MODULE 3

Pressure Transducers: basic principle- different types of

manometers- u tube manometer- well type manometers.
Level transducer- continuous level measurement-
discrete level measurement- mass – capacitive level
gauges.
Pressure Transducers
Pressure is usually stated in terms of force per unit area. It is a device that converts pressure into
analog electrical signal. It is a device for pressure measurement for gases or liquids. Pressure
sensors can alternatively be called pressure transducer, pressure transmitters, pressure senders,
pressure indicators,piezometers and manometers.

A pressure transducer consists of two main parts :

1. An elastic material which will deform when exposed to a pressurized medium and
2. An electrical device which detects the deformation and Converts it into a usable
electrical signal.

Types of Pressure Transducers

Pressure sensor can be classified in terms of pressure ranges they measure, temperature
ranges of operation and most importantly the type of pressure they measure.

Pressure is measured in three forms.

Absolute pressure is a pressure that is relative to the zero pressure in a vacuum.
Gauge pressure is the pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.
Differential pressure is the difference in pressure at two different points of the system.

1. Resistance Type Transducer

Transducer whose resistance varies with pressure applied is called resistance typepressure
transducers.
Eg: Strain Gauges.

2. Inductance Type Transducer

Pressure can also be measured using transducers like LVDT.

3. Capacitance Type Transducer

Transducers whose capacitance value changes with applied pressure is called capacitance
transducers. Capacitance transducers are used for measuring very lowpressures.

4. Piezoelectric Transducers

Transducers use piezoelectric sensing elements for measuring pressure is called

piezoelectric transducers.
Manometer
There are many devices for measuring pressure. A manometer is an instrument that uses a column of
liquid to measure pressure, also called Liquid column Manometer.

The measuring is done by balancing the fluid in a column against another column of fluid of known
specific gravity. Manometer is a wet meter which means that the fluid whose pressure is being
measured is brought in contact with another fluid which is displaced to indicate the pressure.
Typical manometer liquids are mercury, water and light oils.

Mercury can be used because it has a high density and so the manometer sizes minimized.
Compared to water much smaller column of mercury is needed to measure pressure.

But Mercury has largely been replaced now due to its environment and health hazards.

Manometers are used for measuring low pressure, especially in hydraulic laboratories.

Manometers can be classified as

Simple manometer
U tube manometer
Well type manometer
Inclined manometer
Barometer

U Tube Manometer

A manometer in which the manometric fluid is filled in a U shaped tube is called a U-tubemanometer.
Water and mercury are commonly used manometric fluids.
With both sides of the manometer open to the atmosphere the fluid level on one side will be the
same as the level on the other side because P1 = P2.
If one port is left open to the atmosphere and the other part is connected to the pressure to be
measured the device act as gauge pressure metre.
if both are connected to different unknown pressure the instrument act as differential pressure
gauge.
An unknown pressure P1 is applied in one of the legs of the tube. It causes a movement ofthe
manometric fluid in the tube to the other leg which is kept open. The movement of the fluid is
stopped when the height is sufficient to balance the pressure exerted by the column of liquid.
if P2 is the atmospheric pressure then h is a direct measurement of P1 and is given by,

Where ρ is the density of manometric fluid and g is the acceleration due to gravity.

That is, the pressure applied can be measured by knowing the height of the column ofthe liquid and
density of the liquid.

Well Type Manometer

The welltype manometer is widely used because of having only one leg. It is sometimes called as
a single column gauge.

The main difference between utube manometer and the welltype manometer is that the Utube is
substituted by a metal well of large cross sectional area connected to a glass tube or limb. The
system normally contains mercury as the filling liquid.

In the well type manometer the pressure to be measured is normally applied to the well. Due to
the large area of the well the fall of a liquid level will be very small.
The unknown pressure P is applied to the well. This applied pressure causes the liquid level in the
well to fall and the liquid in the tube to rise. A small change in the height of thewell causes a large
change in the liquid level of the tube. The difference in height can be measured using a scale that is
calibrated in terms of pressure.

