Pressure gauges aren’t always the most exciting topic until there’s a problem with one. Like when a bourdon tube pressure gauge leaks or bursts under high pressure and causes a potential safety issue. Operations and maintenance personnel use pressure gauges to gain insights required to keep their plants up and running. These personnel often perform operator rounds to check on process operations, make adjustments to optimize processes, and then record pressure readings.
Pressure gauge technology was introduced in the 19th century. Although traditional bourdon tube technology has evolved, these devices are still challenged in many applications, especially those with pulsations, pressure spikes, vibration, and corrosive processes. Another challenge with traditional pressure technology is its inability to provide insight to device health or to the occurrence of significant process events.
Pulsations and Vibrations. Pulsations and vibrations increase the wear and tear of the mechanical components, which causes inaccuracies in the displayed pressure reading or inhibits the device from displaying a pressure at all (device failure). Accessories can be used to decrease the impact pulsations and vibrations have on gauges, but ultimately these do not prevent the additional wear and tear on the device.
Pressure Spikes (aka over-pressures). Spikes can damage the bourdon tube in various degrees from inaccuracies in the displayed pressure reading to complete device failure. When extreme over-pressure conditions are present, a traditional pressure gauge could be damaged such that process fluid could leak into the surrounding environment.
Personnel and Plant Safety. When gauges fail in these challenging applications your personnel can be at an increased risk of being exposed to unsafe process conditions and processes are at an increased risk of causing plant shutdowns.
New pressure gauge technologies are changing the way we have traditionally thought about pressure gauges and how we interact with them. These new technologies are reducing mechanical components, using industry-proven pressure sensor technology to improve product longevity and incorporating wireless communications to improve personnel safety – meaning new pressure gauge technology is designed to handle the toughest of pressure gauge applications. Check out Table 1 to see a comparison of how the latest in pressure gauge technology can help you trust the displayed pressure reading and improve overall personnel/plant safety.
Emerson’s Rosemount pressure gauges feature a robust design with industry-proven sensor technology to resist common traditional gauge failures and provide up to 10 years of maintenance-free operation. The industry-proven Rosemount pressure sensor replaces mechanical components for more reliable readings, has two layers of process isolation and a higher overpressure limit. The Wireless Pressure Gauge also features WirelessHART® technology that delivers reliable field data communications as frequently as once per minute to a central location.
Learn more about Emerson Pressure Gauges.
What are your biggest challenges with pressure gauges today?