How to Choose a Pressure Controller? Things to Consider!

Choosing the best pressure controller for calibration lab or production testing necessitates careful study of controller features and specifications.

But what exactly is a pressure controller?

Pressure controllers are electronic controllers that provide pressure depending on a source pressure fast and automatically. With its excellent precision and control stability, pressure controllers are ideal for reference in manufacturing lines & labs for automatic testing & calibration of various sensors.

This blog will walk you through choosing the perfect precision pressure controller for your pressure calibrators.

Types of Pressure Controllers

There are many methods for controlling pressure. Let's take a quick look at various approaches.

1.     Pressure Reducing Regulators

Pressure-reducing regulators reduce the higher intake supply pressure to a controlled lower pressure at the exit. These devices are available in various forms, sizes & technologies. Any control valve is a pressure-reducing regulator since opening/shutting a valve allows for higher/lower output pressures. Some use cases include gas combination, leak testing, welding, fuel cell testing & automotive paint.

2.     Back Pressure Regulators 

Back pressure regulators restrict the output of a system to control pressures that accrue or release upstream of the device. When the gas pressure exceeds the setpoint, the back pressure regulator opens wider to release the excess pressure. These pressure controllers are used for compressor testing & control, chromatography analysis & many more.

3.     Closed Volume Pressure Controllers 

Back pressure and pressure reduction regulators are single-valve devices that manage pressure in flowing systems. When working on closed/dead-ended devices, pressure controllers with proportional knobs on the intake and a digital valve on the output are commonly used.

These pressure calibrators are used for micro-fluidic control, fluid dispensing & sensor testing.

What Factors To Consider Choosing The Right Pressure Controller?

Pressure controllers differ in performance criteria, control channels, signal for control outputs, and sensor excitation supply. But how to choose the right one?

Here are 5 things to consider.

1.     Media Type

Pick a controller compatible with the media you intend to use. Air and nitrogen are common pneumatic mediums for less than 10,000 psi. Higher ranges often use hydraulic media such as water or oil. It is based on the devices you intend to calibrate and the media utilized in their application.

2.     Pressure Range

Consider the pressure ranges you'll need to calibrate. The pressure controller(s) you select must be able to regulate and measure your predicted ranges. This aim can be met with a single-channel, two-channel, or many controllers. The complexity will be determined by the extent of ranges and pressure kinds, although dual channel controllers with various interchangeable internal transducers should be explored to save costs.

3.     Pressure Type

Choose the pressure type(s) that must be calibrated: gauge, absolute, bidirectional, or differential. The calibrator's sensors must match these types or be capable of simulating whatever pressure type of the devices being calibrated.

4.     Accuracy 

Assess each calibration range's accuracy and least allowable test uncertainty ratio (TUR). Choose a controller that can calibrate each range and meet the TUR criteria. It might become complicated when dealing with different ranges, accuracies, and pressure kinds. 

5.     Duty Cycle

 Consider the controller's duty cycle. It is especially significant in a production scenario when pressure cycling is necessary regularly. Many controllers have cycle-testing performance data available from the vendor upon request.

Choose The Right Pressure Controllers With Nagman!

When you are on the move for the right precision pressure controller, the best controller and sensor combination should be chosen based on the range and accuracy class of the calibrated devices, the needed duty cycle, speed, and stability.

Nagman offers a wide selection of precision pressure controllers, so if you're seeking high-quality, high-precision pressure calibrators, you've come to the correct spot. Nagman pressure controllers provide highly variable variants to meet your application and unrivaled performance reliability to assure long-term, uninterrupted operation.

Nagman has the perfect solution for you, so contact us anytime!