Technical Note - Communicate

00840-0800-4801, Rev AA
December 2010

Select the Proper Transmitter Range

for DP Level Applications
SELECT THE PROPER TRANSMITTER FIELD RANGING
RANGE FOR DP LEVEL APPLICATIONS It is very common to assume that the span of the
Remote seal assemblies (which include a transmitter, application is within the range of the transmitter.
remote seals, and capillary connection) offer high The following example shows a Range 1 transmitter,
quality performance for DP level applications. with a range of -25 to 25 in. H2O (-62.2 to 62.2 mbar),
However, limitations may occur when using in an application where one might think that the span of
transmitters with too small of a range. Although the application is within the range of the transmitter.
transmitter best practices recommend using the lowest
sensor range that will operate at the maximum However, even when the vertical distance between the
pressure, a transmitter with too low of a range will not fittings is 25 in. (63.5 cm), which is within the Range 1
function properly in certain applications. transmitter range, it is possible to exceed the limits of
the transmitter.
It may seem practical to use a small range transmitter
in applications with a small distance between the high Figure 1 shows a small empty tank with a distance of
and low taps, as distance relates to transmitter span. 25 in. (63.5 cm) between the high (A) and low (B)
However, the limits of a small range transmitter are low pressure fittings.
enough to cause ranging limitations for many
Figure 1. Empty tank, 25 in. (63.5 cm) distance between
applications. It is recommended to use a larger range
fittings.
transmitter for all DP level applications with remote
seals on small span applications. For example, the B (low pressure fitting)
limits of a Range 2 transmitter are ten times larger than
a Range 1 sensor (-250 to 250 inH2O or -0.6 to 0.6 bar
compared to -25 to 25 inH2O or -62.2 to 62.2 mbar).
Additionally, a Range 2 transmitter offers identical
performance to a Range 1 transmitter when remote
seals are used due to the expansion and contraction of 25 in. (63.5 cm)
additional fill fluid in the capillary as the temperature
increases and decreases. Table 3 on page 2 lists the
five different transmitter ranges that Rosemount offers.
When choosing a transmitter, it is important to account
for the pressure from the process fluid (the liquid level)
and the fill fluid in the capillary. If either pressure is
greater than the upper range limit of a sensor, it will A (high pressure fitting)
cause the output sensor to saturate. That being the
case, a larger range sensor offers just as good of
performance with a larger measurement range. In order to determine the maximum vertical distance
between pressure fittings that the transmitter will allow,
The following sections will further explain why selecting also known as the transmitter's span, it’s necessary to
a larger range transmitter is a more reliable choice determine:
than a small range transmitter for small spans on DP
level applications. 1. The range of the transmitter (In this case, ± 25 in.
H2O or ± 62 mbar).
2. The specific gravity of the fill fluid used (see Table
1 for specific gravities of fill fluids offered by
Rosemount).

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 Technical Note - Communicate
00840-0800-4801, Rev AA
December 2010

As mentioned in the previous equation, the fill fluid Although this example works for a Range 1
chosen for the application has a major part when transmitter, it is important to understand that best
determining the maximum vertical distance. Fill fluids practices avoid using Range 1 transmitters whenever
have unique specific gravities that will change the possible in DP level applications.
maximum vertical distance between pressure fittings
There are some fill fluids that will not work for this
necessary for the transmitter to correctly read the
example application of 25 in. (63.5 cm) vertical
pressure measurement. Each unique fill fluid has a
distance with a smaller range transmitter. Table 2
different temperature limit and some are used in
below identifies which transmitter range is required in
hygienic or cryogenic applications, allowing multiple
this application with each fill fluid.
options for customers to choose from.
Table 1 below shows Rosemount’s published fill
Table 2. Transmitter range required for this example
fluids along with the specific gravity of each and the
application
maximum vertical distance allowed with a Range 1
Maximum Transmitter
transmitter.
Specific Vertical Range
Fill Fluid Gravity Distance Required
Table 1. Fill fluids, specific gravities, and the maximum
allowed distance while using a Range 1 transmitter. 29.41 in. Range 1
Syltherm XLT 0.85 (74.7cm)
Specific Range 1 Maximum Vertical
Fill Fluid Gravity Distance 26.77 in. Range 1
Silicone 200 0.934 (70cm)
Syltherm XLT 0.85 29.41 in. (74.7cm)
23.36 in. Range 2
Silicone 200 0.934 26.77 in. (70cm)
Silicone 704 1.07 (59.34cm)
Silicone 704 1.07 23.36 in. (59.34cm)
13.51 in. Range 2
INERT 1.85 13.51 in. (34.32cm) INERT 1.85 (34.32cm)
Glycerin 1.13 22.12 in. (56.18cm) 22.12 in. Range 2
Neobee M-20 0.92 27.17 in. (69cm) Glycerin 1.13 (56.18cm)
Propylene Glycol 1.02 24.51 in. (62.26cm) Neobee M-20 0.92 27.17 in. Range 1
(69cm)
By dividing the range of the transmitter by the Propylene Glycol 1.02 24.51 in. Range 2
specific gravity of the fill fluid, it will give maximum (62.26 cm)
vertical distance between pressure fittings that the
Table 3 shows the differential pressure range for all
transmitter can handle.
five transmitter ranges. Again, moving from a Range
Range of transmitter Maximum distance between 1 transmitter to a Range 2 transmitter gives 10 times
= pressure fittings as much vertical distance in applications.
Specific gravity of fill fluid

