- Formula Absolute pressure with vacuum reference Gauge pressure Nomenclature
- Piston cylinder design Gas-gas Gas-oil Oil-oil
- See also
- External links
{{unsourced|article|date=August 2014}}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. A dead weight tester (DWT) is a calibration standard method that uses a piston cylinder on which a load is placed to make an equilibrium with an applied pressure underneath the piston. Deadweight testers are so called primary standards{{fact|date=August 2014}} which means that the pressure measured by a deadweight tester is defined through other quantities: length, mass and time. Typically deadweight testers are used in calibration laboratories to calibrate pressure transfer standards like electronic pressure measuring devices. FormulaThe formula on which the design of a DWT is based basically is expressed as follows : where : p | : | reference pressure | [Pa] | F | : | force applied on piston | [N] | A | : | effective area PCU | [m2] |
To be able to do accurate measurements, this formula has to be refined. Absolute pressure with vacuum referencep= | A(20,0).(1+(ap+ac).(t-20)).(1+pnom.lp)
| -(rN2-ra).gl.h+pvac |
Gauge pressurepe= | A(20,0).(1+(ap+ac).(t-20)).(1+pnom.lp)
| -(rN2-ra).gl.h |
Nomenclaturep | absolute pressure at reference level | [Pa] | pe | gauge pressure at reference level | [Pa] | m | total true mass load | [kg] | gl | local acceleration due to gravity | [N/kg] | ra | ambient air density | [kg/m3] | rm | average density mass load | [kg/m3] | P.d.t | surface tension effect | [N] | rN2 | density of pressure medium | [kg/m3] | h | reference level offset DWT .. DUT | [m] | pvac | vacuum residual pressure | [Pa] | A20,0 | PCU effective area at p=0 and 20oC | [m2] | ap | linear thermal expansion coefficient piston | [oC-1] | ac | linear thermal expansion coefficient cylinder | [oC-1] | t | temperature of PCU | [oC] | lp | elastic deformation coefficient PCU | [Pa-1] | pnom | nominal line pressure | [Pa] | pe | gauge pressure applied to PCU | [Pa] | p | absolute pressure applied to PCU | [Pa] |
Piston cylinder designIn general there are three different kind of DWT's divided by the medium which is measured and the lubricant which is used for its measuring element : - gas operated gas lubricated PCU's
- gas operated oil lubricated PCU's
- oil operated oil lubricated PCU's
All three systems have their own specific operational demands. Some points of attention : Gas-gasMake sure that the PCU is clean. This is a very important issue as the PCU's operation is sensitive to contamination. Also when connecting a DUT, make sure that the DUT does not introduce contamination in the measuring system.
Gas-oilLubricant of the PCU 'leaks' in the gas-circuit of the DWT. For this reason there is a small reservoir incorporated in the system. Before commencing a calibration it is a good practice to purge this reservoir. If the reservoir is full, oil will be introduced in critical tubing and will cause an uncontrollable oil-head.
Oil-oilWhen connecting an oil filled DUT on an oil DWT make sure that the DUT oil will not contaminate the DWT oil. If in doubt. Incorporate a small volume between DUT and DWT and manipulate pressure in such a matter that the oil flow is directed to the DUT.
For high accuracy measurement, friction can be lowered by rotation of the piston.
See also{{Commonscat|Deadweight testers}}- Blaise Pascal
- Calibration
- Force gauge
- Piezometer
- Pressure measurement
- Pressure sensor
- Vacuum engineering
External links- http://www.euramet.org/index.php?id=calibration-guides
1 : Measuring instruments |