Pressure sensors are devices that are meant for measuring the pressure. The measuring applies to any liquid or gas. When the level of substance has reached a certain limit and has even passed over it, the device translates the force generated into an electric signal. This signal is interpreted by a computer and in this way the measurement is made.

The force parameter is not the only one measured; there are also secondary measurements like the substance amount or the flow of the liquid/gas. These devices can measure a lot of things. The reading can be either static or dynamic.

The requirement for these devices dates from steam age. Many of the equipments that were invented then are still used in our time. There are three types of these devices: piezoelectric, variable capacitance and strain gage.

The pressure sensor can be found in different shapes and designs; they can be classified after performance or price, after the range of measurement and the temperature range of use. There are some dynamic sensors that can measure rapid changes in speed or pressure, these ones have a high performance and are made of quartz.

Strain gage devices are constructed from 2 parts: the diaphragm and the strain gauge. When the force created by the fluid increases, the diaphragm detects the modification and it sends a signal to the strain gauge. Now the strain gauge will resist the force. Then the resistance force generated will be measured by a Data Acquisition System or DAQ.

When it comes to the devices that use variable capacitance, these are made of two metal plates. Actually it is one metal plate and a metal diaphragm. When the force changes, the distance between the plates changes as well and this indicates the difference in pressure. Like the accelerometer, these devices are more stable than others but they do not function well in high temperature conditions. Also they are harder to assemble then the other types.

The piezoelectric devices are built from quartz crystals and they use the natural electric characteristics of these materials. When they are under physical stress, these crystals generate an electric shock. They require amplification of the signal. They are less resistant to physical shocks and high vibrations than the other devices.

The signal which is transmitted by the device is weak in the majority of cases. The measure unit is mV= 0,001 Volts. The voltage outputted depends on the force intensity. A voltage equal to zero means a pressure level that is zero (zero Bars). The signal does not exist in this case. But when the value is 5V the corresponding value will be 5 Bars.

The popularity of pressure sensors is very high in these times. Their use has extended in various domains like, for instance in the food industry. No matter of what type they are, their main use is for measuring the forces created by various fluids and their speed, their level in containers etc.

Choose from a wide selection of state-of-the-art scientific technologies including the linear position sensor, calibration systems, load cells, mass flow sensor, and accelerometer. These specialized tools are very popular among the research and development industries.