MEASUREMENT OF PRESSURE USING STRAIN GAUGE

AIM:
To study the characteristics of Strain gauge pressure cell signal conditioner.
INTRODUCTION:
Measurement of pressure is one of the most important measurements, as it is used
in almost all industries. Measurement of liquid, gas, and steam pressure is a basic
requirement for many industrial processes to operate safely, efficiently. Pressure
measurement is important because of the following reasons.
1. Pressure is an important quantity that describes a system.

2. Pressure is invariably an important process parameter.

3. Pressure difference is used many a time as a means of measuring the flow rate
of a fluid.

A Strain gauge is a sensor whose resistance varies with applied force. It converts
force, pressure, tension, weight, etc., into a change in electrical resistance which can then
be measured.

PRESSURE:
In general, pressure is defined as force per unit area. The relationship between
pressure, force, and area can be represented as
P= F/A
Where P=Pressure
F= Force
A=Area.
SI units of pressure are Psi,N/m2,Pa,bar,Kg/cm2.

STRAIN GAUGE:
CONSTRUCTION & WORKING:
Strain gauges are built using resistance bonded foil strain gauges. A strain gauge
usually consists of four strain gauges in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. The gauges
themselves are bonded onto beam or structural member that deforms when weight is
applied. The output of the transducer can be scaled to calculate the force applied to the
transducer. A strain gauge will undergo a small mechanical deformation with an applied
force that results in a small change in gauge resistance proportional to the applied force.
Because this change in resistance with applied force is so small, strain gauges are
commonly wired using a Wheatstone bridge. The resultant output voltage of the bridge is
directly related to any imbalance between resistances in each leg of the bridge and the
bridge excitation voltage. The output of the bridge is normally specified in terms of milli
volts. This output voltage is then amplified using signal conditioner circuit to get output
voltage in the terms of volts.

PRINCIPLE:
Strain gauge works on the principle of piezoresistive effect. Piezoresistive effect is
a change in electrical resistivity of a semiconductor or metal when mechanical strain is
applied. Strain gauge resistance varies with applied force. It measures the deformation as
a change in electrical resistance, which is a measure of the strain and hence the applied
forces. Strain is the amount of deformation of a body due to an applied force.

STRAIN MEASUREMENT:
Strain gauge is connected to the Wheatstone bridge for measurement. To measure
strain requires accurate measurement of very small changes in resistance. To measure
such small changes in resistance, strain gauges are always used in a bridge configuration
with a voltage excitation source.
The general Wheatstone bridge, illustrated below, consists of

Four resistive arms with an excitation voltage, VEX, that is applied across the
bridge. The output voltage of the bridge, VO, will be equal to:
VO R3 R2 . VEX R3+R4 R1+R2
From this equation, it is apparent that when R1/R2 = RG1/RG2, the output voltage VO
will be zero. Under these conditions, the bridge is said to be balanced. Any change in
resistance in any arm of the bridge will result in a nonzero output voltage.

FRONT PANEL DESCRIPITION:

1. Power ON - To power ON/OFF the trainer kit.

2. Zero potmeter - To make zero correction in pressure cell sensor output.

3. Span potmeter - To make adjustment in gain amplifier output.

4. T1 - +VCC (Sensor input voltage).

5. T2, T3 - To measure pressure cell sensor output(mV)

6. T4 - To measure instrumentation amplifier output in volts (V).

7. T5 - To measure gain amplifier output in volts (V).

8. T6 - Ground terminal.

9. Sensor interface - To connect pressure cell sensor to the trainer kit.

10. Display - To display pressure.

REQUIREMENTS:
1. Pressure measurement trainer kit.
2. Multimeter (in V mode).

3. Pressure tank setup.

4. Foot pump.

FORMULA:
1. Error = Measured value – Actual value
2. %Error = Measured value – Actual value × 100
Actual value
PROCEDURE:
1. Connect the pressure cell sensor to the trainer kit.

2. Switch ON the unit.

3. Connect the multimeter (in V mode) at T5 & T6.

4. Close the hand valve in the cylindrical tank and increase the pressure in the tank till it
reaches 75 Psi (Shown in pressure gauge).

5. Adjust the span potmeter to get output voltage as 5 V at multimeter and display value
as 75 Psi.

6. Open the hand valve and release the pressure in the tank.

7. Close the hand valve and increase the pressure in the tank by pumping the foot pump
till it reaches 10 Psi (at pressure gauge) and measure the pressure cell signal conditioner
output in volts (V).

8. Repeat the above procedure for different pressure valves (till 75 Psi) and note down the
corresponding output voltage.

9. Tabulate the readings.

10. Release the pressure in the tank by opening the hand valve and switch OFF the unit.

RESULT:
Thus the characteristics of pressure cell signal conditioner was studied.