Realising the flexibility of electronic differential pressure

Electronic DP has lots of advantages for the user, particularly over conventional ‘Remote capillary’ based DP systems; faster, easier installation and excellent accuracy, no oil-filled capillaries, better performance with changing temperature, faster measuring response, lower costs and easier maintenance. It is especially useful in lower range differential applications such as pressurised vessel levels and across low pressure filters. To date all electronic differential pressure (e-DP) systems have been ‘hybrid’ configurations requiring specialist secondary electronics, field or cabinet signal conditioners (3-piece systems) and/or with limited housings and sensor options. There have also been limitations on cable types, separation distance and the issue of ‘thermal shock’ – where rapid temperature change affects one cell –  can still result in large errors.  The latest generation of e-DP systems, which are from a full-range pressure supplier, removes these constrictions.

The VEGABAR 80 series of pressure transmitters offers a solution for all pressure measurements, gauge absolute or differential: simple, reliable and flexible. Another ace up their sleeve: they can convert to  e-DP with no special field electronics, only a slave electronics module in one of the sensors, simply connect them together and you have your e-DP system. The standard electronics in one recognises the connection of a ‘slave’ sensor in the other. This capability minimises cost and complexity, it includes virtually any combination of sensors so you get optimum performance and sensor longevity. Any housing combination can be used; for example, a submersible IP68 housing for the bottom of a pressurised tank in a bund area liable to flooding, with a standard IP66/7 sensor housing on the top. Any diaphragm combination can be selected – a  flush ceramic one in an abrasive slurry before a filter system and a recessed metal diaphragm after it. There are even suspended submersible pressure sensors for ‘open water’ level differential, to monitor across intake screens or weirs for example. If the 25m recommended interconnecting distance needs to be longer, there is the opportunity to use remote housings, which can extend to provide another 100m or so – more than enough for most applications.

Thermal shock is overcome with a world first patented fast thermal reaction system. A temperature sensor is mounted directly on the diaphragm, it immediately measures the smallest change in temperature and compensates for it just as fast – virtually eliminating thermal shock errors. Especially useful on flush-mounted sensors and great for e-DP systems, this is an ideal innovation for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, where high temperature cleaning can be followed by a chilled product. Fast thermal reaction keeps the outputs stable, accurate and most importantly, the production moving smoothly.

VEGABAR 80 uses the plics concept, now over 10 years old, which has resulted in a proven, tried and trusted instrument system. It is designed to offer users easy selection, flexible configurations and simple operating system, to get you up and running fast and it has low life-time costs. With a 5-day build time on the majority of sensors, it also means you get the delivery speed you need. VEGABAR 80 has SIL2/3 and ATEX are standard too, so what’s stopping you change the way you measure pressure?

Web: www.vega.com/uk