Experiment No.

CALIBRATION OF PRESSURE MEASURING INSTRUMENT

Course Code: __________________________ Program: ______________________________

Course Title: ___________________________ Date Performed: ________________________
Section: _______________________________ Date Submitted: ________________________
Students: Instructor: _____________________________

1. Objective:

The activity aims to demonstrate the calibration of pressure gauge specifically the dead-weight piston
gauge

2. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs):

The students shall be able to:
2.1 Identify the parts of a dead-weight piston gauge
2.2 Describe the procedure in calibrating a dead-weight piston gauge
2.3 Develop professional work ethics, including precision, neatness, safety and ability to follow
instruction.

3. Discussion:

A dead-weight piston gauge is used to introduce to students the principles of checking and adjusting of
manometers – (calibrating principles).

The pressure is applied via weights, which are placed on a weight support. The latter has a piston which
acts on hydraulic oil in a pipe system, so that a manometer which is also connected to the system should
indicate certain pressures.

The device contains a Bourdon spring manometer with a transparent dial. The display mechanism and the
various adjustment opportunities are therefore clearly identifiable.

Hydraulic oil is used to transfer pressure.

Weight Support Manometer

Weights

Base Plate
The device for calibrating pressure gauges essentially consists of two units:
(1) The Pressure Gauge Unit. This is where the manometer to be calibrated is screwed in.
(2) The Load Unit. The load unit consists of several weights and a cylinder with a piston. An increase in
the load results in an increase in pressure. The load unit is connected to the pressure gauge unit via
an oil-filled line, enabling the manometer to display the increase in pressure.

Principle of Operation:

Connection between the load unit and the pressure gauge unit: Both units are connected by means of a
pipeline. When the support is loaded with weights, the oil pressure in the system increases. The seal between
the piston and the cylinder is metallic, with no other sealing elements. The fit has been very carefully designed
to ensure that the piston operates almost entirely without friction, and with minimal oil leakage.

The weights are designated in such a way that pressure increments of 0.5 bar are possible.
Place the small weight on the weight support first. A guide pin is provided for this purpose. The unit is also
equipped with a drain and filling plug in order to drain or fill the oil.

The compensation cylinder can be used to raise and lower the weight load on the oil cushion of the hydraulic
oil. For the measurements, the load must be kept on the oil cushion so that the pressure is applied in the
hydraulic system.

After unscrewing the pressure relief knob, the weight load can be brought down until it is supported. The
hydraulic is then relieved of the load.

In addition, the compensation cylinder can be used to easily check the oil level and top it up if required.

Removing the Transport Protection:

Before the compensation cylinder can be used, the transport protection must be replaced with the ventilation
screw provided.
1. To do so, loosen the transport protection using the hexagon socket wrench provided and unscrew
completely. Keep the transport protection in a safe place in case of subsequent transportation.
2. Place the ventilation screw provided in the now empty tapped hole and tighten using the hexagon
socket wrench provided.
3. In the event of subsequent transportation, reinstall the transport protection in place of the ventilation
screw. To do so, follow this procedure in the reverse order.

Removing and Inserting the Transport Cap

The transport cap is held in the cylinder by an O-ring, not by a thread.

1. Removal of the transport cap:
a. Push the compensation cylinder hand lever until the pressure increases.
b. Hold the transport cap securely and push the hand lever further until the transport cap is
loose and can be removed. (Note: Pressurized oil may squirt out of the opening)
2. Insertion of transport cap:
a. Place transport cap in place
b. Unscrew the pressure relief knob then press on the transport cap
c. Screw the pressure relief knob back in.
Topping up the Hydraulic Oil:

If despite repeatedly operating the hand lever the oil does not reach the brim of the cylinder, the oil must be
topped up. For this purpose, proceed as follows:
1. If you have already done so, remove the piston with a weight support.
2. Pull hand lever to its highest position
3. Unscrew pressure relief knob
4. Top oil to the first ledge
5. Fit piston with weight support
6. Push down piston with weight support
7. Screw in pressure relief knob
8. Perform zero balance to check the zero point of the manometer:
a. Push the hand lever down so that the piston is pushed out of the cylinder.
b. Remove the piston and weight support.
c. Adjust the oil level in the open cylinder until the cylinder is filled up to the edge.
d. The manometer being tested should now indicate zero, as it is only subject to ambient
pressure. If this is not the case, the pointer on the pressure gauge can be adjusted with a
small screwdriver. For this, remove the front glass by turning the front ring.

