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Selecting a pressure range for optimal service life and accuracy
What pressure range you select for a pressure measurement application effects the accuracy and the service life of a pressure transducer.
Most pressure sensors rely on the fractional movement of a diaphragm with a Wheatstone bridge strain gauge circuit to produce an electrical output signal that is proportional to pressure.
As a general rule the lower the pressure range, the larger the diameter of the diaphragm to ensure enough movement and thus sensitivity of measurement. The stiffness of a diaphragm is a function of the diameter or cross sectional area, its thickness and the rigidness of the diaphragm material.
In order to ensure the best accuracy and maximum signal output for a pressure sensor a manufacturer will use different diaphragms for different pressure ranges. Therefore it is important not too select a pressure range that is too high otherwise the accuracy and output signal will be too low. On the other hand if you select a pressure range that is too low you will risk over stressing a diaphragm and causing a performance shift or worse irreparable damage.
One method for determining the required pressure range is to consider the maximum and minimum pressure that is likely to be produced by the system to be measured. Then double the mid pressure between the two to calculate the pressure range. This method will ensure that the pressure sensor is mostly working around its mid-point pressure extending its service life without compromising too much accuracy.
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Associated Topics
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Site Last Updated: 07/02/12
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