Hydrostatic Pressure Measurements Research Articles

Design and Development of a Pressure Transducer for High Hydrostatic Pressure Measurements up to 200 MPa

A number of pressure transducers, based on strain gauge, capacitance/inductance type, frequency resonators, are commercially available and are being used for sensing and producing an electrical output proportional to applied pressure. These sensors have their own advantages and limitations due to operational ease, measurement uncertainty and the costs. Strain gauge type transducers are now well established devices for accurate and precise measurement of pressure within measurement uncertainty up to 0.1 % of full scale. In the present research work, an indigenous strain gauge pressure transducer has been designed, developed, tested and calibrated for pressure measurement up to 200 MPa. The measurement uncertainty estimated using the pressure transducer was found better than 0.1 % of full scale. This transducer was developed using four foil type strain gauges, bonded, two in axial direction while other two in radial direction, to the controlled stress zones of a tubular maraging steel active cylinder working also as diaphragm. The strain gages were then connected to a Wheatstone bridge arrangement to measure stress generated strains. The pressure was applied through matching connector designed in the same tubular transducer active element. The threaded unique design in a single piece through collar, ferule and tubing arrangement provides leak proof pressure connections with external devices without using additional seals. The calibration and performance checking of the pressure transducer was carried out using dead weight type national pressure standard using the internationally accepted calibration procedure.

Scanning Acoustic Microscopy—A Novel Noninvasive Method to Determine Tumor Interstitial Fluid Pressure in a Xenograft Tumor Model

Elevated tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP) is a prominent feature of solid tumors and hampers the transmigration of therapeutic macromolecules, for example, large monoclonal antibodies, from tumor-supplying vessels into the tumor interstitium. TIFP values of up to 40 mm Hg have been measured in experimental solid tumors using two conventional invasive techniques: the wick-in-needle and the micropuncture technique. We propose a novel noninvasive method of determining TIFP via ultrasonic investigation with scanning acoustic microscopy at 30-MHz frequency. In our experimental setup, we observed for the impedance fluctuations in the outer tumor hull of A431-vulva carcinoma–derived tumor xenograft mice. The gain dependence of signal strength was quantified, and the relaxation of tissue was calibrated with simultaneous hydrostatic pressure measurements. Signal patterns from the acoustical images were translated into TIFP curves, and a putative saturation effect was found for tumor pressures larger than 3 mm Hg. This is the first noninvasive approach to determine TIFP values in tumors. This technique can provide a potentially promising noninvasive assessment of TIFP and, therefore, can be used to determine the TIFP before treatment approach as well to measure therapeutic efficacy highlighted by lowered TFP values.

Fiber optic sensor for hydrostatic pressure and temperature measurement in riverbanks monitoring

An optical fiber sensor for the simultaneous measurement of hydrostatic pressure and temperature in soil embankments is presented. It exploits the differential strain induced on a fiber in a dual–chamber case, constituting the sensor body. The strain, either induced by the pressure or by the temperature, is optically measured by means of coherent frequency domain reflectometry and variations induced by the two physical phenomena are discriminated because of the different behavior of the two chambers. Characterization of the sensor is presented and discussed. The prototype shows promising performance: temperature and pressure sensitivities are approximately −7GHz/°C and −3.2GHz/kPa, respectively, with accuracies of 0.5°C and 0.3kPa.

Biomechanical investigation into the role of the periodontal ligament in optimising orthodontic force: a finite element case study

ObjectivesThis paper aimed to precisely locate centres of resistance (CRe) of maxillary teeth and investigate optimal orthodontic force by identifying the effective zones of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) from hydrostatic stress thresholds in the periodontal ligament (PDL). MethodsWe applied distally-directed tipping and bodily forces ranging from 0.075N to 3N (7.5g to 300g) onto human maxillary teeth. The hydrostatic stress was quantified from nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) and compared with normal capillary and systolic blood pressure for driving the tissue remodelling. Two biomechanical stimuli featuring localised and volume-averaged hydrostatic stresses were introduced to describe OTM. Locations of CRe were determined through iterative FEA simulation. ResultsAccurate locations of CRes of teeth and ranges of optimal orthodontic forces were obtained. By comparing with clinical results in literature, the volume average of hydrostatic stress in PDL was proved to describe the process of OTM more indicatively. The optimal orthodontic forces obtained from the in-silico modelling study echoed with the clinical results in vivo. ConclusionsA universal moment to force (M/F) ratio is not recommended due to the variation in patients and loading points. Accurate computational determination of CRe location can be applied in practice to facilitate orthodontic treatment. Global measurement of hydrostatic pressure in the PDL better characterised OTM, implying that OTM occurs only when the majority of PDL volume is critically stressed. The FEA results provide new insights into relevant orthodontic biomechanics and help establish optimal orthodontic force for a specific patient.

