Instrumentation Fundamentals

Module 1 – Pressure Scales

Units of Pressure
Pressure Scales & Conversions
Atmospheric, PSIG, PSIA, PSID, Bar
Manometers
 Pressure
This module will cover:
• The physics of pressure
– Units of measure (SI, Metric, Imperial)
– Pressure scales and conversions
• How pressure is measured
– Elastic elements (bourdon, bellows diaphragm)
– Electrical elements (strain gauge, piezoelectric)
– Sensors, Switches and Transmitters
 What is it?
Pressure is an operating parameter that is
relevant in many applications. (similar to
voltage in an electric circuit)
• Pressure applied over a given area can be
used for useful work.
– Steam pressure, Water pressure
• Pressures can be measured to infer the
condition of other process parameters.
– Flow, level
 The Physics of Pressure
Pressure is defined as “force per unit area”

Force
Pressure =
Area

Therefore any object or material having a weight will

exert a pressure over the area the force is acting on.
 The Units of Pressure
Pressure is defined as “force per unit area”
Pound force,
Kilogram force

Force Newton, dyne

Pressure =
Area
Square Inches, Square feet
Square Centimeters,
Square Meters

Common units include:

Pounds per Square Inch (psi)
KiloPascals (kPa)
 Example of pressure from a 1 cubic
foot pound force acting on a surface

Each base has an area of 144 in2

550 lbs 708 lbs 62.4 lbs 849 lbs

1 cubic foot 1 cubic foot 1 cubic foot 1 cubic foot

of copper of lead of water of mercury
550 lbs 708 lbs 62.4 lbs 849 lbs
144 in2 144 in2 144 in2 144 in2
= 3.8 psi = 4.9 psi = 0.43 psi = 5.9 psi
 More Pressure Scales
PSI and kPa are the most common pressure scales
but there a few more:

• Inches* of water
• Inches* of mercury
• Bar
• Atmos
• Torr (vacuum)

* or millimeters when using metric

 Example of the various pressure scales
The same process pressure is being applied to each
gauge. Each gauge has a different scale calibration.

27.6806 2.03602 0.068947 0.068046

“H20 “Hg Bar Atmos
Applied
process
pressure is
1 psi or
6.89 kPa

The choice of scales will depend on

• the amount of pressure being measured (high pressure = psi/kPa,
low pressure = inches H20)
• The type of application ( flow = inches H20, blood pressure =
inches of Hg.)
 Conversion Factors
Need to Know: psi and kPa conversion

Imperial vs Metric vs SI
• 1 cubic foot of water that weighs 62.4 lbs acting over an
area of 144 in2 produces a pressure of 0.433 pound per
square inch (psi)

• The same volume of water weighs 28.3 Kilograms over an

area of 929 cm2, therefore the pressure is 0.03 kilograms per
square centimeter. (30.46 g/cm2)

• SI use Newton per sq. meter and call it the Pascal

1 psi = 0.006894757 Pascals
= 6.895 kiloPascals
 Need to Know
Ball Parking:
1 psi ≈ 7 kPa
3 psi ≈ 21 kPa
15 psi ≈ 105 kPa
20 psi ≈ 140 kPa

3 to 15 psi is a common pressure range

20 kPa to 100 kPa is also a common pressure
range
 Inches of Water Scale
This scale is used to measure small pressures.
The properties of water are known and constant
and can be used as a primary standard.

12 inches of water exerts a

pressure of 0.433 psi

Pressure is proportion to the height of the water column

(hydrostatic head pressure)
 Water Column
The hydrostatic head produced by
a column of liquid is proportional
to the height and density of the
liquid.
P = height x Density

(Density = Mass/Volume)

12 “ Density of water is 0.0361 lbs/in3

H20

0.433 P = 12 x 0.0361
psi
= 0.433 lbs/in2
 Water Column

The greater the height the

greater the hydrostatic head.

