MEASUREMENT OF PRESSURE

Elastic Pressure transducers

These transducers use elastic material to convert the pressure into other form of energy. There
are different types of elastic pressure transducers based on the elastic materials used. They are
1. Bourdon Tube
2. Diaphragm

3. Bellows

Bourdon Tube:

Bourdon Tubes are known for its very high range of differential pressure measurement in the
range of almost 100,000 psi (700 MPa). The basic idea behind the device is that, cross-sectional
tubing when deformed in any way will tend to regain its circular form under the action of
pressure. The bourdon pressure gauges used now days have a slight elliptical cross-section and
the tube is generally bent into a C-shape or arc length of about 27 degrees. The detailed diagram
of the bourdon tube is shown below.
Construction:

As seen in the figure, the pressure input is given to a socket which is soldered to the tube at the
base. The other end or free end of the device is sealed by a tip. This tip is connected to a pointer
through segmental lever & through an adjustable length link. The mechanical construction has to
be highly accurate in the case of a Bourdon Tube Gauge. In a cross-section of the tube, its outer
edge will have a larger surface than the inner portion. The tube walls will have a thickness
between 0.01 and 0.05 inches.

Working:

As the fluid/air pressure enters the bourdon tube, it tries to be reformed and because of a free tip
available, this action causes the tip to travel in free space and the tube unwinds. The
simultaneous actions of bending and tension due to the internal pressure make a non-linear
movement of the free tip. This travel is suitable guided and amplified for the measurement of the
internal pressure. But the main requirement of the device is that whenever the same pressure is
applied, the movement of the tip should be the same and on withdrawal of the pressure the tip
should return to the initial point.

Other than C-type, bourdon gauges can also be constructed in the form of a helix or a
spiral. These types are varied for specific uses and space accommodations, for better linearity
and larger sensitivity. For thorough repeatability, the bourdon tubes materials must have good
elastic or spring characteristics. The commonly used materials are phosphor-bronze, silicon-
bronze, beryllium-copper, inconel, and other C-Cr-Ni-Mo alloys, and so on.

Advantages

1. Inexpensive

2. Wide operating range

3. Fast response

4. Good sensitivity

5. Direct pressure measurement

1. Primarily intended for indication only

2. Non linear transducer, linearised by gear mechanism

3. Hysteresis on cycling

4. Sensitive to temperature variations

5. Limited life when subject to shock and vibration

Application

1. These devices should be used in air if calibrated for air, and in liquid if calibrated for liquid.
Special care is required for liquid applications in bleeding air from the liquid lines.

2. This type of pressure measurement is limited in applications where there is input shock (a
sudden surge of pressure), and in fast moving processes.

3. If the application is for the use of oxygen, then the device cannot be calibrated using oil.
Lower ranges are usually calibrated in air. Higher ranges, usually 1000kPa, are calibrated with a
dead weight tester (hydraulic oil).

Diaphragm:

A diaphragm pressure transducer is used for low pressure measurement. They are
commercially available in two types – metallic and non-metallic. Metallic diaphragms are known
to have good spring characteristics and non-metallic types have no elastic characteristics. Thus,
non-metallic types are used rarely, and are usually opposed by a calibrated coil spring or any
other elastic type gauge. The non-metallic types are also called slack diaphragm.

Working

When a force acts against a thin stretched diaphragm, it causes a deflection of the diaphragm
with its centre deflecting the most.
Since the elastic limit has to be maintained, the deflection of the diaphragm must be kept in a
restricted manner. This can be done by cascading many diaphragm capsules. A main capsule is
designed by joining two diaphragms at the periphery. A pressure inlet line is provided at the
central position. When the pressure enters the capsule, the deflection will be the sum of
deflections of all the individual capsules. As shown in figure (3), corrugated diaphragms are also
used instead of the conventional ones.
Corrugated designs help in providing a linear deflection and also increase the member strength.
The total amount of deflection for a given pressure differential is known by the following
factors:

• Number and depth of corrugation

Materials used for the metal diaphragms are the same as those used for Bourdon Tube.

Non-metallic or slack diaphragms are used for measuring very small pressures. The commonly
used materials for making the diaphragm are polythene, neoprene, animal membrane, silk, and
synthetic materials. Due to their non-elastic characteristics, the device will have to be opposed
with external springs for calibration and precise operation. The common range for pressure
measurement varies between 50 Pa to 0.1 MPa.

Bellows:

Like a diaphragm, bellows are also used for pressure measurement, and can be made of cascaded
capsules. The basic way of manufacturing bellows is by fastening together many individual
diaphragms. The bellows element, basically, is a one piece expansible, collapsible and axially
flexible member. It has many convolutions or fold. It can be manufactured form a single piece of
thin metal.

Working

The action of bending and tension operates the elastic members. For proper working, the tension
should be least. The design ideas given for a diaphragm is applied to bellows as well. The
manufacturer describes the bellows with two characters – maximum stroke and maximum
allowable pressure. The force obtained can be increased by increasing the diameter. The stroke
length can be increased by increasing the folds or convolutions.
For selecting a specific material for an elastic member like bellows, the parameters to be checked
are:

• Range of pressure
• Hysteresis
• Fatigue on dynamic operation
• Corrosion
• Fabrication ease
• Sensitivity to fluctuating pressures

For strong bellows, the carbon steel is selected as the main element. But the material gets easily
corroded and is difficult to machine. For better hysteresis properties use trumpet bass, phosphor
bronze, or silicon bronze. Better dynamic performance can be achieved by using beryllium
copper. Stainless steel is corrosion resistive, but does not have good elastic properties. For easy
fabrication soft materials are sought after.

All bellow elements are used with separate calibrating springs. The springs can be aligned in two
ways – in compression or in expansion when in use. Both these types, with internal compression
springs or external tension springs, are commercially known as receiver elements and are used
universally in pneumatic control loops. The figures below show the compressed and expanded
type. Spring opposed bellows are also shown below. The open side of a bellows element is
usually rigidly held to the instrument casing and because of the rigid fixing, the effective or
active length of the bellows element is smaller than its actual length. This device is used in cases
where the control pressure range is between 0.2 to 1 kg/cm2.