A novel technique towards deployment of hydrostatic pressure based level sensor in nuclear fuel reprocessing facility.

A novel approach towards deployment of a hydrostatic pressure based level monitoring device is presented for continuous monitoring of liquid level in a reservoir with high resolution and precision. Some of the major drawbacks such as spurious information of measured level due to change in ambient temperature, requirement of high resolution pressure sensor, and bubbling effect by passing air or any gaseous fluid into the liquid are overcome by using such a newly designed hydrostatic pressure based level monitoring device. The technique involves precise measurement of hydrostatic pressure exerted by the process liquid using a high sensitive pulsating-type differential pressure sensor (capacitive type differential pressure sensor using a specially designed oil manometer) and correlating it to the liquid level. In order to avoid strong influence of temperature on liquid level, a temperature compensation methodology is derived and used in the system. A wireless data acquisition feature has also been provided in the level monitoring device in order to work in a remote area such as a radioactive environment. At the outset, a prototype level measurement system for a 1 m tank is constructed and its test performance has been well studied. The precision, accuracy, resolution, uncertainty, sensitivity, and response time of the prototype level measurement system are found to be less than 1.1 mm in the entire range, 1%, 3 mm, <1%, 10 Hz/mm, and ∼4 s, respectively.

Quantitative monitoring of batch sedimentation based on fractional density changes

The paper proposes a methodology for rapid estimation of the mass of suspended solids in the batch settler based on the phenomenon of fractional density changes. The methodology is intended for use in industrial processes and requires no human interaction. It requires the measurement of hydrostatic pressures at two different levels inside the settler and enables: (1) estimation of the total mass of suspended solids before the sedimentation process is finished with accuracy of about 10%, (2) monitoring of the percentage of mass that is still above the height of one of the measurements (separation index), (3) indication of sedimentation finalization at a certain level in the settler and also (4) observation of the compaction of sludge at the bottom of the settler. The separation index can be used to quantitatively specify the separation progress and also as a guide in applications requiring specified increase of the suspended solids concentration e.g. thickening to a specified concentration be settling.

Polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure and temperature in a side-hole fiber with squeezed microstructure

We report on sensing characteristics of an endlessly single mode silica fiber with microstructure squeezed by very large side-holes. An elliptical shape of the cladding holes results in high phase and group modal birefringence, equal respectively to B = 3.33 × 10−4 and G = −6.62 × 10−4 at 1.55 μm. Thanks to a large diameter of the side-holes located in the solid part of the cladding, the fiber polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure was increased two times compared to earlier reports and equals Kp = −25.6 rad MPa−1 m−1 at 1.55 μm. Moreover, the fiber has a very low polarimetric sensitivity to temperature KT = −9.18 × 10−3 rad K−1 m−1 at 1.55 μm, thus allowing for hydrostatic pressure measurements with little cross-sensitivity to temperature. All measured parameters are in good agreement with the results of numerical simulations conducted using the finite element method.

Free Surface of the Liquid-Gas Phase Separation as a Measuring Membrane of a Device for Measuring Small Hydrostatic Pressure Difference Values / Powierzchnia Swobodna Rozdziału Faz Ciecz-Gaz Jako Membrana Pomiarowa Urządzenia Do Pomiaru Małych Wartości Różnicy Ciśnienia Hydrostatycznego

