The europascal BH4-1200B DP Automatic Dual Piston Deadweight Tester is a high-performance hydraulic pressure standard designed for precise and efficient calibration over an exceptionally wide pressure range. Its dual-piston configuration combines a low-pressure range from 1 to 60 bar with a high-pressure range from 20 to 1,200 bar, enabling one calibration system to cover applications from low hydraulic pressures up to demanding high-pressure measurements.
With an accuracy of 0.01 %, the BH4-1200B DP combines the fundamental physical measurement principle of a piston gauge with the advanced automation of the BH4 series. Integrated motorization, dynamic piston position visualization, automatic pressure calculation, operator assistance, result recording and computer data transfer make the system particularly suitable for professional calibration laboratories with regular or intensive workloads.
The abbreviation DP stands for Dual Piston. Instead of using one piston-cylinder assembly for the complete measuring range, the BH4-1200B DP incorporates two piston systems optimized for different pressure ranges. This provides excellent flexibility while keeping the required calibration mass system manageable.
The BH4-1200B DP operates hydraulically with oil and uses stainless steel calibration masses. The physical pressure is generated according to the proven piston gauge principle, while the integrated electronic system calculates and displays the resulting reference pressure.
europascal provides professional support for pressure calibration equipment, system configuration, maintenance and calibration. The europascal calibration service provides calibration solutions for deadweight testers, pressure balances, pressure gauges, pressure sensors, transmitters and other pressure measuring equipment.
Your Benefits at a Glance
The europascal BH4-1200B DP Automatic Dual Piston Deadweight Tester combines an exceptionally broad pressure range with automatic calibration functionality.
Key benefits include:
- Automatic hydraulic deadweight tester
- Dual-piston configuration
- Two precision piston-cylinder systems
- Low-pressure range from 1 to 60 bar
- High-pressure range from 20 to 1,200 bar
- Maximum pressure of 1,200 bar / 120 MPa
- Accuracy of 0.01 %
- Physical piston gauge measurement principle
- Hydraulic operation with oil
- Stainless steel calibration masses
- Motorized operation
- Dynamic piston position visualization
- Automatic calculation of generated pressure
- Automatic pressure display
- Different pressure units with the same weight set
- Operator assistance during calibration
- Calibration result recording
- Computer data transfer
- Broad measuring range with one calibration system
- Professional calibration and service from europascal
The dual-piston design is particularly advantageous for laboratories that need to calibrate both lower-pressure and high-pressure hydraulic instruments without using two completely separate deadweight testers.
Dual Piston Design for an Exceptional Measuring Range
The defining characteristic of the europascal BH4-1200B DP is its dual-piston configuration.
The system provides two pressure ranges:
Low-pressure piston: 1 to 60 bar
and:
High-pressure piston: 20 to 1,200 bar
The two ranges overlap between 20 and 60 bar.
This overlap provides flexibility when selecting the most appropriate piston-cylinder system for a particular calibration point.
The larger low-pressure piston enables lower hydraulic pressures to be generated with practical calibration masses, while the smaller high-pressure piston allows pressures up to 1,200 bar to be generated without requiring an impractically large mass stack.
This is the fundamental advantage of the dual-piston principle.
Pressure Range from 1 to 1,200 bar
Considering both piston-cylinder systems, the BH4-1200B DP provides an overall pressure coverage from:
1 to 1,200 bar
The two working ranges are:
1 to 60 bar – low-pressure piston
20 to 1,200 bar – high-pressure piston
The maximum pressure corresponds to:
1,200 bar
120 MPa
or approximately:
17,400 psi
The low-pressure range from 1 to 60 bar corresponds to approximately:
100 to 6,000 kPa
while the high-pressure range from 20 to 1,200 bar corresponds to:
2,000 to 120,000 kPa
This broad pressure coverage makes the BH4-1200B DP particularly versatile for professional pressure calibration.
