Instrumentation Fundamentals

1. Instrumentation Fundamentals Module 1 – Pressure Scales Units of Pressure Pressure Scales & Conversions Atmospheric, PSIG, PSIA, PSID, Bar Manometers

2. Pressure This module will cover: • The physics of pressure • Units of measure (SI, Metric, Imperial) • Pressure scales and conversions • How pressure is measured • Elastic elements (bourdon, bellows diaphragm) • Electrical elements (strain gauge, piezoelectric) • Sensors, Switches and Transmitters

3. What is it? Pressure is an operating parameter that is relevant in many applications. (similar to voltage in an electric circuit) • Pressure applied over a given area can be used for useful work. • Steam pressure, Water pressure • Pressures can be measured to infer the condition of other process parameters. • Flow, level

4. Force Area Pressure = The Physics of Pressure Pressure is defined as “force per unit area” Therefore any object or material having a weight will exert a pressure over the area the force is acting on.

5. Force Area Pressure = The Units of Pressure Pressure is defined as “force per unit area” Pound force, Kilogram force Newton, dyne Square Inches, Square feet Square Centimeters, Square Meters • Common units include: • Pounds per Square Inch (psi) • KiloPascals (kPa)

6. 550 lbs 708 lbs 62.4 lbs 849 lbs Example of pressure from a 1 cubic foot pound force acting on a surface Each base has an area of 144 in2 1 cubic foot of copper 550 lbs 144 in2 = 3.8 psi 1 cubic foot of lead 708 lbs 144 in2 = 4.9 psi 1 cubic foot of water 62.4 lbs 144 in2 = 0.43 psi 1 cubic foot of mercury 849 lbs 144 in2 = 5.9 psi

7. More Pressure Scales PSI and kPa are the most common pressure scales but there a few more: • Inches* of water • Inches* of mercury • Bar • Atmos • Torr (vacuum) * or millimeters when using metric

8. Example of the various pressure scales The same process pressure is being applied to each gauge. Each gauge has a different scale calibration. 27.6806 “H20 2.03602 “Hg 0.068947 Bar 0.068046 Atmos Applied process pressure is 1 psi or 6.89 kPa • The choice of scales will depend on • the amount of pressure being measured (high pressure = psi/kPa, low pressure = inches H20) • The type of application ( flow = inches H20, blood pressure = inches of Hg.)

9. Conversion Factors Need to Know:psiand kPaconversion Imperial vs Metric vs SI • 1 cubic foot of water that weighs 62.4 lbs acting over an area of 144 in2 produces a pressure of 0.433 pound per square inch (psi) • The same volume of water weighs 28.3 Kilograms over an area of 929 cm2, therefore the pressure is 0.03 kilograms per square centimeter. (30.46 g/cm2) • SI use Newton per sq. meter and call it the Pascal 1 psi = 0.006894757 Pascals = 6.895 kiloPascals

10. Need to Know Ball Parking: 1 psi ≈ 7 kPa 3 psi ≈ 21 kPa 15 psi ≈ 105 kPa 20 psi ≈ 140 kPa 3 to 15 psi is a common pressure range 20 kPa to 100 kPa is also a common pressure range

11. 12 inches of water exerts a pressure of 0.433 psi Inches of Water Scale This scale is used to measure small pressures. The properties of water are known and constant and can be used as a primary standard. Pressure is proportion to the height of the water column (hydrostatic head pressure)

12. Water Column The hydrostatic head produced by a column of liquid is proportional to the height and density of the liquid. P = height x Density (Density = Mass/Volume) Density of water is 0.0361 lbs/in3 P = 12 x 0.0361 = 0.433 lbs/in2 12 “ H20 0.433 psi

13. Water Column The greater the height the greater the hydrostatic head. P = height x Density (Density = Mass/Volume) 24 “ H20 Density of water is 0.0361 lbs/in3 P = 24 x 0.0361 = 0.866 lbs/in2 0.866 psi

14. Applied Process Pressure Atmospheric Press Atmospheric Pressure h Height (h) of displaced water = applied pressure U-Tube Manometer Manometers Manometers can be used as a primary standard to measure small pressures

15. Applied Process Pressure Atmospheric Press h Height (h) of displaced water = applied pressure Reading pressure with a U-tube Manometer If the total displacement h = 3“ the applied pressure would be 3”H20 = 3”WC = 0.108 psi Using Mercury as a filling liquid increases the pressure range by 13.6 times.