Abstract To obtain a correct reading of fluid flow through a porous medium, it is necessary to know the pressure distribution. While in the case of large Reynolds numbers (turbulent flows) finding pressure measurement devices on the market is not a major problem, there are currently no available devices with sufficient accuracy for measurement of laminar flows (i.e. for Re numbers (Bear, 1988; Duckworth, 1983; Troskolański, 1957) in the range from 0.01 to 3). The reasons of this situation has been discussed in a previous articles (Broda &amp; Filipek, 2012, 2013). Therefore, most of the work on this issue relates to testing velocity distribution of the filter medium (Bear, 1988) or pressure distribution at high hydraulic gradient levels (Trzaska &amp; Broda, 1991, 2000; Trzaska et al., 2005). The so-called measurements of the lower limit of the applicability of Darcy’s law for liquid, as well as determining a threshold hydraulic gradient J0 (Bear, 1988) tend to cause especially great difficulty. Such measurements would be particularly important application in determining the infiltration of water into the mine workings, filtering through the foundations of buildings, etc. For several years, the authors (Broda &amp; Filipek, 2012, 2013) have been engaged in the development of methods and measuring instruments (patent applications: P.407 380 and P.407 381), which would allow for measurement of hydrostatic pressure (differences) below 1 Pa. In the course of research, a new concept of methodology for measuring low values of hydrostatic pressure differences was developed, which is the subject of this article. This article seeks to introduce a new concept of using the free surface of liquid-gas separation as the measuring membrane of a device used in measurement of small values of hydrostatic pressure. The focus is mainly on the possibility of building such a device - describing the technical difficulties that occurred during the execution of the idea. Consequently, less attention was paid to the broader considerations related to uncertainty of the proposed method’s measurements, due to the authors’ awareness that this is the first prototype of such a device and, on the basis of this experience, another one will be built and tested. The observations and numerical analysis of the image formed on the screen by the passage of a laser beam through the free surface of the liquid-gas separation show that at low values of pressure difference, the bubble acts as a membrane shifting in the direction of lower pressure, in such way that the displacement is proportional to the pressure difference at both ends of the bubble. The proprietary method of numerical data processing presented in this article, based on analysis of the intensity of color change in a frame moving along a selected line outside of visual changes in the image of the laser beam after passing through the test structure, provided a tool to create first mathematical models to describe the observed changes (2),(3). Presented in this article method of measuring the difference between the free surface levels in two containers, and hence the measurement of hydrostatic pressure difference provides a new tool for laboratory measurements in the fields of science, which were previously unattainable.

Biotelemetric Wireless Intracranial Pressure Monitoring: AnIn VitroStudy

Assessment of intracranial pressure (ICP) is of great importance in management of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The existing clinically established ICP measurement methods require catheter insertion in the cranial cavity. This increases the risk of infection and hemorrhage. Thus, noninvasive but accurate techniques are attractive. In this paper, we present two wireless, batteryless, and minimally invasive implantable sensors for continuous ICP monitoring. The implants comprise ultrathin (50 μm) flexible spiral coils connected in parallel to a capacitive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor. The implantable sensors are inductively coupled to an external on-body reader antenna. The ICP variation can be detected wirelessly through measuring the reader antenna’s input impedance. This paper also proposes novel implant placement to improve the efficiency of the inductive link. In this study, the performance of the proposed telemetry system was evaluated in a hydrostatic pressure measurement setup. The impact of the human tissues on the inductive link was simulated using a 5 mm layer of pig skin. The results from thein vitromeasurement proved the capability of our developed sensors to detect ICP variations ranging from 0 to 70 mmHg at 2.5 mmHg intervals.

Measurement of endolymphatic pressure

Endolymphatic pressure measurement is of interest both to researchers in the physiology and pathophysiology of hearing and ENT physicians dealing with Menière's disease or similar conditions. It is generally agreed that endolymphatic hydrops is associated with Menière's disease and is accompanied by increased hydrostatic pressure. Endolymphatic pressure, however, cannot be measured precisely without endangering hearing, making the association between hydrops and increased endolymphatic pressure difficult to demonstrate. Several integrated in vivo models have been developed since the 1960s, but only a few allow measurement of endolymphatic hydrostatic pressure. Models associating measurement of hydrostatic pressure and endolymphatic potential and assessment of cochlear function are of value to elucidate the pathophysiology of endolymphatic hydrops. The present article presents the main types of models and discusses their respective interest.

