In another Ashcroft® Understanding the Basics article titled, What is a Pressure Gauge? you learn that manufacturers of pressure gauges must follow certain global standards to ensure all of these instruments function the same way. The standards that we are referring to are ASME B40.100 and EN 837-1. As a global leader in pressure instrumentation, Ashcroft is often asked which of these manufacturing standards we follow for our pressure gauges. The answer is both, and the reason is simple. This article will provide you with a brief overview of ASME B40.100 and EN 837-1 standards, what they cover, their similarities and their differences. Whether you are new to the world of pressure gauges, or you are looking for a quick refresher on the subject, you will gain a deeper understanding of these global standards after reading this piece. You will also find additional resources that may interest you when you are ready to go beyond the basics of pressure gauges.

In the chemical and petrochemical industry, measuring and monitoring pressure is critical to ensuring your operation runs safely and efficiently. Inaccurate pressure measurements can have serious consequences, including employee injury, equipment loss, environmental issues and costly downtime. That’s why it is essential to use instruments engineered to withstand the severe demands of chemical processing operations. Ashcroft has been making accurate and reliable pressure and temperature measurement instruments for more than 170 years. During that time, we have seen how pressure gauges perform in the most demanding conditions and have become an industry authority across the globe. In this article, you will learn about the unique challenges pressure gauges encounter in chemical and petrochemical operations and gain a better understanding of how to ensure your gauge is safe to use in these demanding applications. When you are done reading, you will have access to additional articles and resources to deepen your knowledge even further.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), groundwater serves as a crucial resource for half of the U.S. population. Reliance on this vital natural resource is especially significant in regions with scarce rainfall, limited surface water availability, or high agricultural demands and population. As a leading manufacturer of pressure and temperature instrumentation, Ashcroft understands the challenges of protecting this vital resource. In this article, you will learn about submersible pressure transmitters and how they are used to monitor water levels and provide essential information to water management personnel. You will also see examples of four common applications where submersibles are used and some challenges these instruments may encounter while in use. When you are done reading, you will find additional, related resources that may be of interest when you are ready to go beyond the basics of this topic.

Measuring very low-pressure in controlled environments like data centers, isolation rooms, labs, and operating rooms, for example, is challenging because they must maintain a very specific and very controlled atmosphere. If these environments are compromised in any way, it puts the people and the equipment you are protecting at risk. That's why you must ensure your pressure measurement instrumentation meets the specified guidelines for accuracy and reliability. As a product manager at Ashcroft, I have 26 years of industry experience, including the past eight years working exclusively on low-pressure sensing technology. In this article, you will see how we define 'very low' pressure, see examples of controlled environments where low-pressure measurements are required, and learn how pressure is measured in these applications. You will also gain a better understanding of the impact temperature has on pressure measurement and what to look for in a pressure measurement instrument to ensure your controlled environment stays secure. When you are done reading, you will also be directed to additional articles and resources that may be of interest for other questions you may have.

This article is based on a white paper written by John Carissimi and Jeremy Payne in 2015 and rewritten on May 6, 2024. Sour gas and crude oil operations involve harsh conditions with a high risk of corrosion. Metals and alloys used in environments with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are especially prone to corrosion and stress cracking, which can lead to material failure and dangerous fluid leaks in your system. To enhance safety and prevent equipment failures, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) established control standards for any instrumentation used in these types of applications. As the Product Marketing Leader for process gauges at Ashcroft, a global leader in pressure and temperature instrumentation, I have spent the past 15 years answering questions and guiding customers on the importance of ensuring compatibility between your instruments and process media. In this article, you will get an overview of the NACE standards that specifically address corrosion that can occur with exposure to sour gas or sour crude. You will also learn what to look for when selecting pressure and temperature instruments for your sour gas and crude applications. When you are done reading, you will be able to access additional resources to help make informed decisions about selecting instrumentation for corrosive operations.

This article was originally published on July 24, 2023, by Rick Zerafin and was updated on April 29, 2024, by Dave Dlugos. Maintenance, reliability, process and Health Safety Environment (HSE) teams rely on accurate and stable temperature measurements to meet their goals. Thermocouples, new out of the box, are a critical tool for these measurements that help plant personnel maintain safe and efficient operations. Today, instrument designers use a wide array of thermocouple types, such as Type K, Type E and Type T to measure temperatures in applications ranging from cryogenic temperatures of -196 °C to the extremes of 1700 °C. This article will discuss how thermocouple calibration offers added benefits that promote process improvements and support compliance requirements. When you are done reading, you will also find additional related resources that can help you gain more insight into these important instruments.