Integral diaphragm pressure sensor in sanitary use

The new 1700/1701 range of pressure sensors from Gems Sensors features an integral diaphragm made of AISI 316 stainless steel, providing a device with sanitary fittings for sterile environments

The new 1700/1701 range of sensors from Gems Sensors features an integral diaphragm made of AISI 316 stainless steel, providing a device with sanitary fittings that can be used in sterile environments over wider temperature and pressure ranges than existing sensors.

Sanitary fittings are required for many food, dairy, brewery, pharmaceutical and chemical industry applications where sterile environments need to be maintained.

They are generally produced in corrosion-resistant material to avoid pitting of the surface, which would allow microbes to settle.

They must be fully sealed to avoid ingress of contaminants into the process, and be capable of being cleaned in place in the system, with no crevices or dead legs in which material could build up and not be cleared during the cleaning process.

Previous sanitary fittings have been produced by fitting an oil-filled stainless steel diaphragm to a standard sensor or transmitter.

However, this limits the temperature and pressure ranges at which the sensors can operate, and increases the cost of manufacture.

The 1700/1701 transmitters overcome these problems by having a 316 stainless steel diaphragm as an integral part of the unit.

This in turn reduces the volume of oil required to fill, which in turn means that the transmitters can be used at higher temperatures and lower pressures than previously.

Savings in manufacturing also mean that the new range offers a very cost effective solution.

Fill is silicon or food grade oil as required.

The 1700 range offers a range of connections suitable for the food and pharmaceutical industries, for both static and dynamic pressure measurement in the ranges from 100millibar to 40bar, at temperatures from -25 to +85degC.

The 1701 range has threaded flush diaphragms for use in slurries or viscous liquids where recessed diaphragms could become blocked, covering pressure ranges from 1 bar to 400 bar over the same temperature range.

For higher temperature applications a choice of cooling elements for either 150C or 300C operation is available.

These elements can be calibrated at a specific temperature if required to provide the highest accuracy at the operating temperature.

Current and voltage output models are available, and diaphragms can be supplied in other materials on request.

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