TRANSDUCERS

Introduction
Pressure is define as force divided by
area. (exerts on solid, gas, liquid)

P=F/A

F = force in newton/ lb
A = area in m2/ in2

The unit of pressure is in Pa, psi, atm, bar, torr

1psi=6895pa
1bar=105Pa
1atm=101325
1torr=133.3Pa

Static and Dynamic

Pressure
Static pressure is the pressure of fluid or gases
that are stationary or not in motion.
Dynamic pressure is the pressure exerted by a
fluid or gas when it impacts on a surface or an
object due to its motion or flow.

Pressure Measurement
Absolute pressure is the
pressure measured wrt
a vacuum (unit = psia)
Gauge pressure is the
pressure measured wrt
atmospheric pressure

ZeroPressure

Pressuredueto
Atmosphere

Absolute
Pressureat
pointof
interest

(unit = psig)

Atmospheric pressure is
the pressure on the
earths surface due to
the weight of gases in
the earths atmosphere

GaugePressure
atpointof
interest

(14.7psi)

Exercise
Find the absolute pressure, if a pressure
gauge reads 8.3psi, while the atm pressure is
14.7psi.
Pabs=Pat+Pg
=14.7+8.3
=23psi

Why Measure Pressure

Pressure negates the properties of a
fluid: state, flow, force
Quality and Safety of operation: tire,
compressor, etc
Pressure measurements is used in
various general, industry and research
applications.
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Pressure Measuring
Instrument

1.

The techniques for pressure measurement is

depending on pressure level. (moderate, very high,
very low)
Very high pressure level is higher than 1000 atm
Very low pressure level is below than 133 Pa (1
torr)
Moderate Pressure Measurement
- Manometer
- Elastic elements (diaphragm, bellows, capsules,
bourdon tubes, spiral, helix)

Pressure Measuring
Instrument
2.

High Pressure Measurement

- Electrical Resistance pressure gauge

3.

Low Pressure Measurement

- McLeod gauge
- Pirani gauge
- Ionisation gauge

Pressure Transducers
What is a pressure transducer?
A pressure transducer is a device that
converts a pressure signal to an electric
signal.

Pressure Sensing

Pressure

Pressure is sensed by mechanical

Sensing
elements such as plates, shells, and
tubes that are designed and
Element
constructed to deflect when pressure
is applied.
displacement
This is the basic mechanism
Transduction
converting pressure to physical
element
movement.
Next, this movement must be
electric
transduced to obtain an electrical or
Signal
other output.
Finally, signal conditioning may be
Conditioner
needed, depending on the type of
sensor and the application. Figure 8
illustrates the three functional blocks.
#
V or I output

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

Elastic Elements

Flatdiaphragm

Bellows

TwistedBourdontube

Corrugateddiaphragm

Straighttubes

HelicalBourdontube

Capsule

Cshape
Bourdontube

SpiralBourdon
tube

How to select?
1.
2.
3.
4.

You must understand the pressure range, accuracy

and the response time of the instrument.
Parameter such as hysterisis and stability can be
obtained from manufacturers specification.
Other aspect such as cost and maintenance also
should be considered.
The liquid in the tube must not interact with the
pressure gas. (contamination, evaporates)

Manometers
Manometers are one of the oldest
pressure measuring devices.

Manometer

Manometer is the simplest device for measuring

static pressure.
It contains water/ mercury or any other suitable
fluid in the manometer tube.
When a pressure line is connected to one column
of manometer, the fluid in the column will be forced
down, and the fluid in the other will rise.
By measuring the difference in height of the fluid in
the two columns, the pressure of the inlet can be
expressed in inches of fluid.
#

ADVANTAGES
Easy to read, height difference is
proportional to pressure
No moving parts

Disadvantage
Cannot measure high pressures with
great accuracy
Small pressure range
Contain fluids which can be dangerous
when exposed to high temperatures,
limiting manometers to low temperature
systems
#

Application
to measure the pressure between the
surface water and groundwater.
the sphygmomanometer is used to
measure blood pressure.

BOURDON GAUGE
The bourdon pressure gauge is very common and
probably the most recognizable piece of pressure
measuring equipment. Below are two views of a
Bourdon gauge after it has been taken out of its
casing.

BOURDON GAUGE
When fluid enters the shaft, it travels up into the
hollow curved bourdon tube. The pressure of the fluid
forces the tube to straighten, turning the gears and
moving the needle. Pictured below on the right is a
close up of the gear mechanism.

ADVANTAGES
Can be used for a wide range or
pressures, from 0 to 7000 atm
Can be used instead of manometers at
extreme pressures and temperatures.

DISADVANTAGES
Measurement of pressure at high
temperatures may cause deformation in
the gauge, resulting in systematic error

STRAIN GAUGE
There are two types of strain gauges:
unbonded and bonded.

STRAIN GAUGE
The unbonded strain gauge on the left consists of two wires
connected to a fixed frame and two wires connected to a
movable armature.
When pressure is applied to the diaphragm, the armature
moves, and two wires stretch while the other two contract. The
resulting change in electrical resistance reflects the pressure
applied.

STRAIN GAUGE
In bonded strain gauges, on the other hand, the wire
filament is embedded in cloth, paper, plastic, or resin
and is mounted onto a flexible plate, as shown
above. When pressure is applied to the flexible plate,
the filament wires stretch or contract. The resulting
change in resistance reflects the pressure applied.

STRAIN GAUGE

Application
Micro-machined silicon pressure
sensors with strain gauges can be used
in precision pressure transmitters

McLeod Gauge
It compresses the low pressure gas so that the increased pressure
can be measured.
The change in volume and pressure can then be used to calculate
the original gas pressure, providing that the gas not condensed.

Pirani Gauge
It consist of platinum filament and thermocouple enclosed in a
chamber.
The pressure measurement is based on the relation of heat
conduction and radiation from a heating element to the number of gas
molecules per unit volume in the low pressure region.

Ionization Gauge
It can be used to measure pressure down to about 2
torr.
The gas is ionized with a beam of electrons and the
current is measured between two electrodes in the
gas.
The current is proportional to the number of ions per
unit volume, which also proportional to the gas
pressure.