Theory

Important characteristic of pressure in the fluid field has encouraged development of

numerous devices and techniques for pressure measurement. The pressure at a point can be
designated either as absolute pressure or gauge pressure. Absolute pressure is measured with
respect to a perfect vacuum (absolute zero pressure), while gauge pressure is measured relative to
the local atmospheric pressure. Therefore, a gauge pressure of zero simply denotes that the
measured point has a pressure equal to the local atmospheric pressure. Absolute pressure always has
a positive value, whereas gauge pressure can either be positive or negative. A negative gauge
pressure indicates that the point has a pressure less than that of the local atmosphere, and is also
referred to as suction or vacuum pressure.

The mercury barometer is often used to measure atmospheric pressure, and the simplest design
consists of a glass tube closed at one end while the other being immersed in a container of mercury.
To make one, the glass tube is first filled with mercury (with its open end up) and then turned upside
down with the open end in the container of mercury. The column of mercury would eventually come
into an equilibrium position, due to the fact that its own weight plus the force caused by vapor pressure
(developed in the space above the column) balances off the force due to the atmospheric pressure.
Hence, where γ is the specific weight of the mercury. The vapor pressure can usually be neglected
since it is
too small compared to atmospheric pressure. Thus, patm ≈ γh.
p atm =γh + p vapor

Basic Hydraulic System

The transmission of pressure throughout a stationery fluid is the principle upon which many
hydraulic devices are based. This system works on the principles of equality pressures at equa
lelevations throughout a system. The fundamental idea behind such devices and systems is
demonstrated in Fig 6.

A piston located at one end of a closed system filled with a liquid, such as oil, can be used to
change the pressure throughout the system, and thus transmit an applied force F1 to a second piston
where the Resulting force is F2. Pressure acting on the faces of both pistons is the same and the
relation between pressure, force and area described below. In this case, the effect of elevation
changes is usually negligible for this type of hydraulic device.
 p = F /A
p1 = p2
F1/A1 = F2/A2

Area parameter highly influences the force on the piston where a small force applied at the smaller
piston can be used to develop a large force at the larger piston.

Dead Weight Tester

Dead weight system works on the principle of transmission of pressure through stationery fluid as
mentioned above. Deadweight tester supply highly accurate pressures for calibrating other, less
accurate pressure measuring devices, such as transducers bottom-hole and bourdon-tube gauges.
This tester is used as a deadweight gauge to determine unknown pressures by connecting the gas
pressure to the gauge connector through suitable tubing and valve. Exact regulation of the supply
pressure to the tester is obtained by balancing the force exerted by the oil pressure on a piston of
known area against weight of known mass. Figure 7 shows the parts in dead weight tester.

Objective:
To compare the accuracy between the various types of pressure measurement devices.

Procedure:
1. The 3-pin plug was plug into a 240 VAC, 50 Hz single phase power supply and the power was
switch on.
2. The USB cable form the apparatus was connected to the computer.
3. All valve was turned to A position ball valve was opened. The piston form the cylinder was
slowly remove and the cylinder was refilled hydraulic oil until ¾ full. The piston in cylinder was
replaced.
 4. Valve one was turned to B position and pressure level in diaphragm gauge was measured.
The adjuster knob was turned clockwise until the piston is floating in cylinder. The pressure
reading for diaphragm gauge was recorded. The value in system was inserted and compared
to the theoritical value.
5. Depressurized the system by rotating the adjuster knob counter clock wise. Stop turning the
knob when there are zero reading in pressure gauge.
6. Valve one was turn to A position to close diaphragm pressure line under hydraulic system.
7. Step 4 to 7 for all other pressure gauges was repeated.
8. The results was compute in the table.
9. The ball valve was shut down after the experiment was completed.

Important

Dead weight pressure reading = Reference pressure

Piston weight - 0.25kg
Small weight - 0.5kg
Big weight - 0.98kg

Result

Weight Diapraghm % Bourdoun % Bellow % Pressure %

(kg) Gauge (bar) error Gauge error Gauge error Transducer error
(bar) (bar) (bar)
0.25 0.075 51.9 0.144 7.6 0.139 10.9 0.170 8.9
0.75 0.350 25.2 0.475 1.5 0.440 5.9 0.460 1.7
1.23 0.620 19.2 0.758 1.3 - - 0.760 1.0
2.21 1.170 14.9 1.378 0.1 - - 1.330 3.5
2.71 1.470 13.1 1.647 2.9 - - 1.600 5.3
3.21 1.750 12.5 1.937 3.15 - - 1.800 10.0

Weight(kg) Dead Weight (bar)

0.25 0.156
0.75 0.468
1.23 0.768
2.21 1.379
2.71 1.691
3.21 2.000

Calculation

Theory
Diameter piston = 0.01m
Taking 0.25kg = 1.225N

For 0.75 kg to convert to newton

1.225 N x 0.75 kg = 3.675 N

0.25 kg

P0.25 = (1.225 N)
(7.85 x 10-5m2)
= 15.6 kPa

P0.75 = (3.675N)
(7.85 x 10-5m2)
 = 46.81 kPa

Error calculation

Error – ( Dead weight – Pressure gauge)

For Diapraghm

0.25 kg :

15.6 kPa – 7.5 kPa = 8.1 kPa

Error = 8.1 x 100
15.6
= 51. 92 %

0.75 kg :

