The europascal BH4-120B Automatic Deadweight Tester is a high-performance hydraulic pressure standard designed for precise and efficient calibration from 1 to 120 bar. As part of the automatic BH4 series, the instrument combines the proven physical measurement principle of a piston gauge with advanced functions for pressure calculation, piston position monitoring, result recording and digital calibration workflows.
The BH4-120B uses one precision piston-cylinder system and covers the complete measuring range from 1 to 120 bar, corresponding to approximately 0.1 to 12 MPa. The manufacturer specifies an imperial range from 10 to 1,800 psi.
The instrument operates hydraulically with oil and uses calibrated stainless steel masses to generate a precisely defined force on the piston. The resulting pressure is derived from the relationship between this force and the effective piston area.
Unlike a conventional manually operated deadweight tester, the BH4 platform incorporates motorization, dynamic visualization of the piston position and automatic display of the generated pressure. Calibration results can be recorded and transferred to a computer, providing a convenient solution for laboratories with intensive or regular calibration requirements.
europascal provides professional support for pressure calibration equipment, system configuration, maintenance and calibration. The europascal calibration service provides professional solutions for deadweight testers, pressure balances, pressure gauges, pressure sensors, transmitters and other pressure measuring equipment.
Your Benefits at a Glance
The europascal BH4-120B Automatic Deadweight Tester combines a useful hydraulic pressure range with automatic operation and the physical reference principle of a pressure balance.
Key benefits include:
- Automatic hydraulic deadweight tester
- Measuring range from 1 to 120 bar
- Maximum pressure of 120 bar / 12 MPa
- Single-piston configuration
- One precision piston-cylinder system
- Physical piston gauge measurement principle
- Hydraulic operation with oil
- Stainless steel calibration masses
- Motorized mass rotation
- Dynamic piston position visualization
- Automatic display of generated pressure
- Different pressure units with the same weight set
- Operator assistance during calibration
- Recording of calibration results
- Computer data transfer
- Standard or customer-specific gravity configuration
- Designed for professional calibration laboratories
Measuring Range from 1 to 120 bar
The europascal BH4-120B covers a hydraulic measuring range from:
1 to 120 bar
This corresponds approximately to:
100 to 12,000 kPa
or:
0.1 to 12 MPa
The manufacturer specifies the imperial range as:
10 to 1,800 psi
The maximum pressure is:
120 bar / 12 MPa
This range makes the BH4-120B particularly suitable for pressure gauges, sensors, transmitters and other hydraulic pressure instruments with measuring ranges commonly used in industrial and laboratory applications.
Automatic Hydraulic Pressure Calibration
The BH4-120B belongs to AREMECA’s automatic BH4 deadweight tester series.
The system combines the physical pressure generation of a traditional piston gauge with electronic and motorized functions that assist the operator during calibration.
The automatic platform provides:
- Motorization of the mass system
- Dynamic visualization of piston position
- Automatic display of generated pressure
- Different pressure units
- Operator assistance
- Recording of results
- Transfer of results to a computer
These functions make the BH4-120B particularly suitable for laboratories carrying out regular or intensive pressure calibration.
Physical Piston Gauge Measurement Principle
The europascal BH4-120B Automatic Deadweight Tester operates according to the fundamental piston gauge principle.
The basic relationship is:
p = F / A
where:
p = generated pressure
F = force acting on the piston
A = effective piston area
The gravitational force produced by the calibration masses is primarily determined by:
F = m × g
where:
m = applied mass
g = gravitational acceleration
The simplified relationship is therefore:
p = (m × g) / A
This provides a direct physical relationship between mass, gravity, effective piston area and generated pressure.
For high-accuracy pressure calibration, additional corrections can be considered for relevant influence quantities.
Important Measurement Uncertainty Contributions
The actual measurement uncertainty of a calibration does not depend on the pressure balance alone.
Relevant influence quantities can include:
- Calibration uncertainty of the masses
- Effective piston area
- Pressure coefficient of the piston-cylinder system
- Local gravitational acceleration
- Air buoyancy
- Piston-cylinder temperature
- Hydraulic fluid properties
- Hydrostatic head difference
- Repeatability
- Resolution of the device under test
- Environmental conditions
These quantities should be evaluated according to the calibration procedure and the required uncertainty budget.