P = height x Density

24 “ (Density = Mass/Volume)
H20

Density of water is 0.0361 lbs/in3

0.866 P = 24 x 0.0361
psi
= 0.866 lbs/in2
 Manometers
Manometers can be used as a primary standard to
measure small pressures

Applied Process
Pressure Atmospheric Press
Atmospheric Pressure

Height (h) of displaced

water = applied pressure

U-Tube Manometer
 Reading pressure with a U-tube Manometer

If the total displacement h = 3“ the applied pressure

would be 3”H20 = 3”WC = 0.108 psi

Applied Process
Pressure Atmospheric Press

Height (h) of displaced

water = applied pressure

Using Mercury as a filling liquid increases the pressure range by 13.6 times.
 Well Type Manometers
The well type uses one measuring arm. Gives a
larger pressure range

Mercury filled well

type manometers can
measure up to 30 psi
and more. (6 footer)

Can be used as a
primary standard.
 Inclined Plane Manometer
Used for very small pressure measurements.
Very sensitive, often used to measure room
pressures.
 Gauge Pressure (psig)
psi in atmosphere
The standard pressure
measurement is referenced to
atmospheric pressure and is
called gauge pressure.

The scale units on the manometer could

be calibrated in
– inches of water (gauge)
– inches of mercury (gauge)
– psig

And all measurements would be relative

to atmospheric pressure 14.7 psi
(varies slightly with elevation and weather)
 Gauge, Absolute and Atmospheric Pressure
Any pressure above atmosphere is called gauge pressure (psig)
Any pressure below atmosphere is a vacuum (negative gauge pressure)
Absolute pressure (psia) is measured from a perfect vacuum

Differential Pressure (psid)

has no reference to either
absolute vacuum or
atmospheric pressure
 Gauge Pressure (psig)
1 psi Atmos

Applying 1 psi would produce a

displacement of about 2 in. Hg
or 30 in. H2O

Since the reference side of the

manometer is open to
h atmosphere, the applied
pressure would be read as
gauge pressure
i.e. 1psig or just 1 psi
Standard Gauge

• When a gauge has

no input applied, it
will read 0 psig
• The pressure range
for this gauge is
0 – 100 psi
• What is the range in
kPa?

Some gauges may not include

the “g” after psi, some will.
Pressure Range & Scale
This gauge has a
pressure range of
0 to 30 in. H2O

The pressure being

measured is still
gauge pressure.

What is the maximum psig

that can be applied?
kPa?
Small pressure measurements

Dwyer differential pressure

gauge registers a
differential of 0 - 2 psi, 1/8"
npt. High and low pressure
input ports on side and
back. Manual set point.
Max 15 psi and 140ºF. 4-
3/4" diameter x 2" high.
Examples of psig, psia and vacuum

20 psig
= 20 + 14.7 = 34.7 psia

60 psia
= 60 – 14.7 = 45.3 psig

10 psia
= 10 – 14.7 = -4.7 psig

= -4.7 = - 9.6 ”Hg

0.0361 x13.6
PSIA – Absolute Pressure

A gauge with a psia scale will

indicate 14.7 when no pressure
is applied.

The compound gauge is more

common than psia, it measures
vacuum and gauge pressure.

This gauge has a range of 0 – 30 in. Hg

vacuum and 0 to 15 psig
Differential Pressure (psid)
6 psi 2 psi

Differential pressure = 4 psid

4
h= = 8.15 inches of
0.0361 x 13.6 H20 differential
Differential Pressure Gauge (psid)

Requires 2 inputs.
Must observe pressure
polarity, i.e. hi side /
lo side
 Differential Pressure Cell Transmitter

4 – 20 mA output
2 wire transmitter

The d/p cell is often

used to measure
Differential level and flow.
Input
What is the maximum allowable
input pressure in psi?
0 – 200 in. H20
Typical input range
Pressure Conversion Chart
Pressure Units psi kPa inches of Hg inches of H20 atmospheres bar

psi 1 6.894 2.036 27.681 .0681 .06895

kPa 0.1450 1 .2953 4.0147 .009669 .01

inches of Hg 0.4912 3.3864 1 13.595 .03342 .03386

inches of H2O 0.03613 .2491 .07355 1 .002458 .002491

atmospheres 14.696 101.33 29.92 406.8 1 1.0133

bar 14.504 100 29.53 401.86 .9869 1

Ball Parking Accurate

1 psi = 7 kPa 1 psi = 6.89 kPa
1 inch Hg = 0.5 psi 1 inch Hg = 0.49 psi
100 inch H20 = 3.5 psi 100 inch H20 = 3.61 psi
1 Bar = 1 Atmos = 14.7 psi 1 Bar = 14.5 psi = 100 kPa
 Exercise (ball park is fine)
What is this in psig, What is this in psi,
psia, inches of Hg? kpa, inches of H20?