Cylinder pressure transducer and related method
View Patent ↗A pressure transducer for a hydrogen reciprocating compressor in a sour gas environment includes a sensor head including a diaphragm mounted on a free end of the sensor head. The diaphragm is constructed of a nickel-based alloy with gold plating on an exposed side thereof. A method of monitoring line pressure in a reciprocating hydrogen compressor in a sour gas environment includes a) providing a pressure transducer having a sensor head and a diaphragm located flush with a free end of the sensor head composed of a nickel-based alloy; b) applying a noble metal plating to one side of the diaphragm; and c) mounting the pressure transducer in a reciprocating compressor with the one side exposed to the sour gas.
1. A pressure transducer for a hydrogen reciprocating compressor in a sour gas environment comprising a sensor head including a diaphragm mounted on a free end of said sensor head;
wherein said diaphragm is constructed of a nickel-based alloy with a noble metal plating on an exposed side thereof.
2. The pressure transducer of claim 1 wherein said nickel-based alloy is a C-276 alloy.
3. The pressure transducer of claim 1 wherein said sensor head includes a threaded end portion and an integral hex nut that are comprised of said nickel-based alloy.
4. The pressure transducer of claim 3 wherein said nickel-based alloy is a C-276 alloy.
5. The pressure transducer of claim 1 wherein said noble metal plating comprises 24K gold plating.
6. The pressure transducer of claim 1 wherein said gold plating is applied to a thickness of about 5-8 microns.
7. The pressure transducer of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm has a thickness of about 42 microns.
8. The pressure transducer of claim 7 wherein said gold plating is applied to a thickness of about 5-8 microns.
9. A pressure transducer for a hydrogen reciprocating compressor in a sour gas environment comprising a sensor head including a diaphragm mounted on a free end of said sensor head;
wherein said diaphragm is constructed of a nickel-based alloy with a noble metal plating on an exposed side thereof;
and further comprising a housing connected to said sensor head by a transducer cable.
10. The pressure transducer of claim 9 wherein said transducer cable is enclosed in armor.
11. A pressure transducer for a hydrogen reciprocating compressor in a sour gas environment comprising a sensor head including a diaphragm mounted on a free end of said sensor head;
wherein said diaphragm is constructed of a nickel-based C-276 alloy with gold plating on an exposed side thereof; and
wherein said sensor head includes a threaded end portion and an integral hex nut that are also constructed of said nickel-based C-276 alloy.
12. A method of monitoring line pressure in a reciprocating hydrogen compressor in a sour gas environment comprising:
a) providing a pressure transducer having a sensor head and a diaphragm located flush with a free end of said sensor head composed of a nickel-based alloy;
b) applying gold plating to one side of said diaphragm; and
c) mounting said pressure transducer in a reciprocating compressor with said one side exposed to the sour gas.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said nickel-based alloy comprises a C-276 alloy.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein said gold plating comprises 24K gold plating.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein said gold plating is applied to a thickness of about 5-8 microns.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein said diaphragm has a thickness of about 42 microns and said gold plating is applied to a thickness of about 5-8 microns.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein said sensor head includes a threaded end portion and an integral hex nut comprised of said C-276 alloy.