What Is The Most Common Type Of Pressure Gauge

The Bourdon tube pressure gauge is undoubtedly the most widely used “evergreen tree”. It can be said that the reason why the Bourdon tube pressure gauge can occupy a dominant position is the minimalist mechanical structure, the stable measurement reliability, and the competitive cost. Its core component is a “C” type, spiral type or coil tubular metal tube. When the medium pressure enters the tube, the metal tube will produce a small deformation, and through a set of precision gear mechanism, the displacement is directly converted into the pointer reading on the dial. From petrochemical pipeline monitoring, hydraulic system pressure detection, to the maintenance of factory pneumatic equipment, Bourdon tube pressure gauge with its wide range adaptability and durability, is always the first choice of engineers.

Why Is It So Reliable

The reason why the Bourdon tube has become the industry standard is essentially due to its elegant physical characteristics. Unlike digital sensors, which rely on complex circuits, Bourdon tubes rely entirely on the elastic deformation of the metal itself. When the pressure inside the tube increases, the original “C”-shaped cross-section will try to tend to circular, thus driving the tube to stretch outward. This physical response is very predictable and repeatable, which is the cornerstone of its measurement reliability. For maintenance personnel, this means that we do not need to deal with the zero drift of electronic components all day long, and can focus more on the actual operation of the equipment, which is very critical in the field.

In The Industrial Scene

This pressure gauge is really “leather”, can work steadily in a variety of environments:

• Petrochemical: In order to resist corrosive chemicals, the instrument is usually made of stainless steel, and sometimes a diaphragm seal is installed to separate the measuring instrument from the corrosive medium.
• Hydraulic system: There are often instantaneous high-pressure shocks in the hydraulic circuit. The sturdy structure of the Bourdon tube pressure gauge can easily resist such fluctuations, unlike precision electronic sensors that require frequent calibration.
• Pneumatic system: In ordinary factory automation lines, due to the low cost of such pressure gauges, large quantities of pressure gauges installed on the pipeline not only save money, but also allow operators to see the pressure state at a glance.

Economic Accounts From Procurement To Maintenance

Don’t just stare at the technical parameters, in fact, the “cost of ownership” is the boss’s concern. This mechanical structure is not only easy to build, installation and replacement is also extremely simple. Time is money in the factory. When a production line goes wrong, a standard Bourdon tube pressure gauge can be replaced within one minute without complicated software configuration or power adaptation. This degree of worry is the direct reason why maintenance managers choose it.

Selection Kit For Instrument Engineers

Although the Bourdon tube pressure gauge is the “donkey” of the industry, whether it is used well or not depends entirely on whether you choose it right.

• Environmental suitability: Don’t forget to check the case material, it must be able to withstand the external corrosion of the instrument installation environment.
• Media compatibility: If measuring high viscosity or corrosive media, please be sure to choose stainless steel Bourdon tube, or simply add a chemical seal.
• Pressure range: Don’t let the dial run at full load all the time. It is usually recommended that your normal working pressure is between 1/3 and 2/3 of the measuring range, which can not only ensure the accuracy, but also prevent the fatigue damage of the metal pipe.

Author: Mark Evans
I have spent my career maintaining critical plant systems and optimizing process control, my specializes in simplifying complex industrial equipment challenges for fellow engineers and maintenance teams.