Accuracy of 0.01 %
The europascal BH4-1200B DP Automatic Dual Piston Deadweight Tester provides a specified accuracy of:
0.01 %
This enables precise calibration across the two hydraulic pressure ranges.
The complete measurement uncertainty of an actual calibration additionally depends on the individual uncertainty contributions of the reference standard and the device under test.
Relevant influence quantities can include:
- Calibration of the mass set
- Effective area of the selected piston
- Local gravitational acceleration
- Air buoyancy
- Piston-cylinder temperature
- Pressure deformation
- Hydraulic fluid density
- Hydrostatic head difference
- Repeatability
- Resolution of the device under test
- Environmental conditions
For demanding calibration applications, these quantities should be evaluated in accordance with the applicable measurement uncertainty model.
Fundamental Piston Gauge Measurement Principle
The europascal BH4-1200B DP operates according to the fundamental physical principle of a piston gauge.
Pressure is determined from a known force acting on a precisely characterized effective piston area.
The fundamental relationship is:
p = F / A
where:
p = generated pressure
F = force acting on the piston
A = effective piston area
The gravitational force generated by the calibrated masses is primarily determined by:
F = m × g
where:
m = applied mass
g = gravitational acceleration
The simplified pressure relationship therefore becomes:
p = (m × g) / A
Because the BH4-1200B DP incorporates two piston-cylinder assemblies, the appropriate effective piston area is used according to the selected pressure range.
For precision calibration, additional corrections can be included for local gravity, air buoyancy, piston temperature, pressure deformation and hydrostatic head.
Why Use Two Pistons?
A deadweight tester generates pressure according to the ratio between force and effective piston area.
A larger piston area is advantageous at lower pressures because useful pressure values can be generated using practical calibration masses.
At high pressures, however, a large piston would require an extremely heavy mass stack.
A smaller piston area solves this problem.
The BH4-1200B DP therefore combines:
a larger piston for the low-pressure range
with:
a smaller piston for the high-pressure range
This enables the instrument to cover an overall range of 1 to 1,200 bar while maintaining practical operation.
For a calibration laboratory, this can reduce the number of separate pressure standards required.
Automatic Pressure Calculation
One of the major advantages of the europascal BH4-1200B DP is its integrated calculator.
The BH4 system provides:
- Automatic calculation of generated pressure
- Automatic pressure display
- Consideration of the selected piston
- Support for different pressure units
- Operator assistance
- Reduced manual calculation effort
- Improved efficiency during repetitive calibration
With a conventional manual deadweight tester, the operator must determine the reference pressure from the applied masses, effective piston area and relevant correction factors.
The BH4 concept simplifies this process by integrating calculation functionality directly into the system.
Dynamic Piston Position Visualization
Correct piston position is essential for reliable piston gauge operation.
The BH4 system therefore provides:
dynamic visualization of the piston position
This enables the operator to monitor the piston position during calibration and establish the correct operating condition.
Visual assistance is particularly valuable during repetitive calibration procedures because it reduces the need for continuous manual observation.
Motorized Operation
The automatic BH4 platform includes:
motorized operation of the rotating mass system
Rotation helps minimize friction effects between the piston and cylinder and supports free piston movement.
Motorization improves operating convenience and provides consistent rotation during calibration.
Together with dynamic piston position visualization, this significantly reduces the manual intervention normally required when operating a conventional deadweight tester.
Automatic Calibration Functions
The BH4 platform combines several functions within one calibration system:
Motorization
Dynamic piston position visualization
Sensors
Calculator
Automatic pressure calculation
Calibration data traceability
Result recording
Computer data transfer
The physical reference pressure continues to be generated by the piston-cylinder system and calibrated masses.
The electronic functions simplify operation, calculation and documentation without replacing the fundamental physical measurement principle.
Recording of Calibration Results
The europascal BH4-1200B DP supports:
recording of calibration results
This is particularly useful for professional laboratories performing repetitive calibration procedures.
