Instrumentation and

Control
PRESSURE MEASUREMENT

Instrumentation and Control

Pressure Measurement Scale
There are three scales for pressure measurement
• Gage pressure (PSIG)
• Absolute pressure (PSIA)
• Vacuum
Pressure Measurement Scale
 PRESSURE
MEASUREMENT
INSTRUMENTS
Pressure Instruments with a Liquid Column
• Measuring pressure is possible by
monitoring the height of a liquid in a
column
• These gauges are very accurate and
may be used as a calibration tools to
other instruments
• A barometer is an example of a liquid
column gauge
Pressure Instruments: Mechanical gauge

Major types of mechanical gauges

• Bourdon tube
• Diaphragm gauge
• Bellow Gauge
Mechanical Gauge: Bourdon Tube
• The bourdon tube is a C shaped metal tube
• As pressure increase, the tube coil unwinds
• As it unwinds, a needle attached to the end will move to indicate a higher pressure
reading
• The gauge range depends on the type of material
Mechanical Gauge: Bourdon Tube
Mechanical Gauge: Bourdon Tube
Mechanical Gauge: Bourdon Tube
Mechanical Gauge: Diaphragm Gauge

• Diaphragm gauges are typically spring-loaded as a mean of setting the range

and sensitivity.
• Diaphragm gauges can be used to measure absolute pressure and gauge
pressure.
Mechanical Gauge: Diaphragm Gauge
Mechanical Gauge: Diaphragm Gauge
Mechanical Gauge: Diaphragm Gauge
Mechanical Gauge: Bellow Gauge

• Bellows gauges have wider ranges of operation than to the diaphragm

gauges because of the pleated sides of the bellows
• An opposing spring is used to control range and sensitivity
Mechanical Gauge: Bellow Gauge
ELECTRONIC PRESSURE
MEASUREMENT
Strain Gauge
• Strain gauges measure pressure by detecting the strain on an object caused
by pressure
• Strain gauges are typically constructed of piezoelectric semiconductor
material
• Pressure on the elements of a strain gauge causes the elements to expand or
contract
• Strain gauges are used as part of Wheatstone Bridge to measure pressure
• Strain gauges can be bonded to the surface of a pressure diaphragm. The
change in the process pressure will cause a resistive change in the strain
gauges, which is then used to produce a 4-20 mA signal.
Strain Gauge
Variable Capacitor Pressure Detector
• Uses two conductive plates oriented adjacent to one another and separated
by air
• One plate is fixed, and the other is attached to a bellows
• The charge of the capacitor is influenced by the distance between the plates,
and therefore, the pressure being exerted on the bellows
Variable Capacitor Pressure Detector