Measurement:Pressure Sensor Examples

Overview

This page provides a preliminary, exemplary overview of commercially available pressure sensors that are relevant for monitoring water distribution networks.

Important notice: If the water is to be used as drinking water, every part and material that contacts the water is required to be food safe. There also should be a certificate to that effect. Most vendors are selling food safe sensors on a regular basis.

This selection is purely exemplary and does not claim to be complete. There is a multitude of other similar products available locally in Africa as well as on the global market.

Areas of Application in Your Project

Pressure sensors are essential components for a water network. They are typically used in two main applications:

1. Operating Pressure Measurement: Direct measurement of pressure in pipelines to monitor system status, detect leaks, or control pumps.
2. Level Measurement in Reservoirs: Here, the hydrostatic pressure of a liquid column is measured. The higher the fill level, the greater the pressure at the bottom of the tank. This method is widely established in industrial applications.

Technical Basics and Standard Signals

The vast majority of industrial pressure sensors output their measured values as a standardized analog signal. The global industry standard is the 4–20 mA current loop. Its advantages include high immunity to interference over long transmission distances and built-in line fault monitoring (e.g., wire break detection).

Alternatively, voltage signals such as 0–10 V or 0–5 V are also offered. These are more suitable for shorter distances or battery-powered applications. Many manufacturers offer their sensors in both variants to provide maximum flexibility for different use cases.

Example Sensors

The following table lists a few examples of sensors available on the European market. These are intended to serve as a starting point for research and budgeting.

Exemplary Pressure Sensors for Operating Pressure and Level Measurement

Manufacturer	Model / Series	Product Link
Eurosensor	EPT8100	Variohm – EPT8100
Layher	Type 800 xxx	Layher – Pressure Sensors (PDF)
Jekker	Series 20	Keller (for Jekker) – Series 20 (PDF)
Microsensor	M20	Microsensor – M20
Althen	M20	Althen Sensors – M20