Heat capacity, entropy, dielectric properties and T–p phase diagram of (NH4)3TiF7

Successive phase transitions G1→G2→G3 in the double salt (NH4)3TiF7 have been studied by detailed calorimetric, DTA under hydrostatic pressure and dielectric measurements. Rather large entropy jumps at phase transition points were found to be followed by large additional contributions associated with the temperature dependence of the excess heat capacity. The permittivity behaviour and the tangent of the dielectric losses proved the nonferroelectric nature of both transformations. Two triple-points were found on the temperature-pressure phase diagram, suggesting the existence of a hypothetical parent G0Pm−3m cubic phase. A direct transformation between high (G0) and low (G3) temperature cubic phases takes place at p>0.41GPa with a baric coefficient dTG0→G3/dp=−40K/GPa.

Pico gauges for minimally invasive intracellular hydrostatic pressure measurements.

Intracellular pressure has a multitude of functions in cells surrounded by a cell wall or similar matrix in all kingdoms of life. The functions include cell growth, nastic movements, and penetration of tissue by parasites. The precise measurement of intracellular pressure in the majority of cells, however, remains difficult or impossible due to their small size and/or sensitivity to manipulation. Here, we report on a method that allows precise measurements in basically any cell type over all ranges of pressure. It is based on the compression of nanoliter and picoliter volumes of oil entrapped in the tip of microcapillaries, which we call pico gauges. The production of pico gauges can be accomplished with standard laboratory equipment, and measurements are comparably easy to conduct. Example pressure measurements are performed on cells that are difficult or impossible to measure with other methods.

Physical properties and optimization of GaBiAs/(Al)GaAs based near-infrared laser diodes grown by MOVPE with up to 4.4% Bi

This paper reports on progress in the development of GaAsBi/(Al)GaAs based lasers grown using metal-organic vapour phase epitaxy and focuses on the underlying processes governing their efficiency and temperature dependence. Room temperature lasing has been achieved in devices with 2.2% Bi and lasing in devices with 4.4% Bi was observed up to 180 K. We show that the device performance can be improved by optimizing both electrical and optical confinement in the laser structures. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the threshold current together with pure spontaneous emission and high hydrostatic pressure measurements indicate that device performance is currently dominated by non-radiative recombination through defects (>80% of the threshold current at room temperature in 2.2% Bi samples) and that to further improve the device performance and move towards longer wavelengths for optical telecommunications (1.3–1.5 µm) further effort is required to improve and optimize material quality.

Picosecond dynamics of shock compressed and flash-heated nanometer thick films of δ-HMX

Progress towards probing molecular dynamics of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,4,7-tetrazocine (HMX) subjected to shock compression of a few GPa and/or temperature excursions exceeding thermal decomposition values (T > 500 K) is described. Due to shock velocities of a few nm/ps, nanometer-thick layers are needed for picosecond time resolution. Therefore, 5-10 nm thick films of S-HMX were deposited on metallic substrates with a template of a 4-nitrobenzoic acid monolayer. A polymer layer a few microns thick was spin-coated on top of S-HMX for shock confinement. The monolayer and HMX layer were probed simultaneously utilizing an ultrafast nonlinear coherent vibrational spectroscopy, termed vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG). Shock pressures were estimated via comparisons with the monolayer nitro transition frequency blueshift in hydrostatic pressure measurements. Temperature determinations were made based on the reflectance of the metallic substrate.

Fetal inflow hydrostatic pressure measurements in the ex-vivo perfused placenta correlate with umbilical artery Doppler RI and PI values

Fetal inflow hydrostatic pressure measurements in the ex-vivo perfused placenta correlate with umbilical artery Doppler RI and PI values

Hydrostatic Pressure Measurement With Heterodyning Fiber Grating Lasers: Mechanism and Sensitivity Enhancement

In this paper, dual-polarization fiber grating lasers are exploited as heterodyning sensors for hydrostatic pressure measurement. The laser is formed by photo-inscribing two highly reflective wavelength-matched Bragg gratings over a short section of Er-doped fiber. The measurement is carried out by monitoring the beat frequency between the orthogonally polarized laser output. The pressure sensitivity of a bare sensor is -0.59 MHz/MPa. Theoretical analysis suggests that the pressure response is dominantly determined by the change in intra-cavity birefringence, which is associated with the geometrical imperfection of the fiber core. The effects of differences in elastic properties between fiber core and cladding on the pressure response are examined. We found that the differences in Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are mainly responsible for the pressure sensitivity. The pressure sensitivity can be significantly enhanced by packaging the laser into a polymer incorporated with a steel rod. Due to the difference in elastic properties between materials, an additional birefringence is introduced into the laser cavity under hydrostatic pressure. The sensitivity has been enhanced by 228 times, to 170 MHz/MPa. The minimal detectable pressure change of the packaged sensor is about 0.01 MPa. We further demonstrate a miniature packaged sensor with a cross-sectional dimension of only 1.42 mm and a pressure sensitivity of 53.9 MHz/MPa towards practical applications.

