Video summary

Webinar |Transmisores de presión ABB

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas and lessons

What pressure is (definition and reference frames)

  • Pressure is defined as force applied to an area/section.
  • All things on Earth experience pressure, including:
    • Atmospheric pressure
      • Unit: “atmosphere”
      • Equivalent given: 760 mm (using mercury)

Reference types

  • Absolute pressure: starts from absolute zero (cannot be below 0 absolute pressure).
  • Gauge pressure: uses atmospheric pressure as the baseline (pressure relative to atmosphere).
  • Vacuum pressure: below atmospheric pressure.
  • Relationship stated:
    • Absolute pressure = Atmospheric pressure + Gauge pressure

Why measure pressure

  • Safety: prevent pipes and containers from breaking/cracking over time.
  • Process efficiency / cost:
    • Keeping pressure near the set point avoids waste from producing unnecessary pressure/vacuum.
    • Extra effort by pumps and motors increases electricity costs.
  • Supports other calculations / measurements, such as:
    • Flow rate through pipes
    • Fluid level in tanks
    • Fluid density
    • Total level measurement with an interface between two liquids (differential applications)

Pressure measurement principles available in the market

  • Mechanical indicators / manometers
    • Use a bellows or tube
    • Pressure causes deflection/deformation proportional to pressure
  • Pressure switches
    • Mechanical sensing body + electrical circuit
    • Trigger normally open/closed at a set value
    • Used to activate/deactivate valves or send signals/alarms
  • Pressure transmitters (various types mentioned)
    • Piezoresistive (highlighted: ABB/BB brand in focus)
    • Resistive strain-type (“resistive weights” as stated)
    • Capacitive
    • Resonant silicon

Detailed methodology / instructional content (how applications are implemented)

A) Piezoresistive measurement principle (ABB focus)

  • Force on a diaphragm changes resistance in an internal cell.
  • The resistance change is used in a Wheatstone/Winston bridge.
  • The bridge generates a voltage differential proportional to the applied pressure.
  • Stated advantages:
    • High resistance and overload resistance
    • Good thermal shock behavior
    • Good linearity

B) Other transmitter measurement principles

Resonant silicon

  • Uses two oscillating element structures (“two … bridges in D/H shape” as stated).
  • Operates around 90 kHz.
  • Pressure changes frequency; frequency is proportional to pressure.

Capacitive

  • Pressure changes a capacitor’s capacitance.
  • Capacitance change is proportional to measured pressure.

C) Level measurement using differential/gauge transmitters

Closed tank level measurement

  • Use a differential pressure transmitter:
    • High-pressure tap vs. low-pressure tap exposed to vacuum
  • Differential pressure ∝ fluid height/level

Open tank level measurement

  • Use a differential pressure transmitter:
    • Low-pressure reference = atmospheric pressure

Gauge pressure approach

  • Use a gauge pressure transmitter with atmospheric compensation
  • Hydrostatic relationship gives height/level

D) Flow measurement via differential pressure

  • Use a multivariable pressure transmitter with a primary restriction element.
  • Examples of restriction elements mentioned:
    • Orifice plate
    • Pitot tube
    • Venturi tube
    • Other primary elements
  • Principle:
    • Velocity difference between larger diameter and restriction generates a differential pressure/velocity differential
    • The differential is used to compute volumetric flow

E) Inline (process-pipe) pressure measurement examples

  • Inline transmitters installed in process pipes for:
    • Level in closed tank arrangements (flanged connection + high/low diaphragm taps described)
    • Differential pressure in:
      • Water pumping lines (noted in power generation contexts)
      • Paper pulp line applications
    • Vacuum measurement mentioned as possible

F) Remote diaphragm seals and capillaries (why/how)

Purpose of diaphragm seals

  • Adapt measurement to harsh processes (e.g., high abrasion).

ABB Diaflex material

  • Patented ABB coating material for diaphragms with high abrasion resistance.
  • Properties described:
    • Titanium + silicon coating formed via physical vapor positioning
    • Coating thickness ~1–4 microns
    • Hardness scale ~9 (compared to ceramic/carbide)

When to use capillaries

  • Capillaries enable remote mounting (diaphragm/seal separated from electronics).
  • Rationale stated: physical insulation protects electronics when process temperature is high.

Capillary length selection (rule-of-thumb)

  • Length depends on:
    • Measurement range
    • Flange type/diameter
    • Flange thickness
  • Example:
    • Measuring up to 160 kPa with a 3-inch TR flange (standard thickness) → maximum capillary length up to 10 m
    • With conditions allowing better pressure transfer (e.g., thin-walled, flared connection), length could extend (example: up to 12 m)

G) Remote installation and indicators

  • When the transmitter is “blind” or hard to view:
    • Use remote field indicators to display the same values as the transmitter.
    • The indicator can also configure the transmitter via buttons.

