Industrial Pressure Measurement: The Ultimate Guide to Reliable Instruments
Why Accurate Pressure Monitoring Matters in Industry
In every industrial process, precise pressure monitoring plays a critical role. It helps maintain operational safety, ensures process consistency, and boosts production efficiency.
For example, in PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) manufacturing, steam systems can reach 8.0 MPa and oxygen feed lines operate at 9.0 MPaG. Choosing the right instrument here isn’t just important—it’s essential to prevent costly downtime and ensure safe, reliable operation.
Core Principles of Pressure Measurement
Understanding Pressure Basics
Pressure is defined as the force applied over a unit area:
P = F / APressure Unit Conversion Table
| Unit | kgf/cm² | mmHg | mmH₂O | atm | Pa | bar | psi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kgf/cm² | 1 | 733.0 | 10,000 | 0.9678 | 98,066.5 | 0.9807 | 14.22 |
| 1 mmHg | 0.00136 | 1 | 13.6 | 0.00132 | 133.3 | 0.001333 | 0.0193 |
| 1 mmH₂O | 0.0001 | 0.0734 | 1 | 0.000096 | 9.80665 | 0.000098 | 0.00142 |
| 1 atm | 1.033 | 760 | 10,332 | 1 | 101,325 | 1.013 | 14.696 |
| 1 Pa | 0.0000102 | 0.0075 | 0.102 | 0.00000987 | 1 | 0.00001 | 0.000145 |
| 1 bar | 1.0197 | 750 | 10,197 | 0.9869 | 100,000 | 1 | 14.504 |
| 1 psi | 0.0703 | 51.72 | 703.1 | 0.068 | 6,894.76 | 0.06895 | 1 |
Common Pressure Types Explained
- Absolute Pressure: Compared to a perfect vacuum
- Gauge Pressure: Compared to atmospheric pressure
- Vacuum Pressure: Below atmospheric pressure
Key formula: Pabsolute = Pgauge + Patmospheric
Popular Pressure Measurement Instruments
Manometers
Best for measuring low-range differential pressure.
- U-tube models
- Inclined tube designs
- Single-column types
Mechanical Gauges
Widely used in industries like chemicals and oil & gas.
- Bourdon tubes
- Diaphragm sensors
- Bellows systems
Need Help Choosing the Right Pressure Sensor?
Post time: Apr-10-2025