Components of a pressure transmitter

A pressure transmitter measures the physical quantity of pressure in liquids or gases and provides the measured value as an electrical signal. The interactive graphic on this page guides you to the most important information about the key elements of a pressure transmitter: In addition to the main functional design elements, these are the interfaces to the environment, the most important criteria for selecting a proper pressure transmitter and the most important performance characteristics. The core elements of a pressure transmitter are the measuring cell, i.e. the sensor in the closer sense, the process connection; the electronics for signal processing; the electrical connection as well as the enclosing housing.

Trafag pressure sensors are mainly based either on thin-film-on-steel technology with a welded sensor made of stainless steel and without an O-ring or on thick-film-on-ceramic technology. Both sensor technologies originate from Trafag's own in-house production and were developed together with the ASIC (application-specific microchip).

As a result, the pressure sensor and electronics are perfectly matched and achieve their unique long-term stability and reliability even under the most adverse environmental conditions in demanding applications.

Interfaces of a pressure transmitter

The most important interfaces to the outside are the process connection, i.e., the pressure connection side, and the electrical connection, also called the signal connection. In industrial applications, these interfaces are standardised. Depending on the industry and application, different interfaces are used. Today's pressure transmitters are available with a variety of process connections, output signals and electrical connections. Industrial sensors with different technologies enable measurement from a few mbar up to several thousand bar, with an accuracy of up to 0.1%. From the electrical connection, which usually consists of a plug or a connection cable, the measured value output is either an analogue signal or a digital signal. The most common analogue output signals are 4 ... 20mA and 0 ... 10VDC.

The advantage of digital signals is the bidirectional communication, which enables diagnosis as well as easy configuration of the pressure measurement (e.g. change of the pressure measuring unit from bar to psi).

On the other hand, other physical measured variables can be provided in addition to pressure, such as temperature. In addition to electronic pressure transmitters with analogue and digital output signals, there are also electronic pressure switches. These do not output a measured value but have one or more transistor outputs or relay outputs.

Performance features of a pressure transmitter

In addition to the pressure connection and the electrical connection, other criteria are central to the selection of a suitable pressure transmitter: The most important performance features for selecting a pressure transmitter are the measuring range, the required type of measurement (absolute, relative, or differential pressure) and the desired accuracy.

Depending on the area of application, compliance with certain standards and directives must be considered, such as railway standards, explosion protection standards or ship approvals. In addition, environmental influences must be taken into account: Vibrations, shock, water and dust, electromagnetic interference, ambient temperature, the temperature of the measured medium. When selecting the material, it is important that the parts in contact with the medium are chosen in such a way that the material cannot be corroded by the medium.

This is because corrosion of measuring cells and process connections, occasionally also of housings and the electronics, are frequent causes of failure of pressure transmitters.

Another cause of defective pressure transmitters are very high pressure peaks, as they occur especially in liquids. These pressure peaks, which often last only milliseconds, can be several times the normal measuring range and thus destroy the sensitive diaphragm of the pressure transducer. Apart from special damping elements, which act like an aperture in the process connection, the only solution in such cases is often the selection of a pressure transmitter type with particularly high overpressure safety.

In our know-how section you will find further information on the above-mentioned aspects:

How to choose the suitable pressure transmitter

Which pressure sensor for hydrogen?

Choosing the suitable steel

Pressure peaks? Overpressure resistance!

Absolute and relative pressure measurement

Flush membrane pressure sensors