There are several measuring tools available in the market and every tool has its own purpose. When you understand what the tool does and how it functions, you’re better able to utilize it. An oil filled manometer is a very useful measuring instrument. It is also referred to as a U-Tube manometer and is one of the earliest known measuring instruments available today. Here’s an in-depth look at what it is and what is its purpose:

What is An Oil Filled Manometer?

A manometer is a measuring instrument that is designed to gauge the difference between air or liquid pressure. It compares the measured pressure with an outside source to provide the most accurate reading.

What Are the Components Of a Manometer?

There are different kinds of manometers available in the market, but the most popular and commonly used one is the U-tube instrument. It contains a compound that is stable under pressure and responds to changes effectively. One end of the U-tube is pumped with gas that you want to measure and sealed while the other section of the tube is left open with natural air and pressure inside it. The stable compound is present at the bottom of both sections of the tube to provide accurate measurements.

How To Read A Oil Filled Manometer?

The manometer measures the pressure differential. When there’s no difference in pressure or when both sections of the tube are open, the columns will be at equal height. If one section of the tube is sealed and has some matter in it and the other is open, you might see a difference in height of the columns. The difference indicates that there's a difference in pressure of the two components measured.

Indicating Fluid

Every manometer has an indicating fluid that is balanced between two forces. This fluid is stable under pressure and it can be anything from water or oil to mercury. The accuracy and range of the manometer depend largely on the weight of the indicating fluid. A heavier indicating fluid has a bigger range while a lighter fluid has a smaller range. If you intend to check large pressure differences, you will need a mercury manometer. Smaller differences can be measured by water or oil manometer.

How Accurate Is a Manometer?

This instrument doesn't require any calibration or adjustment to provide accurate results. It relies on the nature of the compounds within the tubes and their response to pressure from the outside atmosphere. An oil filled manometer is fairly accurate, but there are other parameters that affect the results. The outside atmosphere can change based on temperature and elevation. You need to make note of these changes before you use the instrument because the readings may vary and be slightly accurate if you don’t account for the atmospheric pressure.

GPI provides accurate, well-designed, and durable Oil filled manometers for sour gas measurements. These instruments are made from stainless steel and the case is made from bayonet bezel. The construction makes the product suitable for corrosive industrial environments. Any gaseous or liquid compound won’t disrupt the pressure system so you will get accurate readings.