gravity greater
than that of a liquid of which the pressure is
to be measured.
The name suggests that it is of U-shape and
the raise of liquid in both the tube is
considered to measure the fluid pressure as
shown in Fig. 3.2 (a) Double Column
Manometer (Px> Pa)
• Let us consider the gauge pressure in the container be Px
• Pa be the atmospheric pressure exerts on the liquid in the U-tube
manometer
• w1be the specific gravity of liquid in the container
• w2be the specific gravity of liquid in the U-tube manometer
• h1 be the height of liquid in the container up to the datum line AB
• h2 be the height of liquid in the U-tube manometer up to the datum
line AB
• So,
• The pressure exerted by liquid at A is given by,
• PA = Px + w1h1
• Similarly, pressure exerted by liquid at B is given by
• PB = Pa+ w2h2
• Or,
• PB = w2h2 (Pa= 0)
• We know that,
• PA = PB
• Px + w1h1 = w2h2
• Or,
• Px = (w2h2 – w1h1)
• If the head of water column is considered, then the
specific gravity can be given by-
• Px/ w = (w2h2 – w1h1)/ w
• (w = specific weight of water)
• Or,
• Px/ w = (S2h2 – S1h1)
• Here,
• S1 and S2 = Specific Gravity of both liquids
• Now,
Considering Fig. 3.2 (b) Double Column Manometer (Px< Pa)
• The pressure exerted by liquid at A is given by,
• PA = Px + w1h1 + w2h2
• Similarly, pressure exerted by liquid at B is given by
• PB = 0
• We know that,
• PA = PB
• Px + w1h1 + w2h2 = 0 Or,
• Px = – (w1h1+w2h2)
• If the head of water column is considered, then the specific
gravity can be given by-
• Px/ w = – (w1h1+w2h2)/ w
• (w = specific weight of water) Or,
• Px/ w = – (S1h1+S2h2) Here,
• S1 and S2 = Specific Gravity of both liquids
• Micro-manometer is also known as single column manometers.
The construction of a micro-manometer is as follows:
• a. One limb of manometer is a tank of large cross sectional area
as compared to the cross sectional area of the other limb.
• b. This tank acts as a reservoir to hold the manometer fluid.
• c. The cross sectional area of the tank is 100 times greater than
that of the other limb.
• d. When there is change in the pressure in the pipe, there is
negligible change in the level of fluid in tank.
• This change can be neglected and pressure can be measured as
height of liquid in the other column.
• It is of two types:
• i. Vertical column micro-manometer
• ii. Inclined column micro-manometer
• Single Column Manometer is just like u-tube manometer whose
one end is replaced with a reservoir of large cross-sectional area as
compare to other limb as shown in Fig. 3.3 (a) Well type or reservoir
manometer
• Let us consider both the limbs of manometer are
exposed to atmospheric pressure, Pa
• When the limb (left one) with reservoir is
connected to the container, the pressure of
liquid exerts on it to push it down from A1B1 to
A2B2.
• The change in the level of liquid be h
• h1 be the height of liquid in the container up to
the line A1B1
• h2 be the height of liquid in the manometer up
to the line A1B1
• w1be the specific gravity of liquid in the container
• w2be the specific gravity of liquid in the
manometer So,
• Mass of liquid displaced by liquid is given by,
• m = h x A x Px
• Similarly, Mass of liquid rise in the right limb is
given by-
• m = h2 x a x Px

According to law of conservation of masses, it can be

written as-
• h x A x Px = h2 x a x Px Or,
• h = h2 x a/ A
• Now,
Gauge pressure at A2 is given by,
• PA2 = Px + (h1 + h) w1
• Similarly,
Gauge pressure at B2 is given by,
• Pa2 = Pa + (h2 + h) w2
• We know that,
• PA2 = Pa2
• Px + (h1 + h) w1 = Pa + (h2 + h)
w2 (Pa = 0)
• Px = (w2h2 – w1h1) + h(w2 – w1)
• Or,
• Px = w2h2 (1 + a/ A) – w1 (h1 + h2.a/ A)
• a/A is negligible as its value is nearly zero
• Hence,
• Px = (w2h2 – w1h1)
 Inclined Manometer:

• Inclined manometer is used for the measurement of

small pressures and is to measure more accurately
than the vertical tube type manometer.
• Due to inclination the distance moved by the fluid in
manometer is more.
• Considering the Fig. 3.3 (b) The inclined leg expands
the scale so that lower pressure differentials may be
read easily.
• Sensitivity of the manometer increases
• .The scale of the manometer can be extended greatly
by decreasing the angle of inclined leg to a small
value
• Note:
• Inclined manometer is considered as 25 times
more sensitive than double column U-tube
manometer.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0kpcCB
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• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmuxH6
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