Changing Oil:

1. Remove the drain and filling plug.

2. Drain the old oil, bleed if necessary.
3. Make an additional screwed connection between the three-way valve and vacuum pump.
4. Open the three-way valve so that the vacuum pump generates a vacuum.
5. Reverse the three-way valve to allow oil into the system.
6. Then shut off the hydraulic system. (Note: Do not replace the pressure gauge. Oil can only be refilled
using a vacuum).

4. Materials and Equipment:

 Dead-weight Piston Gauge Complete Set

5. Procedure:

Once the zero point of a manometer has been checked, the weight support is re-inserted into the
cylinder of the pressure gauge unit. To do this:

1. Unscrew pressure relief knob

2. Press down weight support

3. Screw in pressure relief knob

- Press down the hand lever, thereby slowly lifting the piston with weight support until it just
floats on the oil with sufficient guidance. In order to avoid static friction, set the weight
support in gentle rotation. The mass of the support is 385 grams. Taking into account the
piston diameter of 12 mm, it is now possible to determine the increase in pressure
according to the following basic formula:
 P = F/A

Where: P = pressure
F = Force = m x g
A = Area
m = mass of load unit
g = gravity constant

4. Other pressures occurring when the weight on the support is increased can be calculated in exactly
the same way.

5. The display of 0.5 bar is achieved by placing a weight with a mass of 193 grams on the support. The
other weights weigh 578 grams, which is equivalent to a pressure increase of 0.5 bar each time. The
following table shows the ratio of pressure to weights:

Mass in
0 385 578 1,156 1,734 2,312 2,890
grams
Pressure in
0 0.334 0.50 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
bar

Preparation for Experiment:

1. Remove the transport cap.

2. Top up with oil if necessary and check the zero signal.

Performing the Experiment:

1. Read off the zero signal on the pressure gauge, check it and make a note of it.
2. Set the weight carrier to 0.334 bar by inserting the piston in the load unit cylinder. To do this:
a. Unscrew pressure relief knob
b. Press down weight support
c. Screw in pressure relief knob
d. Press down the hand lever, thereby slowly lifting the piston with weight support until it just
floats on the oil with sufficient guidance. To avoid sticking due to static friction, gently twist
the weight carrier as it sinks. Note the pressure signal on the pressure gauge.
e. Place the load ring for 0.166 bar on the weight carrier. When so doing, make sure that the
weight carrier floats freely on the oil. To minimize sticking due to static friction while
performing this experiment, gently twist the weight carrier. Note the pressure signal on the
pressure gauge.
f. Add each of the four load rings for 0.5 bar in turn, repeating the action described above and
noting the pressure values.
6. Data and Results:

Ideal Reading Result

Weight of loads
Measured Measured Theoretical Theoretical
with pressure
pressure in pressure in pressure in psi pressure in bar
value in
psi bar
kilograms
1.364 17.57 1.27 17.15 1.18

0.878 11.2 0.71 11.04 0.76

0.952 12.17 0.85 11.97 0.83

0.592 7.8 0.54 7.45 0.51

1.140 15 1.25 14.34 0.99

2.080 27 1.88 26.16 1.80

1.552 20 1.85 19.52 1.35

0.4 5.09 0.36 5.03 0.35

1.072 13.8 0.95 13.48 0.93

0.486 5.63 0.43 6.11 0.42

Computation:

Note: the diameter of the piston was 12mm or 0.4724 in

Solving for the area:

𝝅 𝟐 𝝅
𝑨= 𝒅 = (𝟎. 𝟒𝟕𝟐𝟒 𝒊𝒏)𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟕𝟓𝟑 𝒊𝒏𝟐
𝟒 𝟒
𝟐.𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟔𝒍𝒃
(1) 𝟏. 𝟑𝟔𝟒 𝒌𝒈 × = 𝟑. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟎𝟕𝟒𝟒𝒍𝒃
𝟏𝒌𝒈

𝑭 𝟑. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟎𝟕𝟒𝟒 𝒍𝒃
𝑷= = = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟏𝟓𝟒𝟖 𝒑𝒔𝒊
𝑨 𝟎. 𝟏𝟕𝟓𝟑 𝒊𝒏𝟐

𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟐𝟓 𝒃𝒂𝒓
𝟏𝟕. 𝟏𝟓𝟒𝟖 𝒑𝒔𝒊 × = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟖𝟐𝟓 𝒃𝒂𝒓
𝟏𝟒. 𝟕 𝒑𝒔𝒊

