Presented by : Ahmed Ali Ahmed Elmesiry

1. Introduction
2. Units
3. Measurements Principles
4. Mechanical devices
5. Electronic pressure sensors
6. Thermal sensors
7. Ionization gauges
8. DEVICE SELECTION
What is the Pressure ?!

 Pressure is define as force applied in specified area. (exerts on solid, gas, liquid)

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

and it applies whether the pressure is very small, such as in outer

space or very large, as in hydraulic systems for example.
 Pressure Types :

Absolute pressure is zero referenced against a perfect

vacuum, so it is equal to gauge pressure plus atmospheric
pressure.

Atmospheric pressure Atmospheric pressure is the

pressure on the earth’s surface due to the weight of gases
in the earth’s atmosphere , about 100 kPa (1 bar) .

Gauge pressure is zero referenced against ambient air

pressure, so it is equal to absolute pressure minus
atmospheric pressure. Negative signs are usually omitted.

Differential pressure is the difference in pressure

between two points.
absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmospheric pressure
 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.
 An instrument facing the flow direction measures the sum of the static and dynamic
pressures; this measurement is called the total pressure or stagnation pressure
 dynamic pressure is referenced to static pressure, it is neither gauge nor absolute;
it is a differential pressure
Hydrostatic pressure :
 Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure in a liquid.
 The pressure increases as the depth in a liquid increases, due to its weight.
 In term of equation, P = ρgh
ρ = density in kg/m3
g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8m/s2)
h = depth in liquid in m
P = pressure in Pa

P = ρwh ρw = weight density in lb/ft3

h = depth in liquid in ft
P = pressure in lb/ft2
 A number of quite different principles are utilized in pressure measuring
instruments. Some of these are fundamental in character such as measuring the
height of a liquid column of known density. One such example is a mercury
barometer where the atmospheric pressure can be balanced against the column of
mercury.
 Often the pressure may be determined by measurement of the mechanical
deformation of a sensing element that undergoes elastic deformation as the
pressure difference across its surfaces changes. The mechanical deflection can be
both implemented and sensed in a number of ways.
 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)
1. Moderate Pressure Measurement
 Liquid columns
 Elastic elements (diaphragm, bellows, capsules, bourdon tubes,
spiral, helix)
2. High Pressure Measurement
 Electrical Resistance pressure gauge
3. Low Pressure Measurement
 McLeod gauge
 Pirani gauge
 Ionisation gauge
 Types of Measurement:

 Mechanical
 U-tube manometer, Bourdon tube, Diaphragm and Bellows

 Electrical
 Strain Gauge, Capacitive sensor, Potentiometric, Resonant Wire,
Piezoelectric, Magnetic, Optical
 Thermal conductivity
 Ionization
 Mechanical pressure measurement devices are
large and cumbersome.
 Not suited for automated control loops typical
in industry.
 Mechanical devices:
 Liquid Columns Manometer
 Bourdon tube
 Diaphragm and Bellows element
LIQUID COLUMN INSTRUMENTS
 One of the earliest methods of pressure
measurement, and still one of the most accurate
today,

If the upper tube is connected to the atmosphere (p2

= atmospheric pressure) then p1 is a gauge-mode
pressure

if the upper tube is evacuated (ie p2 = zero) then p1 is an absolute-

mode pressure and the instrument becomes a barometer.
TYPES OF LIQUID COLUMN MANOMETER

U-tube Manometer Well-type Manometer

Incline-tube Manometer
MECHANICAL DEFORMATION INSTRUMENTS

• Elastic elements, when subjected to pressure, get

deformed.
• Measurement of the deformation, gives an indication of
pressure value.
• Example of elastic elements are; diaphragms, capsules,
bellows, Bourdon or helical tubes.
 BOURDON GAUGE

 The Bourdon pressure gauge uses the principle that a flattened tube tends to change
to a more circular cross-section when pressurized.
BOURDON GAUGE

 Bourdon tubes measure gage pressure, relative to

ambient atmospheric pressure
 To avoid unnecessary wear on the gears and provide an
average reading; when the whole gauge is subject to
mechanical vibration, the entire case including the pointer
and indicator card can be filled with an oil or glycerin
 DIAPHRAGM DIAL GAUGE

 similar to a Bourdon tube dial gauge

except that the moving element is a
diaphragm.
 Its movement is transmitted through a
connecting rod to an amplifying lever
and gears which rotate a mechanical
pointer.
 A pressure sensor measures pressure, typically of gases or liquids.
A pressure sensor usually acts as a transducer; it generates an
electronic signal as a function of the pressure imposed.
 Have several types :
Piezoresistive Strain Gage Piezoelectric
Capacitive Resonant
Magnetic Optical
 STRAIN GAUGES DEVICES

 Measures deflection of elastic diaphragm

due to pressure difference across diaphragm.
 Widely used in industry.
 Used for small pressure ranges.
 piezo-resistivity is the phenomenon of a
change in resistivity due to strain, induced by
a mechanical force
- Bonded strain gauge
- Unbounded strain gauge
 CAPACITIVE SENSOR

Uses a diaphragm and

pressure cavity to create a
variable capacitor to detect
strain due to applied
pressure.
 PIEZO-ELECTRIC DEVICES

 Certain crystal materials when subjected to stress via

external pressure develop a voltage across their surfaces.
 This piezo-electric effect can be used to measure the
pressure.
 This is a self generating sensor requiring no external
power supply.
 The response is very fast, making these sensors suited to
dynamic pressure/peak pressure measurement.
PIEZO-ELECTRIC DEVICES
PIEZO-ELECTRIC EFFECT
 Generally, as a real gas increases in density -which may
indicate an increase in pressure- its ability to conduct heat
increases.
 In this type of gauge, a wire filament is heated by running
current through it. A thermocouple or Resistance
Temperature Detector (RTD) can then be used to measure
the temperature of the filament.
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.
 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.
 Before attempting to select a pressure measuring instrument and identify a suitable
supplier it is important to establish the selection criteria

selection criteria :

 the pressure characteristics  safety

 the characteristics of the pressure  installation and maintenance
medium
 signal conditioning
 the external environment
 performance
 the physical characteristics of the
instrument
 type of use
 THE PRESSURE CHARACTERISTICS

 Pressure mode, range and rating

 In selecting a suitable device it is important to consider whether an absolute-,
gauge- or differential-mode measurement is required
 The working range of an instrument should cover the expected range of
pressures to be measured.
 The maximum working pressure must be suitable
 Pressure fluctuation
 Fluctuating or pulsating pressures are one of the most common causes of
failure of pressure instruments , use of higher pressure rating equipment
may be advisable when the system affect with pressure fluctuation .

 Media characteristics
 Operating temperature
 Corrosion and deposition
 Density dependence
 External environment
 External pressure (depth gauges or oil reservoir sensors )
 External media (IP rating )
 External temperature
 Vibration (ensure that the device selected is sufficiently insensitive to
the frequency and amplitude of vibrations in the intended location )
 Type of use
 Indication
 control
 Safety / Critical applications