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Higher Technological institute

Tenth of Ramadan City


Mechanical Department
Thermo-Fluid Lab. (A)
5- Pressure measurement and calibration
OBJECTIVES
-To convert an arbitrary scale of pressure sensor output into engineering units.
- To calibrate two pressure sensor using dead weight pressure calibrator.

THEORY
Pressure (symbol: p or P) is the force applied perpendicular to the surface of an object
per unit area over which that force is distributed. Various units are used to express pressure:

Pressure can be described as the force exerted by a medium such as fluid, on an area.
There are many different systems of pressure measurement, with absolute pressure and sealed
gauge pressure being two of the most common. Gauge pressure is measured in relation to
ambient atmospheric pressure. A gauge pressure higher than ambient pressure is referred to as
positive pressure. If the measured pressure is below atmospheric pressure it is called negative
or vacuum gauge pressure. Measurements taken in absolute pressure use this absolute zero
(pressure of having no matter inside a space, or a perfect vacuum.) as their reference point.
Figure 1: Relation between absolute, gauge and vacuum pressures.
Many techniques have been developed for the measurement of pressure and vacuum.
Instruments used to measure pressure are called pressure gauges or vacuum gauges. From
these instrument:
Bourdon pressure gauge: Bourdon tubes measure gauge pressure, relative to ambient
atmospheric pressure, and vacuum is sensed as a reverse motion. It consists of a curved
flattened thin-wall, closed-end tube of oval cross-section that tends to straighten or regain
its circular form in cross-section when pressurized. One end of this tube is closed, and it is
left free to move, the other end is left open to allow fluid to enter, and it is fixed. A simple
mechanical linkage transmits the movement of the free end of the tube to a pointer moving
around a dial.

Figure 2. Bourdon pressure gauge

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Strain gauge: strain gauge measures the external force (pressure) and consists of
an insulating flexible backing which supports a metallic foil pattern. The pressure change
causes a resistance change due to the distortion of the foil. The value of the pressure can be
found by measuring the change in resistance of the foil. When the metallic foil is stretched
within the limits of its elasticity such that it does not break or permanently deform, it will
become narrower and longer, changes that increase its electrical resistance end-to-end.
Conversely, when the foil is compressed such that it does not buckle, it will broaden and
shorten, changes that decrease its electrical resistance end-to-end. The resistance change,
usually measured using a Wheatstone bridge.

Figure 3. Strain gauge pressure transducer.


Piezoelectric sensor is a device that uses the piezoelectric effect, to measure changes
in pressure, by converting them to an electrical charge. Piezoelectric sensor consists of a
thin membrane and a massive base is used, ensuring that an applied pressure specifically
loads the elements in one direction. It generates a voltage when deformed (change in shape
is greatly exaggerated). The voltage is directly proportional to the applied force.

Figure 4. Piezoelectric pressure transducer.

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EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS

Figure 5. Experimental Apparatus.

Figure 6. Schematic of dead weigh calibrator.


The unit is used to explore the concepts of pressure measurement and calibration
(Calibration is the activity of checking, by comparison with a standard, the accuracy of a
measuring instrument of any type).The equipment comprises of a dead weight pressure
calibrator to generate a number of predetermined pressures, connected to a bourdon gauge
and electronic pressure sensor to allow their characteristics to be determined. The dead
weight pressure calibrator, Bourdon gauge and pressure sensor are mounted on a common
PVC base plate. The dead weight pressure calibrator consists of a precision ground piston
and matching cylinder. Appropriate combination of weights is applied at the top of the
piston, to generate the required predetermined pressure.

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The bourdon gauge and the pressure sensor are mounted on a manifold block with a
priming vessel to contain the hydraulic fluid which is chosen to be water for safety and ease
of use. A priming valve between the reservoir and the manifold block allows the flow of
water to be restricted. An additional isolating valve on the manifold block allows water to
be drained from the manifold block or allows alternative devices to be connected for
calibration. Devices can be tested over the range 20 kN/m2 to 200 kN/m2.

