Reotemp Diaphragm Seals
Manufactured in the USA under strict ISO 9001 quality standards, Reotemp offers a broad variety of diaphragm seals for the industrial markets. Reotemp Diaphragm Seals are carefully designed, built, and tested to maximize performance, increase instrument durability, and assure operator safety. Along with superior product quality, Reotemp is proud to offer responsive customer service, intuitive online product configurators, and the industry’s quickest lead times.
What is a diaphragm seal?
Diaphragm Seals, also referred to as chemical seals, are used in applications where the pressure sensor requires isolation from the process media. These applications may be corrosive, high temp, clogging, or require a sanitary fluid to remain captured in the piping or vessel. Rather than the process fluid interfacing with the pressure sensor, the pressure is exerted onto the flexible diaphragm and transmitted hydraulically to the instrument through the fill fluid. When properly mounted and filled a diaphragm seal assembly will have minimal effect on the instrument’s performance.
What are the application considerations for diaphragm seals?
REOTEMP Diaphragm Seal Assemblies are carefully designed, built, and tested to maximize performance, increase instrument lifespan, and assure operator safety. The following should be considered when specifying a diaphragm seal:
Instrument Considerations
- Is there sufficient displacement to drive through its
full range? - Is the diaphragm sensitive enough for the measuring range and accuracy grade of the instrument?
Diaphragm Seal Selection – Picking the Right Diaphragm Material
Diaphragm Seals, also known as Chemical Seals or Gauge Isolators, are built to protect pressure measurement instrumentation from process fluid that is hot, clogging, corrosive, sanitary, or otherwise threatening to the instrument. One of the most important aspects in selecting a long-lasting diaphragm seal is choosing the diaphragm foil material. Let Reotemp help you select a diaphragm material that will increase the durability and reliability of your pressure instrument.
Diaphragm Seal Sizing – Selecting the Right Size Diaphragm
Selecting the right size diaphragm is a crucial element in ensuring an accurate, durable, and cost effective pressure measurement assembly. Reotemp offers three standard sizes for offline diaphragm seals. Learn what applicational factors to look out for when selecting which size to use.
Diaphragm Seal Flushing Connections
Many styles of diaphragm seals allow for the installation of flushing connections, providing the user access to drain, purge, flush, or sample the process fluid inside of the diaphragm seal cavity. This video explains some of the flushing connection options available when configuring a diaphragm seal.
Benefits of All Welded Diaphragm Seals vs Bolted Diaphragm Seals
Diaphragm Seals, also known as Chemical Seals or Gauge Isolators, are used to isolate pressure instrumentation, like pressure gauges, pressure transmitters, pressure switches, level transmitters, and more from process media that is hot, corrosive, clogging, or otherwise damaging to the pressure instrument. In this video we compare Bolted Offline Diaphragm Seals with All Welded Diaphragm Seals, also known as Seal Gauges.
Diaphragm Seal Mounting
- How will the diaphragm seal mount to the process? Threaded? Flanged? Clamped?
- How will the instrument mount to the diaphragm seal? Threaded? Welded?
- Will the instrument be mounted directly to the seal or
with capillary?
Process Characteristics
- What are the pressure and temperature limits?
- Are there issues with clogging or high viscosity?
- Is there severe shock and pulsation?
- Is the process fluid compatible with the wetted material and gasket?
Diaphragm Seal Accuracy – How Temperature Impacts Pressure Reading
When a pressure transmitter or pressure gauge requires a diaphragm seal, properly selecting the size of the diaphragm is crucial. Undersized diaphragms can lead to many performance issues including sensitivity to temperature drift. This video illustrates how temperature change can impact the accuracy of a pressure instrument installed with a 3/4” Triclamp diaphragm seal – a common configuration for the sanitary market.
Ambient Characteristics
- Are there extreme or fluctuating ambient temperatures?
- Is the outside environment corrosive?
How to Avoid Diaphragm Seal Temperature Drift
A common issue with diaphragm seal performance is that of ambient temperature drift. Watch to learn one simple way to solve this problem.
Vacuum Considerations
- Will the assembly be operating in deep vacuum (< 5psia)? If yes, contact the factory with process specifications.
Questions?
If you require application assistance, please contact REOTEMP customer service at (800) 648-7737 or your local REOTEMP distributor.
Cooling Towers
High process temperatures are damaging to pressure instrument performance and could pose an imminent safety risk. REOTEMP cooling towers provide the best option for extending instrument lifespan, improving performance and minimizing safety risk.
Pulsation Protection
Process media pulsation is one of the most common causes of pressure gauge failure. REOTEMP’s proprietary diaphragm seal feature, Pulse Plus™ dramatically reduces the effects of pulsation on mechanical pressure instruments. Specify with option code -PP on most diaphragm seal models when a seal is being mounted to a REOTEMP pressure gauge.