Study of time and pressure dependent phenomena at the hard x-ray beamline BL9 of DELTA

The beamline BL9 of DELTA (Dortmund ELecTron Accelerator) is a multi-purpose beamline operating in an energy range between 4 and 27 keV. A short overview of the beamline and the experimental endstation is given. Exemplarily three typical applications, namely x-ray diffraction from interfaces, small angle x-ray scattering under high hydrostatic pressure and fast x-ray reflectivity measurements, are discussed in some detail in order to demonstrate the capabilities of the beamline.

Effect of Conformation of Adsorbed Polymeric Dispersant on Dispersion Stability of Slurry

In order to determine the preparation time for slurry in ceramic manufacturing processes, the effect of the conformation of ammonium polycarboxylate, an adsorbed anionic polymeric dispersant with a molecular weight of 8000～10000, on the dispersion stability of the slurry was investigated. The slurry preparation time was varied and the effect was investigated using and hydrostatic pressure measurement. The results of the investigation showed that the conformation of adsorbed polymers changed with time from random coil to fibril-like and that it took several days for the polymers to relax completely in the slurry. Furthermore, the dispersion state of the slurry changed with the relaxing of the conformation of adsorbed polymers. The results showed that the stretching of adsorbed polymers contributed significantly to the dispersion state of the slurry. The optimum conditions of polymers for the preparation of the slurry are also discussed.

Measurement of small values of hydrostatic pressure difference / Pomiar małych wartości różnicy ciśnień hydrostatycznych

In order to describe the fluid flow through the porous centre, made of identical spheres, it is necessary to know the pressure, but in fact - the pressure distribution. For the flows in the range that was traditionally called laminar flow (i. e. for Reynolds numbers (Bear, 1988; Duckworth, 1983; Troskolański, 1957) from the range 0,01 to 3) it is virtually impossible with the use of the tools directly available on the market. Therefore, many scientists who explore this problem have concentrated only on the research of the velocity distribution of the medium that penetrates the intended centre (Bear, 1988) or pressure distribution at high hydraulic gradients (Trzaska &amp; Broda, 1991, 2000; Trzaska et al., 2005). It may result from the inaccessibility to the measurement methods that provide measurement of very low hydrostatic pressures, such as pressure resulting from the weight of liquid located in the gravitational field (Duckworth, 1983; Troskolański, 1957). The pressure value c. 10 Pa (Troskolański, 1957) can be generated even by 1 mm height difference between the two levels of the free water surface, which in fact constitutes the definition of gauging tools of today measuring the level of the hydrostatic pressure. Authors proposed a method of hydrostatic pressure measurement and devised a gauging tool. Then a series of tests was conducted aiming at establishing what is the influence of various factors, such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, velocity of measurement completion, etc. on the accuracy and method of measurements. A method for considerable reduction of hysteresis that occurs during measurement was also devised. The method of measurement of small hydrostatic difference measurements allows for the accuracy of measurement of up to 0.5 Pa. Measurement results can be improved successfully by one order of magnitude, which for sure would entail necessary temperature stabilization of the tool. It will be more difficult though to compensate the influence of atmospheric pressure on the measurement process.

Sensing characteristics of the rocking filters in microstructured fibers optimized for hydrostatic pressure measurements

We report on the sensing characteristics of rocking filters fabricated in two microstructured fibers with enhanced polarimetric sensitivity to hydrostatic pressure. The filter fabricated in the first fiber shows a very high sensitivity to pressure ranging from 16.2 to 43.4 nm/MPa, depending on the resonance order and features an extremely low cross-sensitivity between pressure and temperature 28 ÷ 89 × 10(3) K/MPa. The filter fabricated in the second fiber has an extreme sensitivity to pressure ranging from -72.6 to -177 nm/MPa, but a less favorable cross-sensitivity between pressure and temperature of 1.05 ÷ 3.50 × 10(3) K/MPa. These characteristics allow using the rocking filters for pressure measurements with mbar resolution.