Air Compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches in Europe

Pressure Sensors Explained

Pressure Sensors are pressure-sensitive electrical sensing devices used to control the operation of an air compressor. The main function of the sensor is to start the compressor when the pressure in its holding tank drops below a set low point and to stop it when the pressure reaches a pre-set maximum.

This allows the compressor to maintain a constant working charge in the system, an essential criteria for industries that are heavily reliant on compressed air. The compressor pressure sensor is typically mounted on the compressor assembly or in another easily accessible location, with the compressor control circuit wired through its internal contacts.

Typically, a pressure sensor is used to measure the pressure of fluids whether it is gases or liquids. Pressure describes the force required to stop a fluid from expanding. It is usually mentioned in terms of force per unit area. A pressure sensor generates an electrical signal relating to the pressure exerted. That signal is can be in a digital or analogue form or even visual.

Industrial pressure sensors, also referred to as pressure transducers, pressure transmitters, pressure indicators and pressure switches, normally have a diaphragm type design that uses strain gauges, which are either bonded to, or diffused into it, with the strain gauges acting as resistive elements. Under the pressure-induced strain, the resistive values change. In capacitive technology, the pressure diaphragm is a single plate of a capacitor that changes its value under pressure-induced displacement.

Pressure sensing using diaphragm technology measures the difference in pressure of the two sides of the diaphragm. Depending on the relevant pressure, the terms 'Absolute' is used when the reference is vacuum; 'Gauge' is used where the reference is atmospheric pressure; and 'Differential' is used where the sensor has two ports for the measurement of two different pressures.

Pressure sensors are used in a wide variety of applications for control and monitoring purposes. Pressure sensors can also be used to indirectly measure other variables such as fluid flow, speed, water level and altitude.

Pressure sensors vary considerably in their design, technology used, performance, application and cost. World-wide, there are hundreds of different technologies used in pressure sensor designs and thousands of different suppliers of pressure sensors.

Certain types of pressure sensor are designed to measure dynamically and are able to capture very high speed changes in pressure. Example applications here are in the measurement of combustion pressures in engine cylinders or gas turbines. These sensors are normally manufactured using piezoelectric materials such as quartz.

Some pressure sensors operate using a binary method. In this design, when pressure is applied to a pressure sensor, the sensor completes or breaks an electrical circuit. These types of sensors are also referred to as pressure switches.

Pressure sensors can be classified in terms of the pressure range they are measuring, operating temperature range, or the type of pressure they are measuring. In terms of pressure types, pressure sensors can be divided into several main categories:

Absolute Pressure Sensors

An absolute pressure sensor measures the pressure relative to perfect vacuum pressure (0 PSI or no pressure). Atmospheric pressure is 101.325 kPa (14.7 PSI) at sea level with reference to vacuum.

Gauge Pressure Sensors

A gauge pressure sensor is used in different applications because it can be calibrated to measure the pressure relative to a given atmospheric pressure at a given location. A tyre pressure gauge is an example of gauge pressure indication.

Vacuum Pressure Sensors

A vacuum pressure sensor is used to measure pressure less than the atmospheric pressure at a given location.

Differential Pressure Sensors

A differential pressure sensor or transmitter measures the difference between two or more pressures introduced as inputs to the sensing unit. For example, measuring the pressure drop across an oil filter. Differential pressure is also used to measure flow or level in pressurised vessels.

Sealed Pressure Sensors

A sealed pressure sensor is similar to the gauge pressure sensor, except that it has already been calibrated by the manufacturer to measure pressure relative to sea level pressure.

Technologies Used in Pressure Sensors

Strain Gauge Pressure Sensors

Strain gauge or foil gauge technology makes use of the changes in resistance that some materials experience due to change in its stretch or strain. Here, the technology uses the change of conductivity of material when it experiences different pressures and calculates that difference, then maps it to the change of pressure.

A strain gauge is a long length of conductor arranged in a zigzag pattern on a membrane. When it is stretched, its resistance increases. Strain gauges are mounted in the same direction as the strain and often in fours to form a full 'Wheatstone Bridge'. A pressure sensor can contain several similar strain gauge elements.

