How to Mount a Pressure Gauge on a Flange

Pressure gauges can be installed on storage tanks.

Pressure gauges are common in the chemical process industries. They are used to measure liquid, gas and vapor pressures in pipelines and processing equipment. It is often necessary to add a pressure gauge on top of a process vessel. The preferred location to add a pressure gauge on a vessel is on a spare or unused nozzle and flange. Typically, these unused nozzles have a blind flange that must be removed before the installation of a pressure gauge. Most pressure gauges have threaded connections, so an adapter flange must be used. This type of flange has a female threaded nipple in the center of the flange that will hold a male threaded pressure gauge.

Things You'll Need

• Adapter flange with 1/4" female threaded nipple (flange bolts and nuts included)
• 1/4" male threaded pressure gauge
• Large wrench
• Small wrench

Instructions

1. Isolate the process vessel from the process. This can be done by draining the contents of the tank or closing all inlet and outlet valves. Use the wrench to unbolt the blind flange from an unused nozzle on the tank.

2. Position the adapter flange on the unused nozzle flange and line up the bolt holes. Insert the bolts into the holes and hand-tighten the nuts. Use the wrench to secure the flanges together.

3. Insert the pressure gauge male threaded end into the adapter nipple. Hand tighten the pressure gauge and use the small wrench to secure it into the adapter flange

References

• Omega: Engineering Pressure Gauges