europascal BH2-1200B is a precise dual-piston deadweight tester designed for high-accuracy hydraulic pressure calibration over a wide pressure range from 1 to 1,200 bar. The dual-piston design combines two piston-cylinder systems in one pressure balance, providing excellent flexibility for calibrating pressure gauges, digital pressure gauges, transmitters, transducers, sensors and pressure switches.

The europascal BH2-1200B Dual-Piston version is particularly suitable for calibration laboratories that require both a low starting pressure and a maximum pressure of up to 1,200 bar within one mechanical pressure reference system.

Its measurement principle is based on the fundamental relationship:

p = F / A

Calibrated masses generate a precisely defined force on the effective area of the piston-cylinder system. When the piston is in equilibrium, the resulting hydraulic pressure provides a highly stable reference value for comparison with the device under test.

The use of two piston-cylinder systems allows the BH2-1200B to optimize the effective piston area for different portions of the pressure range. This provides a wider useful measurement range than the single-piston version while maintaining the advantages of a traditional deadweight tester.

At europascal, we provide complete solutions for professional pressure calibration. In addition to pressure balances and pressure calibration equipment, we can assist you with suitable mass sets, adapters, pressure connections and accessories.

For regular calibration and metrological traceability of pressure balances, pressure gauges, transmitters and pressure sensors, use the europascal Calibration Service.

Your Benefits at a Glance

• Hydraulic dual-piston deadweight tester
• Two precision piston-cylinder systems
• Wide pressure range from 1 to 1,200 bar
• High-accuracy mechanical pressure reference
• Accuracy of 0.01 % of reading
• Enhanced accuracy up to 0.006 % available on request
• Lower starting pressure than the single-piston BH2-1200B
• Tungsten carbide pistons
• Precision piston-cylinder assemblies
• Hydraulic pressure generation
• H40 mineral oil as pressure medium
• Integrated pressure generator
• High repeatability
• Excellent long-term stability
• Suitable for pressure gauges
• Suitable for digital pressure gauges
• Suitable for pressure transmitters
• Suitable for pressure transducers
• Suitable for pressure sensors
• Suitable for pressure switches
• Different pressure units available
• Standard or local gravity configuration
• Optional motorization
• Optional piston-position visualization
• Optional calculator module
• Suitable for professional calibration laboratories
• Designed for industrial pressure metrology

Dual-Piston Pressure Calibration from 1 to 1,200 bar

The europascal BH2-1200B Dual-Piston version provides a wide hydraulic pressure range from:

1 to 1,200 bar

This broad range is one of the key advantages of the dual-piston configuration.

A single piston-cylinder assembly optimized for high pressures cannot always provide the required performance at very low pressures. The dual-piston concept solves this problem by using two different effective piston areas.

The larger-area piston is used for the lower pressure range, while the smaller-area piston provides the required capability for higher pressures.

This enables the BH2-1200B to combine low-pressure capability with hydraulic pressure calibration up to 1,200 bar.

Two Piston-Cylinder Systems

The defining feature of the europascal BH2-1200B Dual-Piston Deadweight Tester is its use of two piston-cylinder assemblies.

Each piston-cylinder system is optimized for a particular part of the overall pressure range.

This provides several practical advantages:

• Wider overall pressure range
• Lower minimum pressure
• Optimized mass loading
• Improved usability across the measurement range
• One pressure balance for low and high hydraulic pressures

For calibration laboratories covering a wide range of pressure instruments, this can reduce the need for separate pressure balances.

How Does a Deadweight Tester Work?

The operating principle of the europascal BH2-1200B is based on:

p = F / A

where:

p = generated pressure
F = force acting on the piston
A = effective piston area

Calibrated masses are placed on the selected piston system.

The gravitational force generated by the masses acts on the effective area of the piston-cylinder assembly.

Hydraulic pressure is then increased until the piston reaches its defined equilibrium or floating position.

Under these conditions, the generated pressure can be determined from the applied force and the effective piston area, taking the relevant correction quantities into account.

The generated reference pressure can then be compared directly with the indication of the device under test.

Advantages of the Dual-Piston Design

A pressure balance needs an appropriate relationship between piston area and applied masses.

