Accounting for the effects of gas species on piston gauge calculated area: absolute mode

Abstract

A model has been developed, and tested experimentally, to account for the apparent dependence of the effective cross-sectional area of pistons in gas-piston-gauge pressure standards on the particular gas with which the gauge is operated, in the absolute mode. The model treats a pressure drop or loss that depends on the pressure difference across the gauge (P1-P2), the fall rate of the piston, the density of the gas and the viscosity of the gas. The model was tested using helium, neon, argon, nitrogen and krypton, and several values of (P1-P2). An algorithm was developed for calculating the piston cross-sectional area. The experimental results confirmed the model and resulted in a reduction in measurement uncertainty arising from this effect by approximately one order of magnitude.