Pressure Measurement

Chapter 6
 Pressure Measurement
Mechanical Pressure Measuring Devices - Manometers
Fluid manometer is widely used device for measurement of fluid pressure under steady state
and laboratory conditions

h’

pa + ρ m gh = p + ρ f gh h ' A2 = ( h − h ' ) A1
⎛ A2 ⎞
p − pa = ( ρ m − ρ f ) gh p − pa = ( ρ m − ρ f ) gh ⎜ + 1⎟
'

⎝ A1 ⎠
 Pressure Measurement
Mechanical Pressure Measuring Devices – Barometer
 Pressure Measurement
Mechanical Pressure Measuring Devices – Dead Weight Tester
 Pressure Measurement
Mechanical Pressure Measuring Devices – Dead Weight Tester

MODEL PK ll

Good accuracy is possible if the following are properly addressed:

1. The piston area
2. Weight precision
3. Gravity correction
4. Buoyancy
5. Friction
6. Head of transmitting fluid
7. Operation technique
Accuracies up to ±0.1% are typical for commonly used commercial DWTs
 Pressure Measurement
Mechanical Pressure Measuring Devices – Bourden Tube Pressure Gage

• Enjoy a wide range of application where

consistent, inexpensive measurements of
static pressure are desired

• In 1849 the Bourdon tube pressure gauge

was patented in France by Eugene Bourdon.
Pressure Measurement
Diaphragm & Bellows Gage

• With ERSG, accuracies of ±0.5% are typical.

• Relation is linear up to the deflection equal to

1/3rd of diaphragm thickness
Pressure Measurement
Diaphragm & Bellows Gage
 Pressure Measurement
Diaphragm & Bellows Gage

• Such an arrangement can be used to have linear relation even after the deflection
equal to 1/3rd of thickness

• Unsuitable for transient measurement

because of high inertia
Pressure Measurement
Capacitive Pressure Gage
Pressure Measurement
LVDT

• Being used for the pressure

measurement as low as 0.25 Pa

• The natural frequency of circular

diaphram attached to LVDT is given by
Hetenyi as

10.21 Et 2
f = 2 Hz
a 12 (1 − µ 2 ) ρ
Where,
E = modulus of elasticity, Pa
t = thickness, m
a = radius of diaphragm, m
ρ = Density of material, kg/m3
µ = Poisson’s ratio
For Steel
t
f = 4.912 ×106 ( t and a in m)
π a2
Pressure Measurement
Bridgman Gage
Pressure Measurement
Low Pressure Measurement –Mcleod Gage

The volume of capillary per unit length is “a”.

So the volume of the gas in capillary is:
Vc = ay ------ (1)
Where, y is the length of the capillary
occupied by the gas

Assume volume of capillary, bulb and tube

down to the opening as VB and also letting
isothermal compression process
c c = PVB
PV (Boyle's Law)
VB
Pc = P ------ (2)
Vc
The pressure indicated by the capillary is:
Pc − P = y ------ (3)
Here we express pressure in terms of height
Combining equations (1), (2) & (3)
ay 2 yVc
P= =
VB − ay VB − ay
Pressure Measurement
Low Pressure Measurement –Mcleod Gage

For most of the cases ay << VB, So

ay 2
P=
VB
For dry gases the gage is applicable from
10-2 to 102 µm (0.0013 to 13.3 Pa)
 Pressure Measurement
Low Pressure Measurement –Pirani Thermal Conductivity Gage

• Thermal conductivity of gas decreases with pressure

• Heat lost from filament is the function of:

1. Thermal Conductivity of gas
2. Filament Temperature
3. Ambient Temperature

• Lower the pressure, lower the thermal conductivity

consequently higher the filament (tungsten,
platinum, etc) temperature which can be measured
by thermocouple

• Range of application is 0.1 to 100 Pa

• Can’t be used for higher pressure as there is little

change in thermal conductivity

• Transient response is poor. Requires several

minutes to achieve thermal equilibrium.
Pressure Measurement
Low Pressure Measurement – Knudsen Gage

Separation between vanes & plates is less than the

mean free path of surrounding air
Temperature of vane = Tg
Temperature of heated plate = T
Total momentum exchange is a function of
molecular density, which in turn is related to
temperature and pressure of gas.

For small temperature differences T – Tg, it may

be shown that this relation is:
Tg
P = 4F
T − Tg
Where P is in dynes/cm2
F is in dynes
T & Tg are in K

Range of application is 10-6 to 1 Pa (10-5 to 10µm)

Also used as calibration device for other gages in
this region
Pressure Measurement
Low Pressure Measurement – Ionization Gage

It is found that the pressure of the gas is

proportional to the ratio of plate current to grid
current.
1 ip
P=
S ig
Where S is called the sensitivity of the gage.
Typical value of S for Nitrogen is 20 torr-1. It is a
function of tube geometry and the type of gas.
Range of application is 0.13 to 1.3 x 10-6 Pa (1 to
10-5µm)

Special type of ionization gages are suitable for

measurements of pressures as low as 0.13 nPa

Cathode may burn at pressures above 13 Pa

 Pressure Measurement
Low Pressure Measurement – Alphatron Gage

Alpha particles emitted by Radium source, ionizes the gas. The degree of ionization is determined
by Eo
The degree of ionization is a direct linear function of pressure for wide range of pressures from 10-3
to 103 torr (0.1 to 105Pa)

Alphatron has the advantage that it can be used at atmospheric pressure as well as high vacumm
Pressure Measurement