What does calibration actually mean?
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures has a specific definition of calibration (BIPM) is “Operation that, under specified conditions, in a first step, establishes a relation between the quantity values with measurement uncertainties provided by measurement standards and corresponding indications with associated measurement uncertainties (of the calibrated instrument or secondary standard) and, in a second step, uses this information to establish a relation for obtaining a measurement result from an indication.” Calibration of an instrument in its purest sense is the process of determining its accuracy.
Types of Calibration
Calibration of measuring instruments can be performed on different types of instruments across different regions.
• Pressure Calibration
• Temperature Calibration
• Flow Calibration
• Pipette Calibration
• Electrical calibration
• Mechanical calibration
1. Pressure Calibration
In order to maintain the tolerance of their manufacturer’s requirements, all measuring instruments used in essential applications must be regularly calibrated. Calibration is the process of comparing the pressure gauge of a test (DUT) device with a reference level. For each measurement category and application, calibration techniques are described at national and international standards.
Here are some examples of regularly calibrated pressure devices:
• Digital Pressure Gauges
• Digital Indicators
• Transducers
• Transmitters
• Analogue Pressure Gauges
• Barometers
• Test Gauges
2. Temperature Calibration
Temperature Calibration is performed in all critical measurement procedures, which is done in a controlled environment.
Thermometers, also known as thermocouples or platinum resistance thermometers (PRTs), are resistance temperature devices used in temperature calibration (RTD). Using an RTD or thermocouple indicator reads the temperature from the temperature sensor and then does not compare it to an inline field indicator A temperature calibration can only be achieved by comparing the temperature calibration with the probing spacecraft in a stable temperature environment.
Here are some examples of regularly calibrated temperature devices:
• Data Acquisition Systems
• Thermometers/Thermocouples
• Dial Thermometers
• Chambers/Furnaces
• Infrared Meters
• PRTs and Thermistors
• Thermal Cameras
2. Flow Calibration
A flow meter, also known as a flow sensor, is test equipment that measures a liquid or gas’s linear, nonlinear, mass, or volumetric flow rate. Flow rate refers to the speed at which a process fluid moves through pipelines, holes, or vessels at a given time, and control and instrumentation engineers must measure this value to monitor and control the speed and efficiency of industrial flow processes. Tools.
There are four types of flow meters that require calibration periodically, they are:
• Thermal Mass Flowmeters
• Laminar Flowmeters
• Rotometers – Gas and Air
• Turbine Meters
4. Pipette Calibration
Pipette calibration is critical for accurate and precise piping results in laboratories that use this measuring device on a regular basis. All types of piping used in laboratories: single-channel, multi-channel manual pipettes, and electronic pipettes must comply with several aspects of the calibration process and protocols.
Pipette calibration’s major goal is to guarantee that the delivery is as expected.
5. Electrical calibration
The process of assessing the performance of any instrument that measures or tests electrical parameters such as voltage, current, resistance, inductance, capacitance, time, and frequency is known as electrical calibration.
Electrical calibration instruments or calibrators should be used to evaluate the performance of other instruments known as tests according to the primary properties (UUTs) of the units.
The following devices are regularly sent for electrical calibration:
• Data Loggers
• Electrical meters
• Multi-meters
• Oscilloscopes
• Frequency Counters
• Insulation Testers
• Loop Testers
6. Mechanical calibration
Mechanical instruments are prone to drift as a result of repeated use, mechanical trauma, and exposure to fluctuating air conditions, necessitating mechanical calibration. Mass, force, size, angle, volume, flatness, torque, and vibration are all calibrated during mechanical calibration in a temperature-controlled environment.
Here are some instruments of regularly calibrated mechanical devices:
• Accelerometers
• Scales/Balances
• Load Cells & Force Gauges
• Micrometers, Verniers, Height Gauges
• Torque Wrenches & Screwdrivers
• Weight & Mass Sets