Jahanzaib Faraz 22-CH-29 24-1-24

University of Engineering and Technology,

UET Lahore

Fluid Flow Lab

Subject:
Ch.E. 208L: Fluid Flow II

Department:
Chemical Engineering Department – Session 2022 (4th Semester)

Submitted By:
Jahanzaib Faraz – (2022-CH-29)

Submitted To:
Mr. Farhan Ahmad

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Experiment No. 01
Title:

Dead Weight Calibrator

Objective:
To calibrate a burden type pressure gauge and to determine the gauge errors.

Apparatus:
• FF-10 Hydraulic Bench
• FF-11 Dead Weight Calibrator
• Weights and Piston
• Pressure Gauge

Reagents:

• Water
Theory:
A dead weight calibrator is a calibration standard that is uses the principle of a pressure
balance to calibrate pressure measuring instruments. Dead weight tester uses calibrated / known
weights to apply known pressures to a device under test for a simple and cost-effective solution
that cover a wide range of pressure calibration.

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Bourdon Gauge:
The Bourdon Gauge is fitted with a transparent dial, which lets you see the internal
workings of the gauge. The gauge consists of a thin-walled closed ended tube which is oval in
cross section. This tube is bent through an angle of about 270o along its long axis. The open end
of the tube is welded to a hollow mounting block which allows the pressurized fluid to reach the
tube. This causes the pressure from the source to be transmitted directly to the inside of the
bourdon tube. The applied pressure causes the oval tube to become rounder (since a round cross
section has the maximum area for a given circumference). As it becomes rounder, the bourdon
tube tends to uncurl which causes its free end to move. A system of linkages and levers transmits
this motion to the gauge needle which moves over the scale.

Working Principle:
Dead weight calibration is based on Pascal’s law which states that; “In a closed system of
incompressible fluid, the pressure applied will be calibrated in all directions.” When a force is
applied by a mass in a gravitational field on the top of the piston with the specific cross-sectional
area, the fluid under the piston will be pressurized. As the fluid is incompressible, this pressure
will be transmitted to the gauge which is to be calibrated.

Applications:

• Dead weight calibration is used in laboratories as well as industries to calibrate almost

every type of the pressure measuring devices.
• It can also be used in trouble-shoot condition to check weather the pressure gauge is
working properly or not.

Procedure:

• Position the dead weight calibrator (without piston) on the hydraulic bench top and
ensure that the base is horizontal with spirit level.

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• Connect the inflow cock to the bench flow connector and the outflow cock to the lower
tube from the calibrator cylinder.
• Strat the pump of the hydraulic bench, remove all the air from the manifold and fill the
calibrator cylinder with water and then stop the pump.
• Measure the weight of the calibration masses.
• Note down the weight of the piston and its cross-sectional area.
• Insert the piston carefully and spin it to minimize any friction effects.
• Note the pressure reading from the gauge.
• Add the weights in steps of 0.5kg, and at each increment observe the pressure gauge
reading.
• Take the similar sets of readings with decreasing weights.
• If due to the slight leakage, piston reaches the cylinder bottom, more water must be added
to the cylinder.

Precautions:

• Air must be driven out of the manifold while setting the calibrator.
• Every time, when you add weights on the piston spin the piston gently to avoid any static
friction.
• Note down the value of gauge when piston comes to the equilibrium position.
• Piston should not touch the bottom of the calibrator cylinder.
Observation and Calculation:
The use of the piston and weight with the cylinder generates a measurable reference
pressure (P).

P = F/A (Pascals)

Where;

F = Mg

• F is the force applied to the liquid in calibrator cylinder.

• M is the total mass of the including that of the piston.
• g is the gravitational force which is equal to 9.81 m/s2.
• A is the area of the piston.

The area of piston can be expressed in terms of its diameter, d, as;

A = πd2/2

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Absolute
Mass Diameter Area of Cylinder % Gauge
Mass of Gauge Gauge
of the of the the Total Mass Pressure error
Sr. No. weights Reading Error
piston piston d piston M=Mp+Mw P=Mg/A ((G-P)/P)
Mw(kg) G (G-P)
Mp(kg) (m) A=πd2/2 (KN/m2) *100
(KN/m2)
1 0.0 0.5 15 19 -4 -22
2 0.5 1.0 32 39 -7 -17
3 1.0 1.5 50 58 -8 -14
4 1.5 2.0 70 77 -7 -9
5 0.5 0.01767 0.000254 2.0 2.5 90 96 -6 -7
6 1.5 2.0 70 77 -7 -9
7 1.0 1.5 53 58 -5 -8
8 0.5 1.0 32 39 -7 -17
9 0.0 0.5 12 19 -7 -38

Discussion and Results:

From the experiment, we have seen that the values of gauge pressure are much different
form the calculated values. This is due to maybe there is a bubble of air in the apparatus that
causes the pascal law to be violated or maybe because of the improper rotation to the cylinder
motion that causes the frictional losses or another, maybe the apparatus is not leveled.

Conclusion:
It is concluded that the gauge pressure is directly proportional to mass. With the increase
in the mass gauge pressure increases.

Reference:

• https://uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/media/lectures/5/5_2020_12_27!12_42_57_A
M.pdf.