# 4.3.2.3 Magnified Pressure Measurement

For situations where the pressure difference is very small, engineers invented more sensitive measuring device. This device is build around the fact that the height is a function of the densities difference. In the previous technique, the density of one side was neglected (the gas side) compared to other side (liquid). This technique utilizes the opposite range. The densities of the two sides are very close to each other, thus the height become large. Figure 4.7 shows a typical and simple schematic of such an instrument. If the pressure differences between $$P_1$$ and $$P_2$$ is small this instrument can "magnified'' height, $$h_1$$ and provide "better'' accuracy reading. This device is based on the following mathematical explanation. In steady state, the pressure balance (only differences) is
$P_1 + g\, \rho_1 (h_1 + h_2) = P_2 + g\, h_2\, \rho_2 \label{static:eq:pBalance} \tag{40}$
It can be noticed that the "missing height'' is canceled between the two sides. It can be noticed that $$h_1$$ can be positive or negative or zero and it depends on the ratio that two containers filled with the light density liquid. Additionally, it can be observed that h1 is relatively small because $$A_1 >> A_2$$. The densities of the liquid are chosen so that they are close to each other but not equal. The densities of the liquids are chosen to be much heavier than the measured gas density. Thus, in writing equation (40) the gas density was neglected. The pressure difference can be expressed as
$P_1 - P_2 = g \left[ \rho_2\,h_2 - \rho_1 (h_1 + h_2) \right] \label{static:eq:pDiffB} \tag{41}$
If the light liquid volume in the two containers is known, it provides the relationship between $$h_1$$ and $$h_2$$. For example, if the volumes in two containers are equal then
$- h_1\, A_1 = h_2 \,A_2 \longrightarrow h_1 = - \dfrac{h_2\,A_2}{A_1} \label{static:eq:twoContainers} \tag{42}$
Liquid volumes do not necessarily have to be equal. Additional parameter, the volume ratio, will be introduced when the volumes ratio isn't equal. The calculations as results of this additional parameter does not cause a significant complications. Here, this ratio equals to one and it simplify the equation (42). But this ratio can be inserted easily into the derivations. With the equation for height (42) equation (40) becomes
$P_1 - P_2 = g \,h_2 \left( \rho_2 - \rho_1 \left(1 - \dfrac{A_2}{A_1} \right) \right) \label{static:eq:balanceContA} \tag{43}$
or the height is
$h_2 = \dfrac{P_1 - P_2} {g \left[ (\rho_2 - \rho_1) + \rho_1 \dfrac{A_2}{A_1} \right] } \label{static:eq:balanceCont} \tag{44}$
For the small value of the area ratio, $$A_2/A_1 \ll 1$$, then equation (44) becomes
$h_2 = \dfrac{P_1 - P_2} {g \left( \rho_2 - \rho_1 \right) } \label{static:eq:balanceContShort} \tag{45}$
Some refer to the density difference shown in equation (45) as "magnification factor'' since it replace the regular density,

#### Inclined Manometer

Fig. 4.8 Inclined manometer.

One of the old methods of pressure measurement is the inclined manometer. In this method, the tube leg is inclined relatively to gravity (depicted in Figure 4.8). This method is an attempt to increase the accuracy by "extending'' length visible of the tube. The equation (39) is then
$\label{static:eq:inclindManometer} P_1 - P_{outside} = \rho\,g\,d\ell \tag{46}$
If there is a insignificant change in volume (the area ratio between tube and inclined leg is significant), a location can be calibrated on the inclined leg as zero.

#### Inverted U-tube manometer

Fig. 4.9 Schematic of inverted manometer.

The difference in the pressure of two different liquids is measured by this manometer. This idea is similar to "magnified'' manometer but in reversed. The pressure line are the same for both legs on line $$ZZ$$. Thus, it can be written as the pressure on left is equal to pressure on the right legs (see Figure 4.9).
$\label{static:eq:govInvMano} \overbrace{P_2 - \rho_2\,(b+h) }^{\text{right leg}}\,g = \overbrace{P_1 - \rho_1\,a - \rho\,h) }^{\text{left leg}}\,g \tag{47}$
$\label{static:eq:reGovInvMano} P_2- P_1 = \rho_2\,(b+h)\,g - \rho_1\,a \,g - \rho\,h \,g \tag{48}$
For the similar density of $$\rho_1=\rho_2$$ and for $$a=b$$ equation (48) becomes
$\label{static:eq:finalInvMano} P_2- P_1 = (\rho_1 - \rho )\,g \,h \tag{49}$