H) Wireless pressure transmitters (high-level usage instructions)

  • Use wireless for:
    • Monitoring non-critical processes (response time not extremely strict)
    • Sites where cabling/conduit is expensive or difficult
    • Examples: wellhead monitoring, distant pipelines
  • Power and configuration concept:
    • Batteries pre-installed by factory
    • Battery life depends on reporting/response interval:
      • ~6 years at ~16 seconds
      • ~10 years if configured to send/turn off at ~32 seconds
  • Operational range:
    • ~300 m (stated), can be extended with repeaters
  • Mentioned sectors:
    • Gas, chemical, water (and some power generation contexts)

I) Maintenance / calibration concepts covered

Why miscalibration occurs

  • Zero can drift over time; span can also be affected.
  • Causes include usage and calibration drift.

Response

  • Re-adjust zero and span to reset measured values.

Wear consideration

  • Materials contacting the fluid wear down over time.
  • Select compatible seals and materials accordingly.

Lifecycle topic

  • Maintenance/lifecycle introduced later as a structured topic (installation → maintenance).

ABB-specific features and claims highlighted

Precision / accuracy

  • 26 series base accuracy mentioned:
    • Up to 0.6% of span (stated)
    • Improved to 0.25%
  • Claim:
    • ABB aims to maintain accuracy despite connectors/capillaries via factory-assembled process connections.

Approvals and protections

  • Approvals from European and American regulations (and others depending on industry)
  • Environmental protection: IP67 or NEMA 4X
  • Damping response time ~1 second
  • Humidity capability up to 100%
  • SIL certification
    • SIL2 (single transmitter) mentioned
    • SIL3 when using two transmitters in line (as explained)

Configuration without disassembly

  • External buttons for zero/span adjustment (recommended for hazardous zones)
  • “Intelligent zero”: deep-switch configuration that fixes both current output and zero point together
  • TTG / TR Glass technology: configure without disassembling the main housing
  • Multilingual configuration (example: Spanish)

Modular communications and field replacement

  • Display/cards can be swapped to migrate comms protocol (e.g., plant ↔ Foundation Fieldbus/Profibus/Wireless hard card) with auto-recognition
  • “Plug and Play” communication card:
    • Replace in the field
    • Reads equipment memory
    • Continues operation without reconfiguration

Diagnostics

  • PILD / PIL impulse line function
    • Detects blockages in impulse lines
    • Issues alarms for preventive maintenance
  • Field-replaceable electronics (modular) to reduce maintenance time

Questions answered (key points)

  • Can battery level be monitored remotely?

    • Not directly; battery life is estimated.
    • Visiting frequency depends on reporting/response time (6–10 years mentioned).

  • Does a remote field indicator replace the transmitter indicator?

    • No, it complements it—used when the transmitter lacks display or is remote.

  • Diaflex vs ceramic

    • Diaflex recommended for high-solids/abrasive applications for longer diaphragm life.
    • Competitive advantage claimed due to ABB holding the Diflex/Diaflex patent and manufacturing/seal factory.

  • Maintenance tasks

    • Details deferred to later lifecycle slides.

  • Electrical causes of false readings

    • Vibration can distort signals (measurement errors).
    • Recommendation: use remote seals to reduce vibration effects on electronics.
    • Also mentioned:
      • stable power supply
      • proper instrumentation grounding
      • resistance specs cited: <10 ohms, ideally <3 ohms

  • If a diaphragm seal cracks—must the entire instrument be replaced?

    • Possibly not.
    • If replacement requires lab assembly + recalibration, factory/shipping costs can outweigh buying a new transmitter.
    • Recommendation: compare cost of repair/reassembly vs replacement; choose based on ensuring accuracy.
    • Additional note: seal material must be harder than the abrasive process fluid (hardness comparison suggested).

  • Why use capillaries vs integrated transmitter?

    • Main reason: physical insulation—protects electronics from high process temperature damage (example: superheated steam >200°C).

  • Install after a valve

    • Yes, if installation conditions are met; it helps determine differential pressure effects.

  • Capillary usage related to vibration

    • Mining plant example: vibration-induced seal breaking reduced by using remote seals instead of integrated transmitter.

  • Use one transmitter for two capillaries

    • Yes; configurations can include high-side integrated connection plus remote capillaries, with max distances depending on range (example: 10 m and 12 m mentioned).

Speakers / sources featured

  • Engineer Michael Chamorro (main presenter)
  • César (host/moderator; introduces the talk and asks questions)
  • Pedro Huamán (asked a question; referenced during calibration discussion)
  • ABB (company brand and technology source referenced throughout, including patented “Diaflex/Diflex” material and product series)
  • Taylor (process connection equipment brand mentioned as having been acquired by ABB)

Original video