For lower pressures, a larger effective piston area is advantageous because sufficient force can be generated with practical mass values.

At higher pressures, a smaller piston area allows very high pressures to be generated without requiring impractically large masses.

The europascal BH2-1200B combines these two requirements using two piston-cylinder systems.

The result is a highly flexible mechanical pressure reference covering an exceptionally broad hydraulic pressure range.

Accuracy of 0.01 % of Reading

The standard accuracy of the europascal BH2-1200B is:

0.01 % of reading

For particularly demanding pressure calibration applications, an enhanced accuracy of up to:

0.006 % of reading

is available on request.

A percentage-of-reading specification is especially beneficial for a pressure balance covering a wide pressure range because the accuracy specification follows the generated pressure.

This makes the dual-piston configuration particularly useful when pressure instruments with different measurement ranges need to be calibrated using the same reference system.

Hydraulic Pressure Generation

The europascal BH2-1200B uses hydraulic pressure generation.

A manually operated pressure generator is used to pressurize the hydraulic system and bring the selected piston into its correct operating position.

Fine pressure adjustment enables the operator to establish equilibrium between the applied masses and the hydraulic pressure.

The device under test is connected to the same hydraulic pressure circuit and therefore experiences the reference pressure generated by the pressure balance.

H40 Oil as Pressure Medium

The standard pressure medium for the europascal BH2-1200B is:

H40 mineral oil

A suitable hydraulic fluid is essential for reliable operation of a high-pressure deadweight tester.

The pressure medium transfers pressure between the pressure generator, piston-cylinder system and device under test.

For accurate measurements, the hydraulic system should be correctly filled and free from excessive trapped air.

Contamination of the fluid should also be avoided because particles can affect sensitive piston-cylinder assemblies and other components.

Calibration of Pressure Gauges

Pressure gauges are among the most common devices calibrated with a deadweight tester.

The europascal BH2-1200B can generate a sequence of accurately defined hydraulic pressures across the measurement range of the device under test.

Typical calibration sequences include several increasing pressure points followed by decreasing pressure points.

The difference between the generated reference pressure and the indication of the pressure gauge can then be evaluated.

Depending on the calibration procedure, this allows characteristics such as indication deviation, repeatability and hysteresis to be determined.

Calibration of Digital Pressure Gauges

High-accuracy digital pressure gauges can also be calibrated using the europascal BH2-1200B.

The broad 1 to 1,200 bar pressure range is particularly useful for laboratories calibrating digital gauges with different full-scale ranges.

The appropriate piston-cylinder system and mass combination can be selected according to the required calibration pressure.

This enables one pressure balance to cover numerous pressure gauge ranges.

Calibration of Pressure Transmitters

The BH2-1200B can also be used as a hydraulic reference for pressure transmitter calibration.

The pressure balance generates the reference pressure while an appropriate electrical measuring instrument measures the transmitter output.

For a conventional 4–20 mA transmitter, for example, several pressure values can be generated and the corresponding current output recorded.

The pressure and electrical measurements can then be evaluated together to determine transmitter performance.

Pressure Sensor and Transducer Calibration

Pressure sensors and transducers are used throughout industrial measurement systems.

The europascal BH2-1200B provides a high-quality reference pressure for evaluating these devices.

Depending on the sensor design, an external readout, multimeter, calibrator or data acquisition system can be used to measure the sensor output.

The dual-piston pressure balance provides the mechanical pressure reference throughout the calibration.

Pressure Switch Testing

Pressure switches can also be tested using the BH2-1200B.

Pressure is gradually increased until the switch changes state.

The generated reference pressure at this point can be determined using the pressure balance.

Pressure can then be reduced to determine the reset point.

The difference between the two switching points provides information about the switching hysteresis.

Gravity Correction

The pressure generated by a deadweight tester depends on the gravitational force acting on its calibrated masses.

For this reason, gravitational acceleration is an important quantity in high-accuracy pressure calibration.

A system can be configured using standard gravitational acceleration:

9.80665 m/s²

or according to the local gravity at the installation site.

Using the appropriate gravity value ensures that the relationship between calibrated mass, force and generated pressure is correctly represented.