Level Transducer

• Level sensors detect the level of liquids and other fluids and fluidised solids including slurries,
granular materials and powders that exhibit and upper free surface.
• The substance to be measured can be inside a container or can be in its natural form example a
river or a lake .
• Once the media level is detected, the level sensor changes the considered data into an electrical
signal.
Levels sensors are essentially used in every process and manufacturing of diary pharma, automotic
,chemical , paint , water treatment , food and beverages industries etc.

A level transducer is a device that produces an electric signal with respect to a liquidlevel.

Level transducers are classified based on following measurement methods

Direct and indirect level measurements.

Continuous and discrete level measurements.

 In direct method of measurement, the liquid level is converted directly to electrical signal.This
can be done with the help of some indicators.

 In indirect method, liquid level is first converted to displacement and this displacement is then
converted to electrical signal.

The level measurement can be either continuous or discrete values .

 Continuous level sensors measure level with the specified a range and determine the exact
amount of substance in a certain place.
 Discrete level sensors only indicate whether the substance is above or below the sensing
point.This act as an alarm for overflow or below the required level conditions.
Continuous level Transducer
 Continuous level measurement instruments monitor the level of solids and liquids in storage
tanks vessels and other open or closed storage systems.
 These instruments differ from point level sensors in that they provide constant level
measurement instead of only when the media reaches a specific level.
 In continuous level measurement, the level of a medium in a tank is detected with the help of
different measuring methods and converted into an electronic signal.
 Continuous level sensors are more sophisticated and can provide level monitoring of a entire
system.
 They measure fluid level within a range rather than at a one point , producing an analog output
that directly correlates to the level in the vessel.
 To create a level management system the output signal is linked to a process control loop and
to a visual indicator.

Different types of continuous level transducers are

Ultrasonic level transducers

Float element type-level transducers
Capacitive level transducers

Pressure type-level transducers

Inductive level transducers
Resistive level transducers etc.

Float Element Type Level Transducers

A float element type liquid level transducer is the most common simple method tomeasure liquid

levels.

As the liquid level rises in the tank, the float rises. It causes to move the wiper over thepotential
divider. The output terminals of the potential divider are connected to a voltmeter. The output
voltage is increased as the float rises. That is the voltage will be proportional to the liquid level.

Advantages
Simple in construction.Easy
to operate.
Works at large temperature range.

Disadvantages
Not suitable in moderate pressure.
Design of float should be selected properly.

Ultrasonic Level Transducers

The ultrasonic level transducers work by the time-of-flight principle. It is a method usedfor
measuring the distance between a sensor and an object.

The ultrasonic transmitter emits an ultrasonic pulse beam towards the liquid. This pulse isreflected
back to the ultrasonic receiver by the liquid surface. The time difference between the transmission and
reception is measured and is calibrated to distance.

It can be used for both continuous and discrete level measurements.

Advantages
Reliable.
There are no moving parts. Can
be used in high humidity.
Material density or conductivity is not affected.

Disadvantages
Dust particle may create distortion.
 • Vibration or high noise will affect result.

Optical level sensors:

They work based on the changes of transmission in infrared light emitted from an IR LED.

Capacitive Level Transducers

It comprises of two concentric tubes immersed in the fluid whose level is to be
measured.
since the overlapping area between the plates and the distance between the plates is
fixed the capacitance becomes a function of the dielectric between the plates i.e., fluid
between the two concentric tubes as the fluid level changes the capacitance also
changes.
This capacitance become the function of the fluid level.
Discrete Level Transducer
Discrete level transducers are used to detect a single discrete liquid height. It is normallyused for
detecting overflow or below the required level conditions.

Also known as point level sensors.

Level measurement sensors are used to mark a single discrete liquid height- a preset level
condition.

Generally this type of sensor functions as a high alarm, signalling an overfill condition or
as a marker for a low alarm condition.

Different methods are used :

• Capacitance level sensors: proximity sensor that gives off an electrical field and
detects a level by the effect on its electrical field.

• Optical level sensor: optical sensors work by converting light rays into electrical
signal which measure a physical quantity of light then translate it into a
measurement.

• Float switch : float switch uses of float, a device that will raise or lower when a
product is applied or removed ,which will open or close a circuit as the level raises
or lowers moving the float.