𝟐.𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟔𝒍𝒃
(2) 𝟎. 𝟖𝟕𝟖 𝒌𝒈 × = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟑𝟓𝟔𝟑𝟖𝟖 𝒍𝒃
𝟏𝒌𝒈

𝑭 𝟏. 𝟗𝟑𝟓𝟔𝟑𝟖𝟖 𝒍𝒃
𝑷= = = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟎𝟒𝟐𝟐 𝒑𝒔𝒊
𝑨 𝟎. 𝟏𝟕𝟓𝟑 𝒊𝒏𝟐
 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟐𝟓 𝒃𝒂𝒓
𝟏𝟏. 𝟎𝟒𝟐𝟐 𝒑𝒔𝒊 × = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟔𝟏𝟏 𝒃𝒂𝒓
𝟏𝟒. 𝟕 𝒑𝒔𝒊

𝟐.𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟔𝒍𝒃
(3) 𝟎. 𝟗𝟓𝟐 𝒌𝒈 × = 𝟐. 𝟎𝟗𝟖𝟕𝟕𝟗𝟐𝒍𝒃
𝟏𝒌𝒈

𝑭 𝟐. 𝟎𝟗𝟖𝟕𝟕𝟗𝟐𝒍𝒃
𝑷= = = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟗𝟕𝟑𝟒 𝒑𝒔𝒊
𝑨 𝟎. 𝟏𝟕𝟓𝟑 𝒊𝒏𝟐

𝟏. 𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟐𝟓 𝒃𝒂𝒓
𝟏𝟏. 𝟗𝟕𝟑𝟒 𝒑𝒔𝒊 × = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟐𝟓𝟑 𝒃𝒂𝒓
𝟏𝟒. 𝟕 𝒑𝒔𝒊
 9. Graphical Evaluation:

Pressure-weight diagram (psi)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
1.364 0.878 0.952 0.592 1.14 2.08 1.552 0.4 1.072 0.486

Measured Theoretical
 Pressure-weight diagram (bar)
4

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
1.364 0.878 0.952 0.592 1.14 2.08 1.552 0.4 1.072 0.486

Measured Theoretical

10. Interpretation:

When Graphed, the difference between computed and measured are clearly seen, this difference,
or the percentage error may be cause of some factors that are not considered in the computation.
Computing the error between the two data may yield in somewhat small difference. Factors that can
be considered is the friction between the piston and the cylinder and the allowance between it. As
being shown, the difference of Pressure in psi and bar have almost the same graph. Through this, it
may be interpret that the percentage of error using different unit of a certain weight will be the same.
11. Observation:

12. Analysis:
13. Conclusion/Recommendation:
14. Assessment Rubric:
TIP-VPAA–054D
Revision Status/Date:0/2009 September 09

TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

RUBRIC FOR LABORATORY PERFORMANCE
CRITERIA BEGINNER ACCEPTABLE PROFICIENT SCORE
1 2 3
Laboratory Skills
Manipulative Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Skills demonstrate needed demonstrate needed demonstrate needed
skills. skills. skills.
Experimental Members are unable to Members are able to Members are able to
Set-up set-up the materials. set-up the materials set-up the material with
with supervision. minimum supervision.
Process Members do not Members occasionally Members always
Skills demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted demonstrate targeted
process skills. process skills. process skills.

Safety Members do not follow Members follow safety Members follow safety
Precautions safety precautions. precautions most of the precautions at all
time. times.
Work Habits
Time Members do not finish Members finish on time Members finish ahead
Management/ on time with incomplete with incomplete data. of time with complete
Conduct of data. data and time to revise
Experiment data.
Cooperative Members do not know Members have defined Members are on tasks
and their tasks and have no responsibilities most of and have
Teamwork defined responsibilities. the time. Group responsibilities at all
Group conflicts have to conflicts are times. Group conflicts
be settled by the cooperatively managed are cooperatively
teacher. most of the time. managed at all times.
Neatness and Messy workplace during Clean and orderly Clean and orderly
Orderliness and after the workplace with workplace at all times
experiment. occasional mess during during and after the
and after the experiment.
experiment.
Ability to do Members require Members require Members do not need
independent supervision by the occasional supervision to be supervised by the
work teacher. by the teacher. teacher.
Other Comments/Observations:
TOTAL SCORE

RATING=

x 100%