Equation 1: Maximum vertical distance between pressure Table 3. Ranges 1-5 transmitters with DP ranges
fittings (transmitter span). Differential Pressure Range
1A -25 to 25 inH2O (-62.2 to 62.2 mbar)
As the specific gravity of a fill fluid increases, the 2A -250 to 250 inH2O (0.6 to 0.6 bar)
transmitter's span decreases. 3A -1000 to 1000 inH2O (-2.5 to 2.5 bar)
Therefore, if Silicone 200 fill fluid is used (specific 4A -300 to 300 psi (-20.7 to 20.7 bar)
gravity of 0.934) with the Range 1 transmitter (± 25 5A -2000 to 2000 psi (-137.9 to137.9 bar)
in. H2O or ± 62 mbar) the maximum vertical distance
between pressure fittings is 26.77 in. (68 cm) See
Equation 2.
25 inH 2 O
------------------------- = 26.77 in. (68 cm)
0.934
Equation 2: Transmitter span for this example

2
 Technical Note - Communicate
00840-0800-4801, Rev AA
December 2010

PERFORMANCE The numbers are then root sum squared to

determine the Total System Error (TSE). The TSE is
As mentioned previously, small range transmitters the error of the entire remote seal assembly
offer no difference in performance when remote (includes: transmitter, capillary, and seal).
seals are used due to temperature effects on the fill
fluid in the capillary. 2 2
TSE = TRSE + TPE
The following equations further explain how there is Equation 5: Total System Error
identical performance.
Example: Range 1 and Range 2 transmitters with an
FFW remote seal and 5 feet of capillary on the low
TOTAL SYSTEM ERROR EQUATIONS
pressure side (Tuned-System™ Assembly).
With remote seal applications there is a Total Remote
Seal Effect (TRSE) which is the sum of the seal Results
temperature effects (STE) and head temperature
effects (HTE). The performance of the transmitter is
Total System Error with
very accurate. However, the additional fill fluid in a Remote Seal
remote seal system will create a much larger error
3051S1CD1 (Range 1) ±0.231 inH20
than the transmitter alone.
3051S1CD2 (Range 2) ±0.231 inH20
Seal temperature effect (STE) is the change in
pressure seen at the transmitter caused by the There is no difference in performance between
change in fill fluid volume in the seal and capillary as Range 1 and Range 2 transmitters for DP level
the temperature changes. Head temperature effect applications when remote seals are used.
(HTE) is the change in weight of the fill fluid in the
capillary pushing down on the transmitter. SUMMARY
TRSE = STE + HTE
Using small range transmitters for short vertical
distances creates ranging limitations. It is important
Equation 4: Total Remote Seal Effect to understand these limitations and apply these
principles to help select the proper range transmitter
TRSE is factored into the Total Probable Error (TPE) for each specific application.
which is the error from the transmitter. In remote seal If there are any further questions on selecting the
applications, the TRSE usually is larger than the proper range transmitter for DP Level applications,
TPE. please contact our technical specialists at Emerson.

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00840-0800-4801 Rev AA, 12/10