INTRODUCTION AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DIAPHRAGM SEAL TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCTION Modern chemical processing and process manufacturing procedures demand ever greater accuracy and reliability from their pressure, level and flow measuring instruments. This is important to minimise costs, and to keep production downtime and shut downs to an absolute minimum. In various situations it is necessary to isolate and therewith protect the pressure measuring instrument from the process medium in order to maintain the required accuracy and reliability objectives. This isolation or separation of the instrument and the process is typically done by means of Diaphragm Seals, to protect the vulnerable measuring instrument. This protection enhances the lifetime of the measuring instrument significantly. Before the start of any project related to the pressure, level and flow applications one should understand the possibilities of Diaphragm Seals. Badotherm’s expertise and experience are there to ensure that the right solutions are offered to meet the needs from the start and prevent any problems at a later stage. When Diaphragm Seals are needed the material characteristics, operating conditions for the instruments, and choice of mounting should be taken into account. The process pressure exerts a force on the outside face of the seal, the flexible diaphragm. As the diaphragm flexes under this force it pushes inwards and attempts to compress the transmission or fill fluid behind the diaphragm. The transmission fluid is designed to withstand compression so the force is channelled proportionally and directly in to the measuring instrument to produce a resultant reading on the connected instrument. OPERATING PRINCIPLE WHEN TO USE DIAPHRAGM SEALS A Diaphragm Seal System consists of a measuring instrument, typically a pressure transmitter or pressure gauge, with one or two Diaphragm Seals and either a direct mount construction or with capillary lines, filled with a fill fluid. A correctly prepared and filled Diaphragm Seal System will accurately transfer process pressure on the diaphragm to the sensing element of the measuring instrument. This is based on Pascal’s principle which states that a pressure exerted on a fluid is transmitted undiminished through that fluid in every direction. The figures presents a schematic overview of this operating principle: Diaphragm Seals are typically used to protect the measuring instrument. There are many different situations in which a Diaphragm Seal should be typically considered: Corrosive medium: When the process medium is corrosive it would chemically attack the wetted parts of a standard pressure measuring instrument. Viscous medium: When the process medium is highly viscous or contains solid particles, either of which could result in the instrument’s pressure inlet getting blocked. Solidification: When the process medium is prone to solidification, crystallization and/or polymerization over time. The medium may freeze when the temperature drops, it may set as it dries, or it may be subject to polymerisation. In these situations the pressure inlet can get blocked.

High/low temperatures: When the process medium temperature is very high or very low and exceeds the temperature limits of the pressure measuring instrument resulting in damaged measurement instruments. Sanitary requirements: When the process is easily affected by the formation of bacteria on or in the process connection. The presence of bacteria in the process medium can lead to rejection of production batches. These applications where hygiene is of paramount importance are often found in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage industry. Specific process connections: When the location of the pressure...

INTRODUCTION AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DIAPHRAGM SEAL TECHNOLOGY BASECAL BaseCal is Badotherm’s web-based Diaphragm Seal performance calculation software. BaseCal simplifies the proper selection of Diaphragm Seal transmitter combinations. Regardless the application (flow, pressure, level, etc), users can select the Diaphragm Seal System for the needs of the application. The software requests you to fill out the application parameters and will then calculate the correct calibration range. BaseCal considers the following application variables: Mounting style Differential, absolute or gauge application...

INTRODUCTION PRESSURE Diaphragm Seals on instruments are used to measure pressure. Pressure can be described as a force applied on a surface. There are different ways of expressing pressures. It can be expressed in kilogramforce per square centimetre (kgf/cm²), whereby kgf stands for a force and cm² for the surface the pressure is applied on. Same is valid for the commonly used Pounds per Square Inch (PSI). Pressure can also be expressed in various other units and most common are: bar, mbar, kPa and MPa, mmHG = Torr (vacuum measurement), mmH20, inchH2O. The pressure that is present on a daily...

either one of the above mentioned nominations of pressure. The static pressure is especially important in case of differential pressure measurement. E.g. pressure at high pressure (HP) side is 100,1 barg; pressure at low pressure (LP) side is 100 barg, then the differential pressure (dP) is 0,1 bar, and the value of the static pressure is 100 bar. HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE: is the pressure exerted by a fluid column due to the force of gravity With hydrostatic pressure measurement it is possible to measure level in vessels, tanks, reactors etc. This is one of the most common applications for Diaphragm...

I - GENERAL INFORMATION INTRODUCTION AND BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DIAPHRAGM SEAL TECHNOLOGY MINIMUM PRESSURE RANGE OR SPAN Notes: Testing variables: ■ Maximum pressure ranges are only related to the diaphragm ■ AISI 316(L) diaphragm material. sizes. The pressure range of the transmitter or pressure gauge, flange rating and the capillary diameter should be ■ Reference temperature 20°C. adjusted accordingly. ■ Capillary inside diameter 1mm. ■ Pressure gauge dimensions refer to the internal size.