Single-Piston Configuration
The europascal BH4-120B incorporates:
one piston-cylinder system
The complete specified measuring range from 1 to 120 bar is covered by this single precision piston.
This provides straightforward operation because there is no requirement to switch between separate low-pressure and high-pressure piston assemblies.
For laboratories working primarily within this pressure range, the single-piston configuration provides a practical combination of range and ease of operation.
Motorized Mass Rotation
Free rotation of a piston is important for reducing friction effects between the piston and cylinder.
The BH4 platform provides:
motorization of the weight set in rotation by an electric system
This reduces manual intervention compared with a conventional manually operated pressure balance.
Motorized operation is particularly useful when many calibration points are generated repeatedly during routine laboratory work.
Dynamic Piston Position Visualization
Correct piston position is essential for reliable operation of a deadweight tester.
The BH4 system therefore provides:
dynamic visualization of the piston position
The operator can monitor the piston position during calibration and determine whether the piston is operating within the appropriate working range.
This simplifies operation and provides additional assistance during repetitive calibration procedures.
Automatic Display of Generated Pressure
The BH4 platform automatically displays the pressure generated by the pressure balance.
This reduces the amount of manual calculation required during routine calibration.
The system combines the relevant pressure balance parameters with the applied mass load and operating conditions to assist the operator in determining the reference pressure.
Different Pressure Units with the Same Weight Set
The BH4 system supports different pressure units while using the same physical weight set.
Depending on configuration, relevant units can include:
- bar
- kPa
- MPa
- psi
- kg/cm²
This provides flexibility when calibrating instruments from different manufacturers or for customers using different engineering units.
Calibration Result Recording
The automatic BH4 platform provides:
recording of calibration results
This supports more efficient calibration documentation and improves traceability of measurement results.
Digital recording can also reduce the risk of transcription errors associated with manually copying measurement values.
Computer Data Transfer
Calibration results can be transferred to a computer.
This allows the europascal BH4-120B to be incorporated into digital calibration workflows.
Computer data transfer can be particularly useful for laboratories processing large numbers of devices or measurement points.
Hydraulic Operation with Oil
The europascal BH4-120B is a hydraulic pressure balance.
AREMECA specifies mineral or synthetic oil depending on the model.
The hydraulic reservoir capacity for the BH4 platform is:
125 cm³
Correct filling, cleanliness and venting of the hydraulic circuit are important for stable pressure generation.
Trapped gas can affect settling behavior, while contamination can influence precision hydraulic components.
Compatibility between the hydraulic medium and the device under test should therefore always be checked before calibration.
Stainless Steel Calibration Masses
The BH4 series uses:
stainless steel calibration masses
The masses are designed for convenient loading onto the weight carrier and are marked according to the selected measuring unit.
The mass set generates the force acting on the piston and therefore forms an essential part of the physical pressure reference.
Standard or Local Gravity
The force generated by calibration masses depends directly on gravitational acceleration.
The conventional standard value is:
g = 9.80665 m/s²
Actual gravitational acceleration varies according to geographical location.
AREMECA therefore allows the instrument to be configured for standard gravity or a specified local gravity value.
For precision pressure calibration, the appropriate gravity value should be considered because it directly affects the force generated by the calibration masses.
Leveling and Installation
Correct leveling is important for piston gauge operation.
The BH4 platform is equipped with:
- Leveling bubble
- Adjustable feet
These features allow the pressure balance to be correctly aligned at the installation location.
Proper leveling helps ensure that the piston-cylinder assembly operates under the intended mechanical conditions.
Connection of the Device Under Test
AREMECA specifies a:
G1/2 standard adapter
for connection of the device under test.
Other adapters are available as options.
This allows pressure gauges, sensors, transmitters and other instruments with different process connections to be connected using suitable adapters.
Operating Temperature
The specified operating temperature range for the BH4 automatic deadweight tester series is:
18 to 28 °C
The manufacturer specifies calibration reference conditions of:
Temperature: 20 °C
Atmospheric pressure: 1013.25 hPa
Relative humidity: 50 %
Gravitational acceleration: 9.80665 m/s²
Environmental conditions are relevant because they can influence the generated reference pressure and associated measurement uncertainty.
