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Pressure Transmitter Simulator – Working Principles

How Pressure Transmitters Sense Pressure

Every pressure transmitter does the same job: turn pressure into a 4 to 20 mA signal. The difference is the sensing principle: what physical property changes when the diaphragm moves. Pick a sensor type, change the pressure, and watch the sensor, the electrical signal, and the path to the final 4 to 20 mA output.

From pressure to 4-20 mA (signal chain)

Sensor signal, conditioning electronics, ADC (analog to digital converter), microprocessor (linearises, corrects temperature and scales), then the 4-20 mA output stage.

How it works

    About this sensor type

    What changes with pressure
    Typical accuracy
    Best for
    Weak point
    Response time constant
    Temperature error (uncompensated)

    1Choose a sensor type

    2Apply pressure

    bar

    3Environment

    Reference temperature is 25 C. Untick compensation to see the raw temperature error of each principle. Pressure above 100 % is an overload.

    Transmitter readings

    Pressure applied
    Pressure seen by the sensor
    Sensor raw signal
    Digital value (16-bit)
    Output (% of span)
    Output current
    Error from temperature

    Sensor signal vs pressure

    Compare all sensor types

    Pressure Transmitter Simulator

    The Pressure Transmitter Simulator is an interactive learning tool that explains how different pressure sensors work and convert pressure into an electrical signal. Explore Bourdon tube, strain gauge, piezoresistive, capacitive, inductive, Hall effect, piezoelectric, resonant, and optical sensing technologies.

    Change the applied pressure and process temperature to observe sensor behaviour, signal conditioning, and the standard 4–20 mA output used in industrial instrumentation.

    This simulator is ideal for instrumentation engineers, technicians, and students learning pressure measurement, transmitter fundamentals, and process control systems.

    Explore the simulator below to understand how pressure transmitters work in power plants, refineries, and other process industries.