Measurement and Instrumentation Lab

Experiment No.8 Pressure Calibration Using Pressure Calibration

Bench
Name: Abdul Rehman
Roll no: 02
Group no: A1
Teacher: Professor Mudassar Shareef
Instructor: Sir M. Waleed
Submission date: 21th December 2022

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Nilore, Islamabad
 Table of Contents
1. Abstract........................................................................................................................................3
2. Theory..........................................................................................................................................3
Manometer.......................................................................................................................................3
Pressure Transducer.........................................................................................................................4
Bourdon gauges...............................................................................................................................4
3. Apparatus.....................................................................................................................................5
4. Procedure.....................................................................................................................................5
5. Observations and Calculations....................................................................................................6
6. Discussion....................................................................................................................................7
7. Conclusion...................................................................................................................................8

Figures

Figure 1: Manometer.......................................................................................................................3
Figure 2: Bourdon Gauge................................................................................................................4

Tables
Table 1: Mercury Manometer..........................................................................................................6
Table 2: Pressure Transducer Reading............................................................................................7
Table 3: Bourdon Gauge Reading...................................................................................................8
1. Abstract
The main purpose of this experiment is to compare methods of measuring pressure and to
calibrate pressure transducer and bourdon gauge using mercury manometer. The manometer was
selected as the calibration standard because it operates on the theoretical phenomena of the
change in height of the manometer being proportionate to the change in pressure. Reading errors
can be attributable to both parallax mistake and the assumption that the change in height of one
column was equivalent to the overall height change.

2. Theory
Manometer
Liquid-column gauges consist of a column of liquid in a tube whose ends are exposed to
different pressures. The column will rise or fall until its weight is in equilibrium with the
pressure differential between the two ends of the tube. A very simple version is a U-shaped tube
half-full of liquid, one side of which is connected to the region of interest while the
reference pressure which might be the atmospheric pressure, or a vacuum is applied to the other.
The difference in liquid levels represents the applied pressure. The pressure exerted by a
column of fluid of height h and density ρ is given by the hydrostatic pressure equation, P =
ρgh. Therefore, the pressure difference between the applied pressure Pa and the reference
pressure P0 in a U-tube manometer can be found by solving Pa− Po = ρgh. In other words, the
pressure on either end of the liquid (shown in blue in the figure) must be balanced (since the
liquid is static), and so Pa = Po + ρgh. In most liquid-column measurements, the result of the
measurement is the height h, expressed typically in mm, cm, or inches. The h is also known as
the pressure head. When expressed as a pressure head, pressure is specified in units of length and
the measurement fluid must be specified.

Pressure Transducer
A pressure sensor is a device for pressure measurement of gases or liquids. Pressure is an
expression of the force required to stop a fluid from expanding and is usually stated in terms of
force per unit area. A pressure sensor usually acts as a transducer; it generates a signal as a
function of the pressure imposed.

Bourdon gauges
The Bourdon pressure gauge uses the principle that a flattened tube tends to straighten or regain
its circular form in cross-section when pressurized. This change in cross-section may be hardly
noticeable, involving moderate stresses within the elastic range of easily workable materials.
The strain of the material of the tube is magnified by forming the tube into a C shape or even
a helix, such that the entire tube tends to straighten out or uncoil elastically as it is pressurized.
As the pressure increases, the closed end moves in an arc, and this motion is converted into the
rotation of a (segment of a) gear by a connecting link that is usually adjustable. A small-
diameter pinion gear is on the pointer shaft, so the motion is magnified further by the gear ratio.

Figure 2: Bourdon Gauge

3. Apparatus
Bourdon gauge
Calibration bench + Compressor
Pressure Transducer

4. Procedure
To measure pressure using Mercury manometer/water Manometer/inclined

Manometer

1. Turn the pump on. The pump takes air from atmosphere and compresses it to higher pressure.

2. Connect the pressure outlet from the compressor to the limb of mercury manometer. For
pressure above atmospheric pressure outlet to be connected to limb of manometer containing
higher mercury level. In case of vacuum, the pressure outlet to be connected to limb of
manometer containing lower mercury level.

3. The pressure to be measured should lie within pressure measuring limits of device.

4. Measure the difference in height after applying pressure. And convert it into pressure.

5. Use step 1-4 for water manometer and inclined manometer. For inclined manometer. Angle is
to be accommodated in pressure calculations.

To measure pressure using pressure transducer

1. Turn the pump on. The pump takes air from atmosphere and compresses it to higher pressure.

2. Connect the pressure outlet from the compressor to the inlet of pressure transducer.

3. The pressure to be measured should lie within pressure measuring limits of device.

4. Measure the pressure from analog dial gauge.

To measure pressure using Bourdon gauge

1. Turn the pump on. The pump takes air from atmosphere and compresses it to higher pressure.
2. Connect the pressure outlet from the compressor to the inlet of bourdon gauge.

3. The pressure to be measured should lie within pressure measuring limits of device.

4. Measure the pressure from dial.

Calibration

1. The reading from mercury manometer to be used as reference for comparison and calibration
of other pressure measuring devices such as pressure transducer and bourdon gauge.

2. Calculate error in the form of percentage.

5. Observations and Calculations

Table 1: Mercury Manometer

Mercury Manometer Readings

Mercury Manometer
( Least Count = 1 mm )
Pressure
Sr Converted (Bar)
Reading Corrected (+19 mm)
1 52 mm 71 mm 0.095
2 127 mm 146 mm 0.195
3 190 mm 209 mm 0.28
4 277 mm 296 mm 0.395
5 355 mm 374 mm 0.498
 Figure 3: Bourdon Gauge & Pressure Trasducer Vs Mercury
Manometer
Bourdon Gauge & Transducer 0.6
Pressure (bar) 0.5 Bourdon Gauge Readings
0.4
Bourfon Gauge
0.3 Bourdon Gauge Pressure Transducer
0.2 ( Least Count = 0.1 bar )
0.1
0 Reading (Bar) % Error
0.095Sr 0.195 0.28 0.395 0.498
1 Manometer Pressure
Mercuy 0 (bar) 100
2 0.2 2.56
3 0.3 7.14
4 0.4 1.27
5 0.5 0.4

Table 2: Pressure Transducer Reading

Pressure Transducer Readings

Transducer
( Least Count = 0.02 bar )
Sr Reading (Bar) % Error
1 0.1 5.26
2 0.2 2.56
3 0.28 0
4 0.4 1.27
Table 3: Bourdon Gauge 5 0.5 0.4 Reading
6. Discussion
The data show that the Bourdon tube and pressure transducer are calibrated with very little
mistakes. The relationship between the pressure gauge and the Bourdon tube, as well as the
gauge and transducer readings are linear, meaning that the pressure applied to the device has a
linear relationship with the output. This is considered ideal behavior and means that the
instruments are correctly calibrated. With the least number of calibrated devices is 0.1 bar,
calibration errors are not significant. Calibration errors are like follows:
Due to human carelessness and limitations, parallax error. It can be concluded that pressure
measurement by manometer is a commonly used technology which brings accurate findings. We
saw from our measurements that the predicted the observed values were quite comparable and
could be due to minor discrepancies experimental errors. To make the findings as reliable as
possible, more than three manometer readings were obtained and averaged.

7. Conclusion