Technical Highlights
Model: europascal BH4-120B
Device type: Automatic Hydraulic Deadweight Tester
Product family: BH4 Automatic
Configuration: Single piston
Number of pistons: 1
Measuring range: 1 to 120 bar
Measuring range: 0.1 to 12 MPa
Manufacturer imperial range: 10 to 1,800 psi
Maximum pressure: 120 bar / 12 MPa
Measurement principle: Piston gauge / deadweight tester
Pressure medium: Mineral or synthetic oil depending on configuration
Calibration masses: Stainless steel
Reservoir: 125 cm³
DUT connection: G1/2 standard adapter
Operating temperature: 18 to 28 °C
Standard gravity: 9.80665 m/s²
Local gravity: Available
Motorized mass rotation: Integrated
Dynamic piston position visualization: Integrated
Automatic pressure display: Integrated
Result recording: Integrated
Computer data transfer: Integrated
Technical Data
| Feature | europascal BH4-120B |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | europascal Aremeca |
| Model | BH4-120B |
| Device type | Automatic Hydraulic Deadweight Tester |
| Product family | BH4 Automatic |
| Configuration | Single piston |
| Number of pistons | 1 |
| Measuring range | 1–120 bar |
| Measuring range | 0.1–12 MPa |
| Manufacturer imperial range | 10–1,800 psi |
| Maximum pressure | 120 bar / 12 MPa |
| Measurement principle | Piston gauge |
| Pressure medium | Oil |
| Calibration masses | Stainless steel |
| Reservoir | 125 cm³ |
| DUT connection | G1/2 standard |
| Operating temperature | 18–28 °C |
| Standard gravity | 9.80665 m/s² |
| Motorized operation | Integrated |
| Piston position visualization | Dynamic |
| Automatic pressure display | Integrated |
| Result recording | Integrated |
| Computer data transfer | Integrated |
BH4-120B within the Automatic BH4 Series
The BH4 series provides automatic hydraulic pressure balances for different pressure ranges.
The BH4-120B occupies an important position in this product family because it provides pressure generation from only 1 bar up to 120 bar.
Compared with higher-pressure BH4 models, it is particularly suitable for calibration tasks where accurate coverage of the lower and medium hydraulic pressure range is required.
Its single-piston configuration provides straightforward operation while the automatic BH4 functions reduce operator workload.
Typical Calibration Applications
The europascal BH4-120B Automatic Deadweight Tester is suitable for testing, adjustment and calibration of mechanical and electronic pressure measuring instruments.
Typical devices under test include:
- Precision pressure gauges
- Digital pressure gauges
- Pressure sensors
- Pressure transducers
- Pressure transmitters
- Pressure switches
- Hydraulic pressure indicators
- Reference pressure instruments
- Industrial pressure measurement systems
Typical users include professional calibration laboratories, pressure instrument manufacturers, industrial quality assurance departments, research laboratories and calibration service organizations.
Calibration and Traceability
Regular calibration of a pressure balance is essential for maintaining reliable metrological performance.
Important parameters include:
- Piston-cylinder assembly
- Effective piston area
- Calibration mass set
- Pressure coefficient
- Temperature behavior
- Gravity value
- Relevant correction quantities
The europascal calibration service provides professional calibration solutions for pressure balances, deadweight testers, pressure gauges, pressure sensors, transmitters and other pressure measuring equipment.
europascal can also provide support with system configuration, maintenance and selection of suitable pressure calibration equipment.
Why Choose the europascal BH4-120B?
The europascal BH4-120B Precise Automatic Deadweight Tester combines a hydraulic pressure range from 1 to 120 bar with the proven physical measurement principle of a piston gauge and the automatic functionality of the BH4 platform.
Its single-piston configuration provides straightforward pressure generation, while motorized mass rotation, dynamic piston position visualization, automatic pressure display, result recording and computer data transfer simplify routine calibration procedures.
For professional laboratories that regularly calibrate pressure gauges, sensors, transmitters and transducers up to 120 bar, the BH4-120B provides an excellent combination of pressure range, physical traceability and automated operation.
Looking for the europascal BH4-120B or an automatic hydraulic pressure calibration solution up to 120 bar? Contact europascal for expert advice, system configuration and professional calibration services tailored to your requirements.
