LAB # 2

Calibration of
Pressure Gauge
FLUID MECHANICS LAB
INSTRUCTOR: HUSNAIN AHMED
9
TH
SEPTEMBER, 2014

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Content
Bourdon
Gauge
Dead
Weight
Calibrator
Experiment
Instructions
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INTRODUCTION
Bourdon tube gauge is device to measure and
represent applied pressure.
SENSING ELEMENT:
Consists of a twisted or curved metal tube.
The tube is constructed from a thin walled tube of
non circular cross section
REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENT:
A needle on a Gauge.
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PARTS:
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WORKING PRINCIPLE
The bourdon principle believes that a
flattened tube will reform or grow
considerably in the cross sectional
aspect when a pressure is applied. This
change can be represented by a needle
on a gauge.
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PROS & CONS
PROS:
o Less Expansive
o Portable
o Easy to use
o No leveling required
CONS:
o Static Measurement only
o Lower accuracy.
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INTRODUCTION
A dead weight tester apparatus uses known
traceable weights to apply pressure to a fluid for
checking the accuracy of readings from a pressure
gauge.


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PARTS
Piston
The Dead Weight Calibrator accessory comprises a precision
ground piston and cylinder.

Weights
Weights may be added to the piston so that a number of
predetermined pressures may be set up within the cylinder.

Baseboard
The cylinder is mounted on a baseboard which is supported on
leveling screws and fitted with a spirit level.

Gauge Connection
The gauge under test is linked to the cylinder connection by a
flexible tube.
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WORKING
A pressure gauge could be calibrated by mounting a closed vessel
with a piston at one end. (Such a vessel is called a dead-weight
tester).
Placing a weight on the piston produces a known pressure in the
vessel equal to the weight divided by the piston area.
After applying a series of weights and measuring the corresponding
output value of the pressure gauge you can plot the relationship
between the gauge reading and added weights.
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CALIBRATION OF
PRESSURE GAUGE
EXPERIMENT 2
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OBJECTIVE

To calibrate a Bourdon type pressure gauge and
to determine the gauge errors.

To determine the measurement errors in the
reference pressure source used for calibration
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APPARATUS

Accurate weights

Bourdon Tube Pressure
Gauge

Dead Weight Tester
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APPARATUS DEMONSTRATION

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Related Theory
A measurable reference pressure, P is generated due to the use of
piston and weights with the cylinder:
P=F/A (Pascals)
F=Mg
A=d
2
/4
F is the force applied to the liquid in calibrator cylinder
M is the total mass including piston mass
A is area of piston
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EQUIPMENT SETUP
Note the weight of the piston (0.5kg) and individual calibration masses
before setting the equipment.
Place the dead weight calibrator bench top and ensure that the base is
horizontal by adjusting the base using spirit level. This is necessary to
ensure the vertical transfer of the applied load and free rotation of
piston.
Attach the flexible tube from the base of the cylinder to the base of the
Bourdon gauge.
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PROCEDURE
Observe the Pressure gauge unit setup.
Be sure all hoses are attached securely
to the Bourdon gauge.
Record the gauge reading ( KN/m2) for
the unloaded piston, which corresponds
to a total mass.
Place the given dead weight (0.5 Kg)
one by one and record the reading of
the gauge.
To prevent the piston from sticking,
rotate the piston gently as each mass is
added, so that the friction in the piston
can be reduced.
Tabulate data in table & Plot the
calibration curve
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OBSERVATION & CALCULATIONS
Mass of
Pi st on
M
p
( kg)
Di amet er of
Pi st on d
( m)
Area of
Pi st on
A ( m
2
)
Mass of
wei ght s M
w

( kg)
Tot al
Mass
M ( kg)
Gauge
readi ng G
( kN/ m
2
)
Cyl i nder
pressure
P ( kN/ m
2
)
Absol ut e
gauge error
( kN/ m
2
)
% Gauge
Error
d
2
/ 4 M
p
+ M
w
Mg/ A G P 100*( G-P) / P




Plot a graph of gauge reading against absolute gauge error and of gauge reading against %
gauge error.
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TO DO !
ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION (FLUID MECHANICS APPLICATION)
TASK 1: LAYOUT SUBMISSION
PERFORM EXPERIMENT
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