How does a pressure sensor work?
Want to know how does a pressure sensor work and what it’s used for?
To put it simply, a pressure sensor measures the applied pressure on gases or liquids by converting pressure into an analogue electrical signal.
Sounds easy?
It really isn’t!
Especially if you consider that the slightest difference of 1 mbar can save a life, you will understand how important pressure sensors are in our lives today and why we need them to be as accurate and reliable as possible!
How does a pressure transducer work?
Pressure sensors, also known as pressure transducers, have a sensing element which responds to the force that is applied to it by fluid pressure.
More specifically, the applied force will deflect the diaphragm inside the pressure sensor, which will then be measured and converted into an electrical output. This way, pressure can be measured and monitored at all times, no matter how small the difference.
How is pressure measured?
Pressure is the continuous (physical) force applied on or against an object by something in contact with the object. It is also defined as “the force per unit area” and can be calculated by the following formula:
P = F/A
More specifically, Pressure (P) is calculated as force (F) divided by area (A).
There are 4 main types of pressure sensors, depending on the type of pressure they measure:
· Absolute
· Sealed Gauge
· Gauge
· Differential
What are pressure sensors used for?
Pressure sensors are used in a plethora of industries, and are particularly useful in the medical, industrial and even aerospace fields today.
Medical pressure sensors
Pressure sensors used in the medical field save lives on a daily basis.
Medical pressure sensors require high levels of accuracy and low total error band, as they are placed inside nebulizers and anesthesia machines to control drug flow. Moreover, medical pressure sensors can monitor a patient by measuring their blood pressure etc.
Industrial pressure sensors
Industrial pressure sensors are extremely important today, especially as factories need to maximize performance and reduce their negative impact on the environment. Pressure sensors in the industrial field are used extensively to monitor fluids that need to be filtered and calibrated with accuracy.
Aerospace pressure sensors
Considering that a pressure sensor can measure any difference in pressure from 1 mbar to 1000 bar, we can understand that pressure sensors can play a crucial role when it comes to the aerospace industry!
Summing up, pressure sensors are extremely useful in our lives today. Considering demand has been growing ever since the steam age, one can easily understand that it is only going to grow even more in the next years.
Now that you know how pressure sensors work, you will be able to recognize their applications in everyday life — they are everywhere around us!
