What is a diaphragm seal system?
A diaphragm seal system is a combination of a diaphragm seal and a pressure measuring instrument, which can be adapted to even the most difficult of conditions within process industries. A diaphragm made of the appropriate material separates the medium to be measured from the measuring instrument. The combined systems can therefore withstand a pressure of 10 mbar up to 3,600 bar at extreme temperatures and with a wide variety of media, thus enabling accurate pressure measurements.
What is a diaphragm seal?
A diaphragm seal is an additional component which protects a pressure measuring instrument or process transmitter. It transfers the medium to the measuring instrument without it coming into contact with the measuring instrument.
How does a diaphragm seal work?
A diaphragm made of the appropriate material separates the medium to be measured from the measuring instrument. The internal space between the diaphragm and the pressure measuring instrument is completely filled with a system fill fluid. The process pressure is transmitted by the elastic diaphragm into the fluid and from there to the measuring instrument.
When should a diaphragm seal be applied?
Diaphragm seals are used for pressure measurement when the proces medium doesn't come in contact with the pressure of the measuring instrument or when adjustment to the harsh conditions of a process is required.
What are the advantages of diaphragm seals?
Diaphragm seals offer the advantage that the “contact surface” between pressure medium and diaphragm is relatively large, thus ensuring accurate pressure measurement, especially for very low pressures (< 600 mbar). Furthermore, they can be easily dismounted, e.g. for cleaning or calibration purposes.
What are the characteristics of an in-line diaphragm seal?
The in-line diaphragm seal is perfectly suited for use with flowing media. With the seal being completely integrated into the process line, measurements do not cause any turbulence, corners, dead spaces or other obstructions in the flow direction.
What are the advantages of an in-line diaphragm seal?
With in-line diaphragm seals, with their perfectly circular cylindrical form, the medium flows through unhindered and effects the self-cleaning of the measuring chamber. Different nominal widths allow the in-line diaphragm seals to be adapted to any pipeline cross-section.
With which instruments can a diaphragm seal be combined?
A diaphragm seal can be combined with almost all pressure gauges, process transmitters, pressure switches or pressure sensors.
What are the mounting options for a diaphragm seal?
A diaphragm seal can be mounted via a direct connection, a cooling element or a capillary.
In which application areas can diaphragm seal systems be used?
Diaphragm seal systems can withstand pressure at extreme temperatures (-130 … +400 °C) and with a wide variety of media, thus enabling accurate pressure measurements under extreme conditions.
How flexibly can a diaphragm seal be assembled?
The optimal diaphragm seal designs, materials, filling media and accessories are available for each application. Certificates can be supplied depending on the requirement.
What is a diaphragm seal characteristic curve?
The diaphragm seal characteristic curve shows a graphical representation of the elasticity of the diaphragm. In this representation, the volume change is related to the pressure change and illustrated.
When are flange connections used with diaphragm seals?
The combinations of diaphragm seals with flange connections can be used for processes with extreme temperatures and with aggressive, adhesive, corrosive, highly viscous, environmentally hazardous or toxic media. With its connection dimensions, the flange-type diaphragm seal is suitable for all currently used standard flanges and is mounted in lieu of a blind flange.
How are the diaphragm seals connected?
The diaphragm seals are available with female or male thread in their basic design. Due to the wide variety of available process connections they can be mounted to many different connections without any problems. Generally these connections are T-pieces which are integrated into a pipeline or welded to a pipeline by means of a welding socket.
When are sterile connections used with diaphragm seals?
The combination of diaphragm seals with pressure measuring instruments in hygienic design can be used for processes with gases, compressed air or vapour and also with liquid, paste-like, powdery and hot media. The diaphragm seals resist the temperatures that occur and meet the requirements for sterile connections.
SIP and CIP criteria, which are an essential requirement for sanitary applications, are met by using diaphragm seals. These acronyms stand for the sterilisation and cleaning of the wetted parts in the process. The combination of pressure measuring instruments with flush diaphragm seals or in-line diaphragm seals meets the stringent demands made on hygienic instrumentation and is suitable for even the most difficult measuring requirements.
Why are there different materials or coatings with diaphragm seals?
Various materials or coatings are available for diaphragm seals to allow accurate measurement of difficult media (aggressive, corrosive, abrasive, highly viscous, heterogeneous, toxic, hot or aseptic). Suitable materials or coatings are available for almost all processes.
Why are there different system fill fluids with diaphragm seals?
In selecting the system fill fluid for diaphragm seals, factors such as compatibility (physiologically harmless) and also temperature and pressure conditions at the measurement location are of crucial importance. Depending on the system fill fluid, the appropriate minimum and maximum operating temperature range must be observed.
What influence does the diameter of the diaphragm have on the display?
Diaphragms with small diameters can only measure small volume changes. The larger the diameter of a diaphragm, the better the deviations that occur can be compensated for.
How does a diaphragm seal system with capillary behave with height differences?
A height difference between the pressure measuring instrument and the diaphragm seal affects the measurement. This is due to the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column in the capillary. The display is reduced when the pressure measuring instrument is positioned higher than the diaphragm seal. It is increased when the pressure measuring instrument is positioned lower. With the design of the entire system at the factory (diaphragm seal and measuring instrument at the same height), this height difference must be known and taken into account accordingly.
How are diaphragm seals integrated into processes?
Diaphragm seals are mounted to existing connecting flanges or welding sockets, which are welded to a pipeline, a process reactor or a tank.
What is a diaphragm seal with an extended diaphragm and when are these used?
A diaphragm seal with extended diaphragm is used for thick and/or insulated product pipelines or vessel walls. The cell-type design is a sub-category, which is used with a blind flange at the tapping flange. Special designs can be manufactured to customer's specific requests.
What influence does the volume have on a diaphragm seal system?
When connecting a diaphragm seal to a pressure measuring instrument, the diaphragm seal must deliver a working volume that is at least equal to the control volume of the pressure measuring instrument. Under real operating conditions, it must be considered that, through temperature and compressibility, the system fill fluid can change its volume.
How can the response time with a diaphragm seal system be influenced?
The response time of a diaphragm seal is influenced by the viscosity of the system fill fluid and the configuration of the capillary.
What influence does temperature have on a diaphragm seal system?
Temperatures in real operating conditions (process and ambient temperature) lead to volume changes in the system fill fluid. This, in turn, causes a pressure change in the closed system and thus display deviations.
What is the response time with diaphragm seal systems?
The response time of the diaphragm seal system is the defined delay time which elapses until the pointer of the pressure measuring instrument indicates 9/10 of the value of a sudden change in pressure. It is dependent on the volume displacement in the entire system.
When are threaded connections used with diaphragm seals?
The combinations of diaphragm seals with threaded connection can be used for processes with extreme temperatures and with aggressive, adhesive, corrosive, environmentally hazardous or toxic media.
Can a diaphragm monitoring system also be repaired through WIKA Service?
Unfortunately, a diaphragm monitoring system cannot be repaired through WIKA Service. The reason for this is to protect the high-quality medium. A precise examination of the two adjacent diaphragms is technically so complex that, from an economic point of view, a repair would not be worthwhile. The diaphragms would have to be checked for microcracks, possible leakage or corrosion attacks using technical equipment.