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  1. PN pressure sensors
  2. Setup and support
  3. Installation guidelines

PN pressure sensor installation guidelines

For best performance of the PN family of pressure semsors, please adhere to the following guidelines.

Pressure sensors are quite easy to install. 

  • Ensure no pressure is applied to the system.
  • Insert the sensor into an appropriate process connection. Tighten to 25...50 Nm depending on the pressure range, lubrication, seal and load.
  • Rotate housing up to 345° for desired viewing of the display. Take care not to tighten past the end stop.
  • If the medium to be measured is viscous or contains solids, mount with process connection facing down to avoid clogging the port of the sensor. If necessary, choose a pressure sensor with a flush measuring cell such as the PI sensors.

Installation in steam applications

Steam is used in many industrial applications for food processing, drying, building heating, etc. Typical application parameters for saturated steam are 150 psi at 350 °F. A steam pigtail or siphon tube is commonly used to protect instruments from the high temperature steam. 

As steam loses heat, it condenses back into water (known as condensate). The temperature of the condensate is much lower than the temperature of saturated steam. The geometry of the pigtail allows the steam to condense through the loop. Quite simply, the condensate pushes against the ceramic cell and not the high temperature steam, thus providing an isolating barrier for the sensor.

The chart below gives an approximation of the temperature reduction when using a steam pigtail.

  1. Find the pressure of the steam across the x-axis (example shows 150 psi).
  2. Go straight up the chart to the curve for ambient air temperature (example shows 80 °F).
  3. Go straight across to the y-axis for the estimated temperature at the instrument (example shows approximately 128 °F).
pressure gauge pigtail temperature chart

ifm offers UP0011 steam pigtail assembly which fits ifm sensors PNx2xx without any modifications. The ¼" NPT male fitting is easily removable so other pressure products can be used with or without additional fittings.

UP0011: 1 = ¼" NPT sensor connection, 2 = ¼" NPT female ball valve, 3 = ½" NPT steam connection

Steam pigtail installation guidelines 

  • Fill the pigtail with water or other suitable media prior to installation. This ensures there is condensate in the loop to potect the sensor immediately when steam is first applied.
  • The pigtails offered by ifm are intended for upward vertical orientation.
  • Installation and removal must be carried out when no pressure is applied. Note: Even when no pressure is applied, the components can still be hot.