Recorded data can support:
- Calibration documentation
- Measurement traceability
- Quality assurance
- Evaluation of the device under test
- Calibration history
- Digital laboratory workflows
The integration of measurement data handling helps reduce manual documentation work.
Computer Data Transfer
Calibration results can be:
transferred to a computer
This enables the BH4-1200B DP to be integrated into digital calibration workflows.
Data transfer reduces the need to manually copy measurement values and can therefore reduce potential transcription errors.
For laboratories calibrating a large number of devices, this can provide a significant improvement in efficiency.
Different Pressure Units with the Same Weight Set
The integrated calculation system enables:
different pressure units to be used with the same set of weights
This is particularly useful for calibration laboratories working with instruments from different countries or industries.
Depending on the configuration, pressure values can be handled in units such as:
- bar
- kPa
- MPa
- psi
- kg/cm²
The system therefore provides greater flexibility than a purely mechanical pressure balance with masses dedicated exclusively to one pressure unit.
Stainless Steel Calibration Masses
The BH4 series uses:
stainless steel calibration masses
The calibrated masses generate the gravitational force acting on the selected piston.
Their calibration and long-term stability are important elements of the pressure measurement system.
The generated pressure depends on the calibrated mass values, gravitational acceleration and effective area of the selected piston-cylinder assembly.
Standard Gravity and Local Gravity
The conventional standard value for gravitational acceleration is:
g = 9.80665 m/s²
However, actual gravity varies according to geographical location.
For high-accuracy deadweight tester calibration, this effect must be considered because gravitational acceleration directly affects the force generated by the calibration masses.
The system can therefore be configured according to standard gravity or a customer-specific gravity value.
Hydraulic Operation with Oil
The europascal BH4-1200B DP is a hydraulic deadweight tester.
The pressure medium is:
oil
Hydraulic operation is particularly suitable for the broad pressure range extending to 1,200 bar.
Correct filling and venting of the system are important. Trapped air should be minimized because its compressibility can affect pressure generation and settling behavior.
Compatibility between the hydraulic medium and the device under test should always be checked before calibration.
Technical Highlights
Model: europascal BH4-1200B DP
Device type: Automatic Dual Piston Hydraulic Deadweight Tester
Product family: BH4 Automatic
Configuration: Dual piston
Number of pistons: 2
Low-pressure range: 1 to 60 bar
High-pressure range: 20 to 1,200 bar
Overall pressure coverage: 1 to 1,200 bar
Maximum pressure: 1,200 bar / 120 MPa
Accuracy: 0.01 %
Measurement principle: Piston gauge / deadweight tester
Pressure medium: Oil
Calibration masses: Stainless steel
Motorization: Integrated
Piston position visualization: Dynamic
Pressure calculation: Automatic
Multiple pressure units: Supported
Result recording: Integrated
Computer data transfer: Available
Technical Data
| Feature | europascal BH4-1200B DP |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | europascal Aremeca |
| Model | BH4-1200B DP |
| Device type | Automatic Hydraulic Deadweight Tester |
| Product family | BH4 Automatic |
| Configuration | Dual piston |
| Number of pistons | 2 |
| Low-pressure range | 1–60 bar |
| High-pressure range | 20–1,200 bar |
| Overall pressure coverage | 1–1,200 bar |
| Maximum pressure | 1,200 bar / 120 MPa |
| Maximum pressure | Approx. 17,400 psi |
| Accuracy | 0.01 % |
| Measurement principle | Piston gauge |
| Pressure medium | Oil |
| Calibration masses | Stainless steel |
| Motorization | Integrated |
| Piston position visualization | Dynamic |
| Automatic pressure calculation | Integrated |
| Different pressure units | Supported |
| Result recording | Integrated |
| Computer data transfer | Available |
BH4-1200B DP vs. BH4-1200B SP
The BH4-1200B platform is available in different piston configurations.