Fibre Optic Pressure Sensors

This technology uses the properties of fibre optics to affect the light propagating in a fibre, such that it can be used to form sensors. Pressure sensors can be made by using miniature fibre optic interferometers to sense nanometer-scale displacement of membranes. Pressure can also be made to induce loss into a fibre to form intensity-based sensors.

Mechanical Deflection

This technology uses the mechanical properties of a liquid to measure its pressure. For example, the effect of pressure on a spring system and the changes of compression of a spring can be used to measure pressure.

Semiconductor Piezoresistive

To measure pressure, this technology uses the change in conductivity of semiconductors due to the change in pressure.

Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)

Here, the technology combines microelectronics with miniature mechanical systems such as valves and gears, all on a single semiconductor chip using nanotechnology to measure pressure.

Vibrating Elements (e.g. silicon resonance)

To calculate the pressure, vibrating elements are used to gauge the change in vibration on a molecular level of the different material elements due to changes in pressure.

Variable Capacitance

This technology uses the change of capacitance due to change of the distance between the plates of a capacitor because of change in pressure to calculate the pressure.

Pressure Sensor Applications

Pressure Sensing

Pressure sensors are used in a wide variety of applications. When used directly to measure pressure, applications include weather instrumentation, aerospace and defence, research and development, automotive and many other machinery or equipment that has pressure functionality implemented.

Potential uses of pressure sensors are hydraulic systems, water depth, pneumatics, marine, sewage, gas, medical, food and beverage processing, tank level/contents, HVAC systems, agricultural equipment, aerospace and chemicals.

Other special versions of pressure sensors are common, including high temperature pressure sensors, three-in-one pressure sensors, ATEX-certified pressure transducers, hygienic pressure sensors and field-adjustable pressure sensors. Ceramic pressure sensor capsules, low cost foil strain gauge type pressure sensors, depth/level transmitters, differential pressure transmitter (wet/wet type and dry air/gas type) are other popular variations.

Flow Sensing

Here, pressure sensors utilise the Venturi Effect in order to measure the flow. Differential pressure is measured between two segments of a Venturi tube that have a different aperture. The pressure difference between the two segments is directly proportional to the flow rate through the Venturi tube. A low pressure sensor is almost always required as the pressure difference is relatively small.

Altitude Sensing

This is useful in commercial and military aircraft, rockets, satellites and weather instrumentation. These types of application all make use of the relationship between changes in pressure relative to the altitude.

For more information on Air Compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches , please Contact Us OR Request A Quote today.

We Sell Air Compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches in Europe

• Pressure Sensors and Switches replacement for Broomwade air compressor in France

• compressed Atlas Copco Pressure Sensors and Switches replacement in Germany

• Hitachi compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches for sale in Italy

• replacement Ingersoll Rand air compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches in Netherlands

• compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches replacement for Compair in Poland

• Elmo Rietschle compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches for sale in Romania

• Pressure Sensors and Switches for Elmo Rietschle air compressors in Spain

• Compair air compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches for sale in Turkey

• Hanshin Pressure Sensors and Switches replacement in Ukraine

• air compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches in United Kingdom UK for Broomwade

Beside Air Compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches we also carry:

• Drive Belts in Spain

• Compressed Inline Filter Elements replacement in Netherlands

• Air compressor replacement Vacuum Pumps in Ukraine

• New air compressor Thermostatic Valves in United Kingdom UK

• Separators replacement for ingersoll rand air compressors in Germany

• Atlas copco air compressor Separators in France

• Thermostatic Valves replacement parts in Italy

• Compressed Vacuum Pumps in Poland

• Compressed air Inline Filter Elements spare parts in Romania

• Air compressor Drive Belts replacement in Turkey

NPS is a Worldwide Distributor & Supplier of Air Compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches

We Export and Ship Air Compressor Pressure Sensors and Switches in Europe

• shop for Broomwade spare parts in Spain
• air compressor replacement parts for Atlas Copco air compressors in Netherlands
• Compair compressor parts in Ukraine
• spare parts for Ingersoll Rand air compressors in United Kingdom UK
• new Elmo Rietschle air compressor parts in Germany
• buy Elmo Rietschle parts in France
• compressed air parts for Ingersoll Rand in Italy
• Compair air compressor parts in Poland
• Atlas Copco compressed air parts around Romania
• replacement air compressor parts for Broomwade in Turkey