CALIBRATION OF BOURDON GAUGE

OBJECTIVES

To study and sketch the construction of a typical Bourdon Gauge and to describe how it
works.

To establish the calibration curve of the Bourdon Gauge

APPARATUS

The TecQuipment Bourdon Gauge and dead weight tester

Set of Test weights

Laboratory Scales

THE BOURDON GAUGE AND DEAD WEIGHT TESTER

The pressure intensity at any point in static or moving fluid can be

m e a s u r e d u s i n g various types of pressure measuring instrument. One of these devices is the
Bourdon tube pressure gage. Bourdon-tube pressure gages are most widely used now-a-days
because of their reliability, compactness, low cost and ease of use. It consists of a
curved tube of e l l i p t i c a l c r o s s - s e c t i o n b e n t i n t o a c i r c u l a r a r c a s s h o w n i n
f i g . 2 . W h e n p r e s s u r e i s applied to the tube, it tends to straighten out, and
the deflection of the end of the tube is communicated through a system of levers to
a recording pointer. This gauge is widely used for steam and compressed gases. The
pressure indicated is the difference between the system pressure and to the external
(ambient) pressure, and is usually referred to as the gauge pressure

Fig. 2: schematic of a bourdon-tube pressure gage

As the Bourdon tube pressure gauge is used extensively, the stiffness of the internal components
change from factory setup and therefore calibration is necessary to give correct pressure
readings.

To calibrate the gauge, weights are added to a platform on a dead weight tester. The weights put
a known force on to a piston. The piston has a known area, so the pressure can be calculated. A
flexible tube containing water transfers the pressure on the piston to the Bourdon tube. Weights
are added in increments, recording pressure readings from the gauge at each increment. The
weights are then removed and gauge readings are recoded. By working out theoretical results
gauge error and be found.

PROCEDURE

The weight of the Piston, and its cross sectional area should be noted.
The piston should be removed, and water is poured into the cylinder until it is full to the
overflow level. Any air trapped in the tube may be cleared by tilting and gently tapping
the apparatus. A small amount of air left in the system will not affect the experiment,
however, a large amount of air would cause the piston to bottom on the base of the

cylinder.
The piston is then re-placed in the cylinder and allowed to settle. A spirit level placed on
the platform at the top of the piston may be used to ensure that that the cylinder is

vertically upright.
Weights are now added in convenient increments, and at each increment, the pressure

gauge reading is observed.

A similar set of results is then taken with decreasing weights.
To guard against the piston sticking in the cylinder, it is advisable to rotate the piston
gently while the pressure gauged is being read.

THE GRAPHS

Error
2
1.5
1
0.5

Error

0
30.66
-0.5

46

61.31

91.97

122.63

153.28

183.94

-1
-1.5
-2
-2.5
-3

True pressure
Increasing
pressure

Decreasing
pressure

Gauge Reading
200
180
160
140
Increasing
Pressure

120

True pressure

100

Decreasing
Pressure

80
60
40
20
0
30.66

46

61.31 91.97 122.63 153.28 183.94

Gauge Reading

CONCLUTIONS

Through the lab we were able to study and sketch the construction of a typical Bourdon Gauge
and describe how it works. And were able to establish the calibration curve of the Bourdon
Gauge. Steps should be taken to minimize the error and continue the experiment to achieve the
final results
REFERANCES

razza, t., 2015. scribd. [Online]

Available at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/17854502/CALIBRATION-OF-A-PRESSUREGAUGE#scribd
Fluid Mechanics, Volume 1, 3rd Edition by J.F. Douglas & R.D. Matthews
Understanding Hydraulics, 2nd Edition by Les Hamil