Pressure Sensors

What are pressure sensors? Pressure sensors are devices that sense the applied pressure of gases or liquids. The output of the measurement is then converted into an electrical signal, which reflects the amount of pressure applied. You can find out more about useful pressure sensors below.

There are various sensor technologies used within pressure sensor devices. Depending on the measurement requirements, this can influence their sensing accuracy and reliability. The mechanical displacement within the sensor is turned into an electrical output signal, which is achieved using five different methods.

• Resistive Sensors: These types of sensors use the change in electrical resistance of a strain gauge connected to the diaphragm.
• Capacitive Sensors: These are highly sensitive and are able to measure low pressure under 10 bar while still withstanding large overloads.
• Piezoelectric Sensors: These sensors use substances like Quartz to generate a charge on the surface when pressure is applied. Piezoelectric pressure sensors are ideal for measuring fast-changing pressures.
• Optical Sensors: These use interferometry to measure pressure changes in optical fibre. They are not disturbed by EMI and can be used in noisy or medical environments.
• MEMS: MEMS stands for micro-electro-mechanical system and contains capacitive or piezo pressure sensing mechanisms on silicon at micron-level resolution.

Types of pressure sensors

There are various properties which can be used to classify the type of sensor and its appropriate application. These include what pressure range they measure, their operating temperature range, and the pressure type they measure.

• Absolute Pressure Sensor: This type of sensor measures pressure relative to the perfect vacuum (zero reference point).
• Gauge Pressure Sensors: These are often used to measure atmospheric pressure and are sometimes referred to as relative pressure sensors.
• Sealed Gauge Pressure Sensors: Similar to gauge pressure sensors, except they measure pressure relative to a fixed pressure, not the current ambient atmospheric pressure, which can vary.
• Differential Pressure Sensors: These can be used to measure the difference between two different pressures (differential pressure), and can be connected to either side of the sensor. They are often used to measure pressure drops, fluid levels, and flow rates.

Pressure sensor applications

Pressure sensors are used in a wide variety of applications across many industries. These include medical, aviation, automotive and marine:

• Automotive: In the automotive industry, pressure sensors help ensure passenger safety by monitoring brake pressure and alerting drivers if it falls below effective levels to prevent potential accidents.
• Medical: In medical settings, they are pivotal in treating conditions like skin grafts and carbon monoxide poisoning where increasing air pressure around a patient is involved.
• Buildings: Building automation also benefits from pressure sensors, particularly in controlling HVAC systems where they monitor coolant pressures for hazardous leaks to ensure the safety of building occupants.
• Consumer Applications: Consumer devices like vacuum cleaners adopt pressure sensors to detect and adapt to different floor types and indicate when filters need changing.
• Industrial: Devices like submersible pressure sensors monitor liquid levels in tanks to maintain safe operational conditions.

To meet these needs, RS Malaysia offers a comprehensive range of pressure sensors at competitive prices. From pressure detectors to a selection of complementary devices like pressure transducers, pressure transmitters, and EMI line filters, you can buy an assortment of products for diverse applications and industries. Many of these are brought to you by industry-leading suppliers and brands, including our very own RS PRO, ensuring you have the precise solution to enhance the efficiency and safety of your projects.

Advantages of pressure sensor

Known for their high accuracy and sensitivity, pressure sensors benefit users by providing highly precise pressure measurements critical in demanding industrial scenarios. But beyond just measurement purposes, they also support advanced maintenance techniques like predictive maintenance. By gathering real-time data on equipment conditions, these sensors can anticipate potential failures and alert maintenance teams about impending issues or deviations to support swift corrective action.