The use of the piston and masses with the cylinder generates a measurable references
pressure (Pa)
Pa = Fa/A (1)
Fa = gMa (2)
A = (/4) D 2
(3)
, where;
Pa: Water volume flow rate, m3;
Fa: Force applied to the liquid in the calibrator cylinder, N;
g: Acceleration of gravity, m/s2;
Ma : Total mass (including that of the piston)
A: Crossectional area of dead weight calibrator piston, m2;
D: Diameter of dead weight calibrator piston = 0.017655, m.
Errors in measuring a quantity such as pressure can come from a number of sources. Some
errors can be eliminated by carful choice of equipment and experimental method. Other errors
are unavoidable, but can be minimized.
Avoidable errors are errors that must be eliminated, as any result including such error
will often be meaningless. Such errors include
- Incorrect use of equipment
- Incorrect recording of results
- Errors in calculations
Chaotic errors, such as extreme vibration or electric noise that are sufficient to mask the
experimental results.
Random errors, should be eliminated if possible, by changing the design of the
experiment or waiting until conditions are more favorable. Even if they cannot be eliminated,
many random errors may be minimized by making multiple sets of readings and averaging the
results. Random errors include:
- Variation in experimental conditions (e.g. changes in ambient temperature);
- Variation in instrument performance;
- Variation due to material properties and design (e.g. effect of friction);
- Errors of judgment (e.g. inconstancy in estimating a sensor reading).

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Systematic errors that produce a constant bias or skew in the results and should be
minimized where possible. They include:
- Built in errors (incorrect scale graduation)
- Experimental errors (due to poor design of the experiment or the apparatus)
- Systematic human errors
Accuracy is the maximum amount by which the result vary from the actual value. The
actual value must be known.
Percentage accuracy is the greatest difference between the actual value and the indicated
value expressed as percentage of the maximum value of the range being used.

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of dead-weight pressure calibrator

PROCEDURES
1. Level the apparatus using the adjustable feet.
2. Check that the drain valve is closed.
3. Fill the priming vessel with water (purified or de-ionized water is preferred).
4. Open the damping valve and the priming valve
5. With no masses on the piston, slowly draw the piston upwards (full stroke of the piston)
to draw water from the priming vessel into the system.
6. Firmly drive the piston downwards, to expel air from the cylinder back toward the priming
vessel.
7. Repeat the previous two steps until no more bubbles are visible in the system.
8. Raise the piston close to the top of the cylinder, taking care not to lift it high enough to
allow air to enter, then close the priming valve.
9. With no masses on the piston, Record the value angle and applied pressure indicated by
bourdon gauge needle.
10. Place 0.5 kg mass on the piston and spin the piston to reduce the effect of friction on the
cylinder. , Record the angle and pressure value indicated by bourdon gauge needle.
11. Repeat previous step with increasing the applied mass in increment of 0.5 kg.
12. Repeat the measurement while decreasing the applied mass in step of 0.5 kg. This gives
two reading for each applied mass, which may be averaged to reduce the effect of any
error in an individual reading.
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Thermo-Fluid Lab. (A)
Student Name: Student No.: Gr.:

Experiment No. 5
Pressure measurement and calibration
Objectives


Introduction (Must contain the definition of pressure, calibration, error and accuracy and different instrument used for measuring pressure)
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Schematic of Experimental Apparatus

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Experimental Setup
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PROCEDURES
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Data Reduction
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Table 1. Collected Data.

Angle indicated by Applied pressure


bourdon gauge needle, indicated by bourdon
Applied Mass, Ma (kg) (degrees) gauge needle, Pi (Kpa)
Average Average

(used) (used)
1 Piston with no masses = 0.5 kg
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Table 2. Calculated Data.

References Actual Percentage


Range
(actual) difference, Accuracy, accuracy
=
pressure, emax = | | =
e = | | Pi,max Pi,min
Pa (Kpa) emax/Range
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Conclusion
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