The product described on this page is the:
BH4-1200B DP – Dual Piston
The single-piston configuration is:
BH4-1200B SP – Single Piston
The main difference is the pressure range architecture.
| Feature | BH4-1200B DP | BH4-1200B SP |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Dual piston | Single piston |
| Number of pistons | 2 | 1 |
| Low-pressure range | 1–60 bar | — |
| High-pressure range | 20–1,200 bar | 20–1,200 bar |
| Overall coverage | 1–1,200 bar | 20–1,200 bar |
| Maximum pressure | 1,200 bar | 1,200 bar |
| Accuracy | 0.01 % | 0.01 % |
| Main advantage | Extended low-pressure coverage | Simple single-piston operation |
The BH4-1200B DP is therefore particularly attractive for laboratories requiring the widest possible pressure coverage from a single automatic deadweight tester.
The overlapping ranges between 20 and 60 bar also provide additional flexibility when selecting the appropriate piston.
Automatic BH4 Concept
The europascal Aremeca BH4 range combines the proven physical pressure balance principle with modern electronic functionality.
Compared with a conventional manual deadweight tester, the automatic concept provides significant advantages during repetitive calibration.
These include:
- Reduced manual calculation
- Improved operator assistance
- Dynamic piston monitoring
- Automatic pressure display
- Digital result recording
- Computer data transfer
- Multiple pressure units
- Efficient calibration workflows
The BH4-1200B DP adds the additional advantage of two piston-cylinder systems.
This combination makes it a highly versatile pressure standard for laboratories requiring both broad pressure coverage and advanced calibration functionality.
Further europascal Aremeca products can be found here.
Calibration and Traceability
Regular calibration of the piston-cylinder assemblies, mass set and integrated measurement functions is essential for maintaining the metrological performance of the BH4-1200B DP.
The measurement uncertainty should consider all relevant components of the calibration system, including both piston-cylinder assemblies and the environmental quantities used for pressure calculation.
The europascal calibration service provides professional calibration solutions for deadweight testers, pressure balances, pressure gauges, pressure sensors, pressure transmitters and other pressure measuring equipment.
europascal can also provide support with system configuration, maintenance and the selection of suitable pressure calibration equipment.
Why Choose the europascal BH4-1200B DP?
The europascal BH4-1200B DP Precise Automatic Dual Piston Deadweight Tester combines an exceptionally broad hydraulic pressure range with advanced automatic calibration functions.
Its two piston-cylinder systems provide a low-pressure range from 1 to 60 bar and a high-pressure range from 20 to 1,200 bar.
This allows one pressure standard to cover an overall range from 1 to 1,200 bar.
With an accuracy of 0.01 %, the BH4-1200B DP is suitable for demanding professional calibration applications.
Motorized operation, dynamic piston position visualization, automatic pressure calculation, different pressure units, result recording and computer data transfer provide significant advantages for laboratories performing regular or intensive calibration work.
The result is a highly versatile pressure standard combining the fundamental traceability of a piston gauge with the convenience of modern calibration automation.
Typical Calibration Applications with the europascal BH4-1200B DP
The europascal BH4-1200B DP is particularly suitable for calibrating precision pressure gauges, digital pressure gauges, hydraulic pressure gauges, reference pressure instruments, pressure sensors, pressure transmitters, pressure transducers, pressure switches and other hydraulic pressure measuring equipment.
Typical application areas include professional calibration laboratories, pressure instrument manufacturers, industrial quality assurance, mechanical engineering, hydraulic systems, research and development and high-pressure test laboratories.
Its exceptionally broad overall range from 1 to 1,200 bar makes the BH4-1200B DP particularly attractive for laboratories that want to minimize the number of separate pressure standards required.
Looking for the europascal BH4-1200B DP or an automatic dual-piston calibration solution from 1 to 1,200 bar? Contact europascal for expert advice, system configuration and professional calibration services tailored to your requirements.
