Pressure measurement

Differential Pressure Sensors – The Most Important FAQs at a Glance

Differential pressure measurements are used in numerous industrial applications including control and optimization. After all, they provide information about the mutual relationship of 2 pressure ranges. Special differential pressure sensors are used to determine the pressure difference safely and reliably. Find out more about the operating principle, the application areas, and the features of the clever sensors!

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What are differential pressure sensors?

Differential pressure sensors measure the difference between 2 absolute pressures p1 and p2 in gases, steam, and liquids. Among other applications they can be found in filter monitoring, level measurement in closed containers, and safety-critical systems. They are often referred to as differential pressure transmitters or differential pressure transducers.

¿Cómo funciona un sensor de presión diferencial?

Un sensor de presión diferencial tiene dos conexiones de proceso. Las presiones actúan en direcciones opuestas sobre la membrana. El resultado de la medición es siempre la diferencia entre las dos presiones p2 - p1 = Δp.

How does a differential pressure transducer work?

A differential pressure sensor has 2 hermetically/air-tight sealed chambers, each with a process connection, which are separated from each other by a flexible membrane with a glued on resistance bridge. The process connections are connected in front of and behind a possible pressure reduction so that the pressures act on the membrane in the opposite direction. If the pressure in the chambers is the same, the membrane remains flat. When the pressure in one of the chambers decreases or increases, the membrane tilts towards the chamber with the lower pressure. The degree of deformation corresponds to the difference of the 2 pressures: p2-p1=Δp. This can be detected by the change in resistance value, which can be converted into an electrical signal for further processing.

Fig. 1: Diagrama esquemático del sensor de presión diferencial - A differential pressure sensor has two process connections. The pressures act in opposite directions on the diaphragm. The measurement result is always the difference between the two pressures p2 - p1 = ∆p.

What are the different types of differential pressure sensors?

A distinction is made between piezoresistive and capacitive measurement. Most differential pressure sensors are now based on the piezoresistive effect (the change in electrical resistance of a material caused by tension or pressure). This effect is achieved by metallic strain gauges, which are glued to the elastic membrane already mentioned, or by silicon wafers. In contrast to strain gages, the measuring resistors are integrated directly into the silicon membrane so that no strain gauges need to be glued. This way, measurement accuracy, temperature resistance, and durability are increased. In addition, silicon sensors are significantly less expensive than thin-film sensors. All piezoresistive differential pressure sensors are virtually drift-free.

Capacitive transmitters for differential pressure have a capacitor integrated in a silicon chip, which allows conclusions to be drawn about the resulting pressure difference by changes in its capacity.

¿Dónde se aplica la medición de la presión diferencial?

Differential pressure sensors are found wherever pressure ratios have to be continuously measured and checked (for example in filter monitoring or flow measurement).

Ejemplo de supervisión de filtros:

En los sistemas de ventilación, la presión diferencial puede utilizarse para determinar el grado de contaminación de un filtro cuando las presiones se miden delante y detrás del filtro. Cuanto más contaminado esté el elemento filtrante, mayor será la resistencia que oponga al medio que lo atraviesa.

Ejemplo de medición del caudal:

Una aplicación común de la presión diferencial es la medición del caudal en las tuberías. Este método de presión diferencial requiere la instalación de un elemento primario en la tubería. Los elementos primarios están disponibles en varios diseños y estrechan la sección transversal de la tubería en el punto de medición. Esto da lugar a un aumento local de la velocidad del flujo en el punto de constricción, que a su vez da lugar a un cambio en la presión estática (p1 stat y p2 stat). Las conexiones de presión para las mediciones están situadas directamente delante y detrás del elemento primario. La diferencia de presión es una medida indirecta del caudal.

Fig. 2: Medición del caudal mediante un venturi y valores de la presión estática diferencial -

Active pressure transducer with static pressure decrease

p1stat - static pressure before the venturi
p2stat - static pressure after the venturi
∆p - pressure difference (indirect measure of flow rate).

How do differential pressure transducers behave in long-term use?

Measuring devices are exposed to a wide variety of mechanical, thermal, or chemical stresses so that the measured values change and lose accuracy over time. Zero offsets or hysteresis, for example, can lead to safety risks and a reduction in process efficiency. Regular calibration cannot prevent such changes, but it can detect them in time. For mechanical and electrical pressure measuring devices, it is therefore recommended to perform a Calibration once a year.

Which differential pressure sensor is the right one?

Differential pressure sensors and differential pressure transmitters are available in numerous versions. Whether a sensor can be used in a particular application depends primarily on the minimum and maximum pressure level that can be processed, the environmental influences of the application, and the media suitability. For example, capacitive pressure sensors lead to measurement inaccuracies in applications with strong vibration; not every sensor can tolerate aggressive gases and liquids. Depending on the type of application, certain approvals are required. Examples include SIL 2/SIL 3 according to DIN EN 61508, PL according to DIN EN 13849, or a version for explosion-proof areas. In case of uncertainty, a detailed consultation should be requested.