Environmental Influences

High-accuracy deadweight tester measurements can be influenced by environmental conditions.

Important quantities include:

• Ambient temperature
• Atmospheric pressure
• Local gravity
• Air density
• Pressure medium density
• Piston-cylinder temperature

For demanding metrological applications, these quantities may need to be considered when calculating the generated reference pressure.

This is particularly important when the pressure balance is used as a reference standard in an accredited calibration laboratory.

Optional Motorization

The europascal BH2-1200B can be equipped with optional motorization.

Rotating the piston helps support proper operation of the piston-cylinder assembly by minimizing friction effects.

Motorized operation can improve convenience, particularly when the pressure balance is used frequently.

Optional piston-position visualization can additionally assist the operator in establishing and maintaining the correct floating position.

Optional Calculator Module

An optional calculator module can be used to support pressure determination and laboratory workflows.

Depending on the selected system configuration, relevant environmental quantities can be incorporated into the pressure calculation.

This can simplify corrections and reduce manual calculations during pressure calibration.

Digital data transfer can also support calibration documentation and integration into laboratory processes.

Technical Highlights

The europascal BH2-1200B Dual-Piston version combines two piston-cylinder assemblies with a robust hydraulic pressure generation system:

• Pressure range: 1 to 1,200 bar
• Dual-piston design
• Two piston-cylinder systems
• Standard accuracy: 0.01 % of reading
• Enhanced accuracy: up to 0.006 % on request
• Hydraulic pressure generation
• H40 oil pressure medium
• High long-term stability
• High repeatability
• Tungsten carbide piston technology
• Standard or local gravity configuration
• Different pressure units available
• Optional motorization
• Optional piston-position visualization
• Optional calculator module
• Suitable for professional pressure laboratories

Technical Specifications

Single-Piston or Dual-Piston BH2-1200B?

The europascal BH2-1200B is available in different configurations depending on the required pressure range.

The Single-Piston version covers approximately:

2 to 1,200 bar

The Dual-Piston version extends the lower end of the range to:

1 to 1,200 bar

The key advantage of the dual-piston system is therefore its wider measurement range.

Two different piston-cylinder assemblies optimize operation in the lower and higher pressure ranges.

For laboratories that frequently calibrate pressure instruments with significantly different measurement ranges, the dual-piston configuration provides additional flexibility.

The single-piston version can be an appropriate choice when the lower pressure extension is not required.

Typical Applications

The europascal BH2-1200B Dual-Piston Deadweight Tester is suitable for:

• Accredited calibration laboratories
• DAkkS calibration laboratories
• Factory calibration laboratories
• Quality assurance
• Pressure instrument manufacturing
• Mechanical engineering
• Process industries
• Energy industry
• Chemical industry
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Research and development
• Maintenance and service

Typical devices under test include pressure gauges, digital pressure gauges, transmitters, transducers, sensors and pressure switches.

Why Choose the europascal BH2-1200B?

The europascal BH2-1200B Dual-Piston Deadweight Tester provides an exceptionally wide hydraulic pressure range from 1 to 1,200 bar.

Its two piston-cylinder systems enable the pressure balance to cover both relatively low hydraulic pressures and high-pressure applications within one reference system.

The standard accuracy of 0.01 % of reading makes the system suitable for demanding professional pressure calibration. An enhanced accuracy of up to 0.006 % of reading is available for applications with even higher metrological requirements.

Combined with robust hydraulic pressure generation, high-quality piston-cylinder assemblies and optional laboratory automation features, the BH2-1200B provides a durable pressure reference for professional metrology.

At europascal, we can assist you in selecting the appropriate piston-cylinder configuration, mass sets, pressure units, adapters and accessories for your individual pressure calibration application.

For professional calibration and metrological traceability of pressure balances, pressure gauges, transmitters and pressure sensors, use the europascal Calibration Service.

Additional pressure measurement and calibration solutions are available through the europascal English homepage.

Discover more europascal Aremeca products here.

Manufacturer information about the europascal BH2-1200B Dual-Piston Deadweight Tester is available on the official Aremeca Instrumentation BH2-1200B DP product page.

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