Strain Gauge Pressure Sensor Principle :
When a closed container is subjected to the appilied pressure, it is strained (that is, its dimension changes). Measurement of this strain with a secondary transducer like a strain gauge ( metallic conductor) becomes a measure of the appilied pressure.
That is, if strain gauges are attached to the container subjected to the applied pressure, the strain guages also will change in dimension depending on the expansion or contraction of the container. The change in dimension of the strain guage will make its resistance to change. This change in resistance of the strain gauge becomes a measure of pressure appilied to the container (elastic container or cell).
There are two types of strain gauge pressure cells namely:
- flattened tube pressure Sensor
- Cylindrical type pressure Sensor
Flattened tube Pressure Sensor
The main parts of the arrangement are as follows:
- An elastic tube which is flat and pinched at its two end as shown in diagram.
- Two strain gauges are placed on this elastic tube: one is on the top and other is at the bottom of this elastic tube.
- One end of the elastic tube is open to receive the applied pressure and its other end is closed.
Operation
The pressure to be measured is applied to the open of the tube. Due to pressure, the tube tends to round off, that is, the dimension changes (strained). As the strain gauge are mounted on the tube, the dimension of the strain gauges also change proportional to the change in dimension of the tube, causing a resistance change of the strain gauges. The change in dimension of the tube is proportional to the applied pressure. Hence the measurement of the resistance change of the strain gauges becomes a measure of the applied pressure when calibrated.
Cylindrical Type Pressure Sensor
The main parts of this arrangement are as follows:
- A cylindrical tube with hexagonal step at its center. This hexagonal step helps fixing this device on to place where the pressure is to be measured.
- The bottom portion of this cylindrical tube is threaded at its external and is open to receive the pressure to be measured.
- The top portion of this cylindrical tube is closed and has a cap screwed to it.
- On the periphery of the top portion of the cylindrical tube are placed two sensing resistance strain gauges.
- On the cap (unstrained location) are placed two temperature compensating strain gauges.
Hence the measurement of the resistance change of the sensing strain gauges becomes a measure of the appilied pressure when calibrated.
Applications of Strain Gauge Pressure Sensors
- The flattened tube pressure cell is used for low pressure measurement.
- The cylindrical type pressure cell is used for medium and high pressure measurement.
