Setra Blog

A common concern surrounding tank level measurement is selecting the right type of sensor technology. Selecting the proper sensor technology will ultimately be determined by the conditions within the tank. The first thing you need to determine is if your vented tank is above ground or buried in-ground. An above ground tank will typically have a process connection external near the bottom of the tank, providing easy access to the sensor. A tank that sits in-ground will typically have an access hatch, where you can install your tank level sensor. Hydrostatic (gauge), capacitance, resistive and ultrasonic sensors are most commonly used for more critical tank level applications. Although they all measure liquid level, they work in different ways.

Using temperature stand-offs can replace expensive high temperature pressure sensors.

When selecting a pressure transducer for monitoring high temperature liquids or gases, be sure to note the operating temperature range of the transducer. This specification is included under environmental data on most manufacturers’ data sheets. The temperature compensated range specification of a transducer is the error introduced as temperature increases or decreases from 70°F. This thermal error affects both the span and zero setting of the transducers analog output and is generally listed as a percent of full scale per degree (% FS/°F). The static accuracy (accuracy at 70°F) of the pressure transducer plus the thermal error introduced by a high temperature pressure source is the total possible error for a specific high temperature pressure measurement

Apprenticeship Programs: The Solution For More Skilled Workers

A shortage in skilled labor is a serious issue in United States'

manufacturing industry.  Why? There's a misconception of what kind of training someone needs to have in order to enter professions within this industry.  Many begin to build their skills through trade school before becoming a manufacturing professional.  These students don't always get the proper hands-on training that can truly prepare them for the complex world of manufacturing  Yet with these schools, there's still the perception that traditional degrees have more long-term value than vocation training.

Thin Film Technology Strain Gauge

Thin film pressure transducers are made by vapor deposition or sputtering of insulation and strain gauge elements directly on a polished pressure sensing diaphragm or beam. The desired strain gauge pattern is deposited either by masking the non-conductive areas or by etching away unwanted conductive material. Laser trimming is used to calibrate the resistive elements.

Many of the following technical specifications appear on datasheets for pressure transducers and similar devices. Here we review their technical definitions and relationships.

Root Sum Squares (RSS): accuracy of a pressure transducer is calculated by taking the square root of non-linearity + hysteresis + non-repeatability.

Industrial pressure transducers are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from HVAC/R compressors, refrigeration and variable speed pumps to hydraulic pressure, oil and water. A transducer can be used anywhere there's a pipeline or chamber, its function is to sense and convert pressures into a proportional electrical output signal that is transmitted to monitoring or control system.

With different equipment comes different air pressure testing techniques for measurement. But are you sure if your procedures up to date? This article breaks down specifically what methods need to be implemented for different scenarios. These new steps in calculating

Setra's educational webinars and videos on demand provide helpful information on applications, industry best practices and more. These webinars and videos are just a few of Setra's readily available resources for technical info.

Setra's NEW Industrial Catalog

The new 2014 Industrial Product Catalog is a comprehensive guide that contains the technical data sheets for products commonly used in Industrial applications.

• Section 1.1: General Purpose OEM
• Section 2.1: Test & Measurement
• Section 3.1: Sanitary Pressure
• Section 4.1: Accelerometer
• Section 5.1: Barometric Pressure
• Section 6.1: Very Low Differential Pressure
• Section 7.1: Power Monitoring

The sensing and measurement of physical quantities through small changes in electrical capacitance is scarcely a new concept. The natural benefits of this approach were recognized for many years. But it was not until Setra engineers introduced new materials, new designs, and innovative, dedicated circuitry that the techniques full potential was realized in the practical, real world of pressure measurement.