Dependence of pressure transducer sensitivity on temperature and pressure
Robert P. Kendig · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 1983
The principle of reciprocity is used to provide a primary calibration of a pressure transducer. A chamber is constructed which can be pressurized and heated so that a simultaneous and accurate measurement of the secondary effects of temperature and pressure on the sensitivity of pressure transducers can be made. The conditions of elevated temperature and pressure simulates the environment of a power plant coolant loop. A calibration in this type of environment is needed for accurate qualification measurements of pressure pulsations generated by pumps operating in a closed loop. The reciprocity calibrator uses a stack of piezoceramic crystals (PZT-5) to produce a dynamic acoustic pressure variation inside the chamber. The chamber itself is filled with Dow-Corning® 710 fluid which is chemically, mechanically, and electrically stable at elevated temperatures and offers a good useful frequency range. Typical results indicate that the effect of a large static pressure change on a typical piezoelectric transducer sensitivity is less than 0.4 dB. On the other hand, the sensitivity varied inversely with temperature at a rate of 0.135%/°C (0.08%/°F). [Work supported by the Westinghouse Electro Mechanical Division, Cheswick, PA.]