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If you experiencing issues with diaphragm seal failure in your process, you are not alone. In harsh applications that involve corrosive media and other challenging conditions, diaphragm seals are your primary line of defense in protecting your pressure instruments from becoming damaged. At Ashcroft, we've seen practically every scenario that can cause a diaphragm seal to fail, leading to inaccurate readings and costly downtime. In this article, we will review how a diaphragm seal works, explore the three conditions that account for the majority of diaphragm seal failure — corrosion, high temperature, and fluid fill leakage — and offer some corrective measures to fix these issues. When you are done, you will have a better understanding of why diaphragm seals can fail and be able to identify and prevent potential issues in your own process. You will also find links to additional resources that will help address other diaphragm-related questions you may have.

In challenging process applications, diaphragm seals (isolators) are often required to protect pressure instruments from the corrosive media and/or large particulates found in the process. These materials can impact, or even impede, the accuracy of your instruments and wreak havoc on your operation. In harsh applications that involve pressure spikes, erratic vibration and pulsation, your diaphragm seal may need a layer of added protection to ensure the safety of your instruments. With 10+ years in the pressure and temperature instrumentation industry and product leader for Ashcroft diaphragm seal products, I am often asked to recommend a solution for this particular challenge. More often than not, after I gather all pertinent information about the customer's specific challenge, the solution is a dampening device. Read on to learn when and why a dampening device may be recommended for your application, the different styles that are available and how they function. When you are done, you will have a greater understanding of how diaphragm seals and dampening devices can work together to keep your operation running safely. You will also see links to additional related resources that you can refer to at your convenience.

If you work in an industry that involves high-heat processes, such as oil and gas and petrochemical applications, you know the challenge of keeping your pressure and temperature measurement instruments working effectively. These instruments are put to the test daily with exposure to extreme temperatures, abrasive chemicals and other elements that may not be compatible with the wetted components (parts that are in contact with the process). The industry solution for protecting pressure and temperature instruments in these applications is to use isolators, commonly known as diaphragm seals, to isolate the instrument from the process. But how do you know the type of seal that is best for your operation? Ashcroft is an industry-leading manufacturer of diaphragm seals and frequently works with customers to address this issue. As the product leader for diaphragm seals, I want to share my insights and solutions that you can use as a reference for your needs. Read on to learn common challenges for diaphragm seals and assemblies, considerations for choosing diaphragm seals and how to protect them (and other instruments) from damage in your specific application .

The chemical industry manufactures a wide range of chemical and material products for industries that require durable and reliable measurement and monitoring technology for their production. You need accurate and reliable measurement instruments that can stand up to harsh chemical environments. Misapplication or failure of instrumentation can lead to severe consequences like equipment loss, employee injury and environmental damage, so it is essential to use instruments engineered to withstand the severe demands of chemical processing operations. This article will discuss some factors to consider when selecting the best pressure and temperature instrumentation for your chemical application.

Some pressure instruments require a fill fluid to help with pulsation and vibration in certain applications. Filling the cavity of a pressure gauge with liquid lubricates and dampens the internal components to reduce or eliminate the effects of heavy vibration and/or pulsation. A system fill is commonly used in assemblies when one or more instruments are installed above a diaphragm seal. There are many types of fill fluid options available today, so which one is best for your application?

Your application requires specialized pressure measuring equipment that has the proper accuracy, safety and quality features you need. If your application involves excessive pulsation and/or vibration you need to take measures to protect your pressure gauge from damage.