TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

AYALA BLVD., ERMITA, MANILA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

ME 5L
EXPERIMENT NO. 2
DEAD WEIGHT PRESSURE TESTER

SUBMITTED BY:
DATANGEL, HENRY JOSHUA C.
BSME-4B

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. MANUEL L. EUROPEO
Instructor

DATE PERFORMED: AUGUST 2, 2018

DATE SUBMITTED: AUGUST 9, 2018
 I. Objectives
a) To discuss the function of dead weight pressure tester
b) To classify the different parts of the dead weight pressure tester
c) To calibrate pressure gauges using dead weight pressure tester
d) To plot the effect of varying weights to the pressure reading

II. Intended Learning Outcome (ILO)

a) To be able to use the dead weight pressure tester
b) To gain knowledge and understanding about the relationship of varying weights to the
pressure reading.
c) To learn the concept of how the dead weight pressure tester works

III. Materials
 Dead Weight Pressure Tester

 Calibration Weights
  Clean Water

IV. Discussion

Dead Weight Pressure Tester

 A dead weight tester apparatus uses known traceable weights to apply pressure to a fluid
for checking the accuracy of readings from a pressure gauge. A dead weight tester (DWT) is
a calibration standard method that uses a piston cylinder on which a load is placed to make
an equilibrium with an applied pressure underneath the piston. Deadweight testers are so
called primary standards which means that the pressure measured by a deadweight tester
is defined through other quantities: length, mass and time. Typically deadweight testers
are used in calibration laboratories to calibrate pressure transfer standards like electronic
pressure measuring devices.

 A dead-weight tester is a device used for balancing a fluid pressure with a known weight.
typically, it is used for static calibration of pressure gages.

 Deadweight pressure testers derive pressure by the combination of a mass, usually

weights, which are floated on a piston and cylinder combination with a defined area.
Parts of Dead Weight Pressure Tester

Calibrated Characterization of Deadweight Testers

 The calibrated characterization of deadweight testers involves the transfer of effective areas
of one piston and cylinder to another utilizing pressure based cross-float techniques. To use
this technique, identical piston and cylinders are placed in identical mountings with the
output pressures connected. Means, such as a differential pressure meter are included to
identify the time when a pressure balance between the two pressure generating
components has been achieved at the reference levels of both the test and reference units.
During the test the weights are exchanged on the columns and the piston and cylinders are
exchanged in the mountings to reduce the uncertainty of measurement. This technique is
used primarily by industry and calibration laboratories.
How does a deadweight tester work?

 A deadweight tester generates pressure by exerting a force (F) over an area (A), which is also
the definition of pressure (P)
 P = F/A
 In a deadweight tester, the force is supplied by a mass in a gravitational field on top of a
piston with a specific cross sectional area. The fluid (pneumatic or hydraulic) under the
piston is pressurized so the piston and mass “float” in equilibrium. The pressure in the fluid is
equal to the force exerted by the mass over cross sectional area of the piston.

 This is a very simple and straightforward conceptual explanation, however in practice, the
force and the cross sectional area of the piston are affected by environmental conditions.

 The force is affected by local gravity and buoyancy created by the surrounding atmosphere.
The area of the piston is affected by the temperature of and the pressure surrounding the
piston.

 An equation that takes all of these influences into account is used to calculate the actual
pressure generated by the deadweight tester.
 Applications
 It is used to calibrate all kinds of pressure gauges such as industrial pressure gauges, engine
indicators and piezoelectric transducers.

Advantages
 It is simple in construction and easy to use.
 It can be used to calibrate a wide range of pressure measuring devices.
 Fluid pressure can be easily varied by adding weights or by changing the piston-cylinder
combination.

Limitations
 The accuracy of the dead weight tester is affected due to the friction between the piston and
cylinder, and due to the uncertainty of the value of gravitational constant 'g'.

V. Procedure
1. Adjust the level of the equipment by setting the bull’s eye on the base plate.
2. Remove the piston and fill the cylinder and reservoir with a clean water to half full.
3. Make sure that the pressure gauge reading is zero.
4. Record the weight of the piston and place it to the cylinder.
5. Open the ball valve to allow the bubble moving into the reservoir and the close it.
6. Take the gauge reading due to piston weight.
7. Add some additional weights on the piston make sure to record the total weight
considering the piston.
8. Record all the gauge reading in line with its corresponding weights
Documentation
VI. Results

WEIGHT/ AREA OF THE THEORETICAL EXPERIMETAL

FORCE (kgf) PISTON (cm2) PRESSURE (F/A) PRESSURE

1 0.456 2.4495 0.186 kg/cm2 0.19 kg/cm2

2 1.124 2.4495 0.459 kg/cm2 0.43 kg/cm2

3 2.587 2.4495 1.056 kg/cm2 1.02 kg/cm2

4 2.956 2.4495 1.207 kg/cm2 1.19 kg/cm2

5 1.956 2.4495 0.799 kg/cm2 0.8 kg/cm2

6 2.478 2.4495 1.012 kg/cm2 1.0 kg/cm2

7 2.616 2.4495 1.068 kg/cm2 1.07 kg/cm2

8 0.782 2.4495 0.319 kg/cm2 0.32 kg/cm2

9 2.383 2.4495 0.973 kg/cm2 0.96 kg/cm2

10 0.602 2.4495 0.246 kg/cm2 0.24 kg/cm2

VII. Observations
In conducting our experiment, I observe that when the weight carried by the piston is getting
larger more water spill out of the reservoir, also minimal addition of weight does not give
much difference in the pressure gauge reading.

VIII. Analysis
In general, the result of a measurement, such as pressure, is only an approximation or
estimate of the specific quantity subject to measurement, and the result is complete only
when accompanied by a quantitative statement of its uncertainty. To state this in a different
way, a measurement, such as accuracy, is only as good as the technique and equipment used
to take the measure, and the accuracy of the standard against which the accuracy was
measured. The overall uncertainty must take into account all testing between the national
standard (NIST) and the instrument to which the uncertainty is assigned.

IX. Conclusions
It can be concluded that pressure measurement using dead weight pressure tester is a very
widely used technique and gives us somehow accurate results. Although that the reading has
it limits it’s still satisfy the information that it the experiment wants us to learn. Based on the
data above, it conclude that the heavy the weights are the higher the pressure gauge reading
which satisfy the equation given in the discussion considering that the area of the piston is
constant

X. Recommendation
 For better experiment, make sure that the weights are calibrated accurately
 You can rotates the piston before reading the pressure gauge to minimize the friction of
water
 Make sure that the bull’s eye is well set at its level
XI. References

o https://www.slideshare.net/areesalah/deadweight-piston-gauge

o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVwuu16GRyQ

o http://humil.net/engineering/hb011-dead-weight-pressure-tester

o https://www.ametekcalibration.com/-
/media/ametekcalibration/download_links/pressure/deadweight%20testers/deadweight-
tester-precision-pressure-measurement-guide-us.pdf

o https://www.academia.edu/24692240/LAB_REPORT_EXPERIMENT_1_PRESSURE_MEASURE
MENT_PNGE_211_AN_INTRODUCTION_TO_FLUID_MECHANICS?auto=download