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Pressure (Part Two)

Filed Under: Physics

Gauge Pressure

When an instrument, such as an oil pressure gauge, fuel pressure gauge, or hydraulic system pressure gauge, displays pressure which is over and above ambient, the reading is referred to as gauge pressure (psig). This can be seen on the fuel pressure gauge shown in Figure 3-34. When the oil, fuel, or hydraulic pump is not turning, and there is no pressure being created, the gauge will read zero.

Figure 3-34. Psig read on a fuel pressure gauge.
Figure 3-34. Psig read on a fuel pressure gauge.

Absolute Pressure

A gauge that includes atmospheric pressure in its reading is measuring what is known as absolute pressure, or psia. Absolute pressure is equal to gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure. If someone hooked up a psia indicating instrument to an engine’s oil system, the gauge would read atmospheric pressure when the engine was not running. Since this would not make good sense to the typical operator, psia gauges are not used in this type of application. For the manifold pressure on a piston engine, a psia gauge does make good sense. Manifold pressure on a piston engine can read anywhere from less than atmospheric pressure if the engine is not supercharged, to more than atmospheric if it is supercharged. The only gauge that has the flexibility to show this variety of readings is the absolute pressure gauge. Figure 3-35 shows a manifold pressure gauge, with a readout that ranges from 10 “Hg to 35 “Hg. Remember that 29.92 “Hg is standard day atmospheric.

Figure 3-35. Manifold pressure gauge indicating absolute pressure.
Figure 3-35. Manifold pressure gauge indicating absolute pressure.

Differential Pressure

Differential pressure, or psid, is the difference between pressures being read at two different locations within a system. For example, in a turbine engine oil system the pressure is read as it enters the oil filter, and also as it leaves the filter. These two readings are sent to a transmitter which powers a light located on the flight deck. Across anything that poses a resistance to flow, like an oil filter, there will be a drop in pressure. If the filter starts to clog, the pressure drop will become greater, eventually causing the advisory light on the flight deck to come on.

Figure 3-36 shows a differential pressure gauge for the pressurization system on a Boeing 737. In this case, the difference in pressure is between the inside and the outside of the airplane. If the pressure difference becomes too great, the structure of the airplane could become overstressed.

Figure 3-36. Differential pressure gauge.
Figure 3-36. Differential pressure gauge.

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