Pressure sensors are very popular in our times as they are the best systems for measuring pressure when it comes to fluid substances. When a container is full of liquid, for instance, and more liquid is released in the container, the sensor detects the increase in force and transforms it into an electric charge. After the transformation, the signal obtained will be transmitted further to the interpreter device. This is how equipment like this is functioning.
Besides the direct indicator of how much force is released from the fluid, other additional things can be indicated. For example, the fluid level or how fast it is flowing etc. Depending of the type of detection, the devices can be categorized as static or dynamic.
The requirement for these devices dates from steam age. Many of the equipments that were invented then are still used in our time. There are three types of these devices: piezoelectric, variable capacitance and strain gage.
The forms and design types of thesepressure sensor devices can be very different. The classification is made depending on cost or performance, the measurement range or the temperature at which they are used. The dynamic sensors can indicate when the speed and pressure are modifying. They are known as high performance devices and they are usually piezoelectric.
The construction of strain gages systems involves 2 things: a diaphragm and a strain gauge. The diaphragm is useful for the detection of the increasing force in the fluid. Then the information is passed to the strain gauge, which will generate a resistance equal to the force. The resistance can be measured with the aid of a DAQ or Data Acquisition System.
When it comes to the devices that use variable capacitance, these are made of two metal plates. Actually it is one metal plate and a metal diaphragm. When the force changes, the distance between the plates changes as well and this indicates the difference in pressure. Like the accelerometer, these devices are more stable than others but they do not function well in high temperature conditions. Also they are harder to assemble then the other types.
The piezoelectric devices are built from quartz crystals and they use the natural electric characteristics of these materials. When they are under physical stress, these crystals generate an electric shock. They require amplification of the signal. They are less resistant to physical shocks and high vibrations than the other devices.
The signal obtained from the sensors is usually small and it can be measured in mV (a thousand parts is one Volt). The range of Volts that is outputted from the device is related to the amount of physical force which generates the current. For instance, zero Volts mean zero force. In this point no electrical signal is sent to the interpreter. The maximum range limit can be, for instance 5V, case in which a pressure of 5 Bars is generated.
Pressure sensors are devices that are very common in our days. They are used in many industrial domains. For example, they have a good role in the food industry. Regardless of their type, they are good tools for measuring the force generated by different fluids. But they also measure the fluid speed, the level of a fluid inside a container or many other valuable details.
Choose from a wide selection of state-of-the-art scientific technologies including the linear position sensor, calibration systems, load cells, mass flow sensor, and accelerometer. These specialized tools are very popular among the research and development industries.