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Fluid Mechanics
Applications/A40: Pressure
measurement
< Fluid Mechanics Applications

Introduction

Pressure means force per unit area exerted by a fluid on the surface
of the container. Absolute pressure means the fluid pressure above
the reference value of a perfect vacuum or the absolute zero
pressure.Gage pressure represents the value of pressure above the
reference value of atmospheric pressure. The techniques for
pressure measurement are quite varied,depending on whether the
pressure is moderate, very high or very low or also whether it is
static or dynamic.

Low pressure measurement(Range <0.1 torr)

McLeod Gage
This is used between 0.01 and 0.001 microns and is modified
mercury manometer.it operates on the principle of compressing a
known volume of low pressure gas to a higher pressure and
measuring the resulting volume change. the unknown pressure
source is connected to the gage and the mercury level is adjusted
so that the pressure source fills the bulb B and capillary C. then
mercury is forced to reservoir A up in the bulb and reference column
R. when the level reaches the cuttoff point F,a known volume of gas
is trapped in the bulk and capillary. the volume remaining in the
capillary is read directly from the scale and the difference in heights
y is a measure of the pressure p. using Boyles law, If

1. p=unknown pressure
2. A=capillary area
3. V =volume of gas in capillary =Ay
c

4. P =pressure of gas in the capillary C after compression

c

5. V =volume of capillary and bulb till F

F

then,

p=PcVc/VF

where y=pc-p
 p=Ay2/(VF-Ay)

Mcleod gage1.jpg

Mcleod gage

Pirani Gage

It consist of a platinum filament enclosed in a chamber.The wire

forms an arm of a wheatstone bridge.the temperature of the
wire,for a given magnitude of current,depends on the rate of heat
dissipation,which in turn depends on the conductivity of the
surrounding medium and hence its pressure.Thus,with change in
pressure of the medium,the temperature and resistance of the wire
changes,which can be measured by Wheatstone bridge.
 Pirani gage.jpg

Pirani gage

Ionisation Gage

This is used for measurement of very low pressures,of the order of

1 micron and below. the gage consists of a triode vacuum tube.the
heated cathode emits electrons that are accelerated by positively
charged grid.As the electrons move towards the grid,they ionise the
gas molecules through the collisions.the plate is maintained at a
negative potential so that positive ions collect there,producing a
plate current i1.the electrons and negative ions collected by the
grid,producing grid current i2.it is found that the pressure of gas is
given by '

p=i1/ki2

k=sensitivity of gage.
 Ionisation gage.jpg

Ionisation gage

Knudsen gage

in this type of gage,the gas chamber contains fixed plates F1 & F2

heated to and maintained at temperature T.near these plates is a
restrained movable vane V,such as the gap between the vane & the
fixed plates is less than the mean free path of the gas whose
pressure is to be measured.the vane is at gas temperature T0.the
gas molecules rebound from plates F1 & F2 with greater
momentumthan from V,thus imparting a net force to V which may
be measured by measuring the angular displacement of mirror M.it
is found that

p=KF/((T/T0)-1)1/2

where p is gas pressure,F the force and K is a constant.

 Knudsen gage.jpg

Knudsen gage

Moderate pressure measurement

There are two types of devices,which can be used for this.

1. Manometers
2. Others using elastic elements.

Manometers

Manometers are used for measuring static pressure. a simple U-

tube manometer uses water,mercury or any other suitable fluid.the
difference in levels h between the two limbs is an indication of the
pressure difference (p1-p2) between the two limbs.if one of the
pressures applied to limb 1.

h=(p1-
p2)/ρg
ρ being the mass density of the liquid used in the manometer.

Utube manometer.jpg

U-tube manometer

We can use one more convenient device to use is the cistern or well
type manometer. In this type the well area is large compared to that
of the tube.thus only a single leg reading may be noted and the
change in level in the wall may be ignored.If p1 & p2 are absolute
pressures applied .force equilibrium gives:

p1A-p2A=Ahρg

ρ being mass density of the liquid.

p1-p2/ρg =h
if p2 is atmospheric,h is a measure of the gage pressure applied at
the well.

Well type manometer.jpg

well type manometer

An inclined type manometer is another device,which is sensitive

and convenient to use.in such a manometer the length l along the
inclined tube is read as a measure of the pressure difference(p1-
p2)and l is given as:

h1+h2=p1-p2/ρg

A1h1=A2l

h2=lsinθ
 p1-p2=ρglsinθ=ρgh2

Inclined manometer.jpg

Inclined manometer

===

===

Bourdon tube

Elastic elements, when subjected to pressure,deforms.the

deformation,when measured,gives an indication of the pressure.
Bourdon gage is commonly used for measuring pressure .this
consists a bourdon tube.the cross-section of the tube, due to
pressure,tends to round out.the tube uncoils since the inner and
outer arc lengths remain approximately equal to the original
ones.the motion of the end of the tube is amplified and indicated by
a pointer moving on a calibrated scale.
 Bourdon tube.jpg

Bourdon tube

High pressure measurement

For pressure above 1000 atm,special techniques have to be
used.One such technique is based on the electrical resistance
change of a Manganin or gold-chrome wire,with hydrostatic
pressure,due to bulk compression effect. Usually,the coil is
enclosed in a flexible bellows filled with kerosene,for transmitting
the pressure to measured to the coil.the change in the resistance of
the wire between A & B is measured by wheatstone bridge etc...

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