46.81 kPa – 35.0 kPa = 11.81 kPa

Error = 11.81 x 100
46.81
= 25.22 %

For Bourdon

0.25 kg :

0.156 bar - 0.144 bar = 0.012 bar

Error = 0.012 x 100
0.156
= 7.69 %

0.75 kg :

0.468 bar - 0.475 = -0.007

Error = 0.007 x 100
0.468
= 1.49 %
For Bellow

0.25 kg :

0.156 bar - 0.139 bar = 0.017 bar

Error = 0.017 x 100
0.156
= 10.89 %

0.75 kg :

0.468 bar - 0.440 bar = 0.028 bar

Error = 0.028 x 100
0.468
= 5.98 %

For Transducer

0.25 kg :

0.156 bar - 0.170 bar = -0.014 bar

Error = 0.014 x 100
 0.156
= 8.97 %

0.75 kg :

0.468 bar - 0.460 bar = 0.008 bar

Error = 0.008 x 100
0.468
= 1.71 %

Discussion:

1. Which pressure measurement method gives more constant reading and fast respond to
pressure change.

Pressure changing can be notice more fast and constant reading when using the pressure
transducer because the different between theoritical and real value is less compared to other
measurement method.

2. Which pressure gauge gives less error reading compared to reference pressure and relate
them to the mechanism used in each pressure gauges.

Pressure transducer gives less error reading compared to other, the transducer is the strain-
gage base transducer. The conversion of pressure into an electrical signal is achieved by the
physical deformation of strain gages which are bonded into the diaphragm of the pressure
transducer and wired into a wheatstone bridge configuration. Pressure applied to the pressure
transducer produces a deflection of the diaphragm which introduces strain to the gages. The
strain will produce an electrical resistance change proportional to the pressure. The Bourdon
gauge is a thin-walled metaltube, somewhat flattened and bent into the form of aC. Attached
to its free end is a lever system thatmagnifies any motion of the free end of the tube.
Onthe fixed end of the gauge is a fitting you thread intoa boiler system. As pressure
increases within theboiler, it travels through the tube. Like the snakelikepaper whistle, the
metal tube begins to straighten asthe pressure increases inside of it. As the
tubestraightens, the pointer moves around a dial thatindicates the pressure in psi. A
bellows gauge contains an elastic element that isa convoluted unit that expands and contracts
axially withchanges in pressure. The pressure to be measured canbe applied to the outside
or inside of the bellows.However, in practice, most bellows measuring deviceshave the
pressure applied to the outside of the bellows. Like Bourdon-tube elements, the
elasticelements in bellows gauges are made of brass, phosphorbronze, stainless steel,
beryllium-copper, or other metalthat is suitable for the intended purpose of the gauge.

3. What is the advantage and disadvantage using air pressure and hydraulic pressure
measurement.

Hydraulic systems use a incompressible fluid, such as oil or water, to transmit forces from one
location to another within the fluid. Most aircraft use hydraulics in the braking systems and
landing gear. Pneumatic systems use compressible fluid, such as air, in their operation. Some
aircraft utilize pneumatic systems for their brakes, landing gear and movement of flaps.

Pascal's law states that when there is an increase in pressure at any point in a confined fluid,
there is an equal increase at every other point in the container.

A container, as shown below, contains a fluid. There is an increase in pressure as the length
of the column of liquid increases, due to the increased mass of the fluid above.

For example, in the figure below, P3 would be the highest value of the three pressure
readings, because it has the highest level of fluid above it.
If the above container had an increase in overall pressure, that same added pressure would
affect each of the gauges (and the liquid throughout) the same. For example P1, P2, P3 were
originally 1, 3, 5 units of pressure, and 5 units of pressure were added to the system, the new
readings would be 6, 8, and 10.

Applied to a more complex system below, such as a hydraulic car lift, Pascal's law allows
forces to be multiplied. The cylinder on the left shows a cross-section area of 1 square inch,
while the cylinder on the right shows a cross-section area of 10 square inches. The cylinder on
the left has a weight (force) on 1 pound acting downward on the piston, which lowers the fluid
10 inches. As a result of this force, the piston on the right lifts a 10 pound weight a distance of
1 inch.

The 1 pound load on the 1 square inch area causes an increase in pressure on the fluid in the
system. This pressure is distributed equally throughout and acts on every square inch of the
10 square inch area of the large piston. As a result, the larger piston lifts up a 10 pound
weight. The larger the cross-section area of the second piston, the larger the mechanical
advantage, and the more weight it lifts.

The formulas that relate to this are shown below:

P1 = P2 (since the pressures are equal throughout).

Since pressure equals force per unit area, then it follows that
 F1/A1 = F2/A2

It can be shown by substitution that the values shown above are correct,

1 pound / 1 square inches = 10 pounds / 10 square inches

Because the volume of fluid pushed down on the left side equals the volume of fluid that is
lifted up on the right side, the following formula is also true.

V1 = V2

by substitution,

A1 D1 = A2 D2

• A = cross sectional area

• D = the distance moved

or

A1/A2= D2/D1

This system can be thought of as a simple machine (lever), since force is multiplied.The
mechanical advantage can be found by rearranging terms in the above equation to

Mechanical Advantage(IMA) = D1/D2 = A2/A1

Conclusion

Based on the experiment done, using the pascal law to determine the pressure measurement
we can conclude that the most accurate is by using the pressure transducer because its gives less
error percentages compared to other measurement gauges.