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February 2010
Isolation Seals Keep Pressure and DP Instruments Online When Measuring Difcult Fluids
In applications where
Capillary uid and diresponse time is imporameter
tant, consider a larger
The choice of ll uid
diameter. As for capillary
for a seal system can aflength, its often dictated
fect the safety of certain
by installation needs, but
processes, as well as the
response times are imaccuracy and response
proved by keeping the
time of the measurement.
capillary as short as feaWhats more, if a fault
sible.
condition causes the ll
Although low
uid to leak, a poorly
ll-uid viscosity favors
chosen uid could affect
a fast response, a low
the quality of the process
viscosity may not be
stream being measured.
consistent with the reFour
considerations
quirements for thermal
apply when choosing
expansion and operating
the ll uid:
temperature range. The
1. Temperature The
tradeoff varies on a caseoperating-temperature
by-case basis.
ranges for a ll uid depend on the measured
Fluctuating temperature
pressure. A given grade
effects
of silicone oil, for exA
common
ample, can operate at
problem with using iso-130 to +176F under
lating seals is inaccuravacuum conditions, but
cies that can result from
at -130 to +356F when Remote seals isolate the transmitter uctuating temperature
the pressure is above 15 from the process
conditions. Each change
psia. A uid exposed to
of ambient temperature
temperatures outside its recommended around each seal capillary will expand or
range may solidify or vaporize.
contract the ll uid by an amount dictatThe effect of temperature on performance ed by the uids thermal expansion coefcan be lessened by sealing the system un- cient.
der full vacuum, minimizing the presence
The system designer has three options to
of entrained air or other gases. The thermal minimize the error caused by temperature
expansion of air is 1,000 times greater than effects:
that of a typical silicone ll uid; thus, an Reduce capillary diameter to decrease
air bubble of only 0.032-in. diameter can the volume of ll uid (at the price of incause, in terms of pressure, a system error creasing the response time).
greater than 1 in. of water per 100F.
Choose a uid with lower expansion co2. Expansion coefcient The various ll efcient (subject to viscosity and temperauids in use have different coefcients of ture-range limitations).
thermal expansion. Wide uctuations in Specify a relatively large diameter for the
ambient temperature can cause the ll seal diaphragm. The comparative stiffness
uid to expand or contract signicantly. of small diaphragms tends to magnify erThis becomes particularly important when rors related to temperature uctuations.
capillaries for both the High and Low connections are involved and their lengths dif- Installing a seal system
fer or they are exposed to different ambient
Proper installation of the DP transmitter
temperatures. The smaller the expansion and its isolation seal system depends basicoefcient, the less the measurement will cally on the variable being measured. In
be affected.
general, ow and gage-pressure applica3. Compatibility with measured uid tions allow the most exibility. Conversely,
Because the seal diaphragm is usually when the process vessel operates under
thin, there is always the chance it could vacuum, a liquid level measurement enbe damaged and the ll uid could leak tails restrictions on the relative elevations
into the measured medium. This possibility of the transmitter and the seals. For meashould be considered if contamination of surements of absolute pressure, there are
the measured uid is covered by govern- similar restrictions when the lower range
ment regulations or is otherwise of great value is less than 1 atm.
concern.
Basically, transmitters linked to isolation
4. Viscosity The ll uids viscosity can seals respond not only to process pressignicantly inuence the response time of sures, but also the head pressure caused by
the measurement. The less viscous the u- the liquid column in the seal system itself.
id, the faster the response. Remember that The latter is a function of transmitter and
if the temperature around the capillary de- seal locations. Dealing with this complicacreases, the viscosity increases. Kinematic tion depends on the type of measurement
viscosities of ll uids range widely from being made.
cSt for silicone oil to 1,130 cSt for glycerin,
With most installations for measuring
both at 68F (glycerin is usable down to ow, gage-pressure or absolute-pressure,
the extremely low temperature of -462F.) the head-pressure effect is minor and can
be canceled out by a zero adjustment in
Response time
the transmitter. When measuring liquid
Before the capillary ll uid can hydrau- levels, however, head pressures can have
lically convey to the transmitter a change a bigger effect on calibration because of a
in the pressure of the measured medium substantial difference between the elevaagainst the seal diaphragm, a nite amount tions of the high- and low-side seals.
of time must elapse. Often overlooked, this
response time can signicantly affect the Measuring pressures
performance of the seal system and meaA gage-pressure transmitter with a resurement.
mote seal can be used for measurement
The major design considerations with on either a process pipe or a tank. The seal
respect to response time are the capillary diaphragm should be on the top or the side
diameter and length as well as the viscos- of the pipe, to keep sediment from collectity of the ll uid. The smaller the diam- ing on the seal diaphragm.
eter, the longer the response time. The
Pressure service: When the low end of
typical diameter of the capillary is 2 mm. the operating-pressure range is above 1