16. Well Type Manometers The well type uses one measuring arm. Gives a larger pressure range Mercury filled well type manometers can measure up to 30 psi and more. (6 footer) Can be used as a primary standard.

17. Inclined Plane Manometer Used for very small pressure measurements. Very sensitive, often used to measure room pressures.

18. psi inatmosphere Gauge Pressure (psig) The standard pressure measurement is referenced to atmospheric pressure and is called gauge pressure. The scale units on the manometer could be calibrated in • inches of water (gauge) • inches of mercury (gauge) • psig And all measurements would be relative to atmospheric pressure 14.7 psi (varies slightly with elevation and weather)

19. Gauge, Absolute and Atmospheric Pressure Any pressure above atmosphere is called gauge pressure (psig) Any pressure below atmosphere is a vacuum (negative gauge pressure) Absolute pressure (psia) is measured from a perfect vacuum Differential Pressure (psid) has no reference to either absolute vacuum or atmospheric pressure

20. Gauge Pressure (psig) Applying 1 psi would produce a displacement of about 2 in. Hg or 30 in. H2O Since the reference side of the manometer is open to atmosphere, the applied pressure would be read as gauge pressure i.e. 1psig or just 1 psi 1 psi Atmos h

21. Standard Gauge • When a gauge has no input applied, it will read 0 psig • The pressure range for this gauge is 0 – 100 psi • What is the range in kPa? Some gauges may not include the “g” after psi, some will.

22. Pressure Range & Scale This gauge has a pressure range of 0 to 30 in. H2O The pressure being measured is still gauge pressure. What is the maximum psig that can be applied? kPa?

23. Small pressure measurements Dwyer differential pressure gauge registers a differential of 0 - 2 psi, 1/8" npt. High and low pressure input ports on side and back. Manual set point. Max 15 psi and 140ºF. 4-3/4" diameter x 2" high.

24. Examples of psig, psia and vacuum 20 psig = 20 + 14.7 = 34.7 psia 60 psia = 60 – 14.7 = 45.3 psig 10 psia = 10 – 14.7 =-4.7 psig =-4.7=- 9.6 ”Hg 0.0361 x13.6

25. PSIA – Absolute Pressure A gauge with a psia scale will indicate 14.7 when no pressure is applied. The compound gauge is more common than psia, it measures vacuum and gauge pressure. This gauge has a range of 0 – 30 in. Hg vacuum and 0 to 15 psig

26. 6 psi2 psi 4 0.0361 x 13.6 h = = 8.15 inches of H20 differential Differential Pressure (psid) Differential pressure = 4 psid

27. Differential Pressure Gauge (psid) Requires 2 inputs. Must observe pressure polarity, i.e. hi side / lo side

28. Differential Pressure Cell Transmitter The d/p cell is often used to measure level and flow. What is the maximum allowable input pressure in psi? 4 – 20 mA output 2 wire transmitter Differential Input 0 – 200 in. H20 Typical input range

29. Pressure Conversion Chart • Ball Parking • 1 psi = 7 kPa • 1 inch Hg = 0.5 psi • 100 inch H20 = 3.5 psi • 1 Bar = 1 Atmos = 14.7 psi • Accurate • 1 psi = 6.89 kPa • 1 inch Hg = 0.49 psi • 100 inch H20 = 3.61 psi • 1 Bar = 14.5 psi = 100 kPa

30. Exercise (ball park is fine) What is this in psi, kpa, inches of H20? What is this in psig, psia, inches of Hg?