Global leader in sensor manufacturing VEGA is dedicated to delivering reliable and precise measurement solutions for demanding chemical environments. By focusing on safety, efficiency, and process optimisation, the company ensures its instruments consistently meet the rigorous needs of the industry.

Accurate pressure measurement in the chemical and petrochemical industries can be a matter of life and death. That is why companies in these sectors rely on VEGA to manage pressure, ensuring both safety and reliability. VEGA provides a range of pressure solutions, with differential pressure measurement being one of its primary offerings.

Differential pressure sensors employ a metallic measuring cell, which provides significant advantages as they are well suited to applications that require managing high static pressures and detecting extremely small pressure differences, highlights VEGA South Africa marketing manager Miguel Petersen.

Their compact design allows for efficient integration into complex systems, while their robust construction ensures high measurement accuracy. This makes them a reliable choice for environments where precision is vital and even the slightest pressure variations must be captured and monitored.

A notable example within this category is the use of chemical seals, such as the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) and Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) variants. Chemical seals are designed for universal application across scenarios involving large pressure differences and high static pressures.

Their design typically incorporates an integrated overload diaphragm, which significantly enhances operational reliability by protecting the sensor from damage resulting from unexpected pressure surges. This feature is especially valuable in industrial settings where process conditions can vary, and equipment durability is essential for continuous operation.

Product Variety

The VEGADIF 85 is a standard differential pressure sensor designed for general applications. It features built-in overload protection to safeguard the measuring cell and ensure accurate readings, even under demanding conditions. In contrast, electronic differential pressure measurement offers enhanced flexibility and user-friendliness for today’s process industries. This modern approach typically uses two pressure transmitters – often from the VEGABAR PRO series – that work together as an integrated measurement system.

One of the primary advantages of electronic differential pressure systems is their immunity to environmental factors, such as fluctuations in ambient temperature, which can otherwise compromise measurement accuracy.

Additionally, electronic systems offer remarkable flexibility, allowing for the use of various sensor configurations and measuring cells tailored to specific applications.

The installation, assembly and ongoing maintenance of electronic differential pressure systems are straightforward, minimising operational downtime and reducing overall life-cycle costs. In practical terms, these systems can be used for applications such as monitoring pressure overlays in vessels, where sensors from the VEGABAR 80 series are seamlessly incorporated.

This modularity enables users to address challenges such as large temperature differences, vacuum conditions, abrasive media and the need for cost-efficient solutions with minimal installation complexity.

Whether using conventional or electronic differential pressure sensors, VEGA’s modern industrial measurement solutions offer a comprehensive suite of options designed to deliver precision and adaptability across a range of demanding applications.

Durability, Innovation

VEGA’s instruments are built to perform in dynamic processes with rapid temperature fluctuations, changing media and high pressure, with technologies, such as its ceramic or metallic measuring cells, which are highly resistant to temperature shocks, chemical corrosion and pressure changes.

“In electronic differential pressure setups, paired sensors self-compensate for shifts in temperature and media density, ensuring reliable measurement without drift, even during rapid process fluctuations,” Petersen explains.

He adds that many sensors also feature auto-adjustment functions and diagnostic capabilities to maintain optimal performance during process changes.

VEGA devices are known for their long-term stability, with VEGA noting that many users report consistent accuracy over years of operation.

Ceramic measuring cells, owing to their extreme hardness and small mechanical deformation, remain stable over the long term, while metallic sensors tend to experience long-term drift, owing to material fatigue.

“While calibration frequency depends on the specific application and local compliance, VEGA recommends yearly calibration for high-risk or critical measurements. Built-in diagnostics enable easy real-time monitoring of sensor health without requiring device removal,” Petersen concludes.