When Extreme Heat Kills Pressure Measurement
Gas turbine test cells and dynamic pressure monitoring points punish ordinary transducers. Temperatures swing from −70 to 520°C, spikes hit 350 bar, and vibration never stops. The Vibro Meter CP 216 piezoelectric pressure transducer, ordering number 143-216-000-051, is built for exactly this environment. It uses man-made piezoelectric material in a compression-mode design, producing an extremely stable device for long-term monitoring or development testing.
Because the transducer is a charge-output device, it requires no input power. That removes a common failure point in high-temperature installations and simplifies cabling to the signal conditioner.
Key Parameters That Matter on Site
Sensitivity is 200 pC/bar (13.8 pC/psi), giving a strong signal for charge converters. The dynamic measuring range spans 0.0005 bar to 250 bar, with overload capacity up to 350 bar for static plus dynamic spikes. Linearity stays within ±1% across that range, so your trend data holds up over long monitoring campaigns.
Frequency response runs 2 Hz to 15 kHz ±5%, and the resonant frequency exceeds 80 kHz. The lower cutoff depends on the electronics you pair with it. Acceleration sensitivity stays at or below 0.5 pC/g, which keeps vibration-induced error low on machinery with heavy background motion.
Temperature capability is the headline. Continuous operation covers −54 to 470°C, and extreme applications reach −70 to 520°C. The supplied LEMO connector handles −55 to 155°C. The housing uses NIMONIC alloy 90, hermetically welded, with INCONEL alloy 600 for the cable. The unit also tolerates gamma flux and neutron flux exposure without effect.
Where the CP 216 Earns Its Place
Gas turbine monitoring is the primary fit. Dynamic pressure fluctuations in the combustion path reveal combustion instability long before vibration signatures do, and this transducer survives the surrounding heat.
Development testing on test rigs is the second scenario. Engineers need repeatable charge output across a wide frequency band while cycling temperature. The 143-216-000-051 delivers that without active electronics inside the hot zone.
A third use is long-term condition monitoring on industrial machinery where reliability outweighs cost per point. The internal case insulation and two-pole system insulated from casing reduce ground-loop problems in crowded installations.
Installation and Signal Chain
The transducer ships with a 3 m mineral insulated cable, twin conductors, and a LEMO connector. Cable assemblies are available to connect it to an IPC 704 signal conditioner, which performs charge conversion. Plan your signal chain around that conditioner or an equivalent charge converter.
Mount the transducer so the sensitive axis aligns with the pressure direction you want to measure. Keep cable runs away from high-current wiring where practical. The mineral insulated cable is stiff compared with polymer cable, so allow a service loop and avoid sharp bends at the connector.
Factory dynamic calibration is performed at 1 bar peak and 2 Hz at +23°C. No subsequent calibration is necessary, which shortens commissioning.
Reliability and Maintenance Planning
Inspect the connector and cable jacket periodically for mechanical damage. Check mounting torque and seating at scheduled outages. Because the device has no input power requirement and no internal electronics, there is little to wear out beyond the cable and connector interface.
The hermetic weld and alloy construction resist corrosion and humidity. In radiation environments, the unit shows no effect from gamma or neutron flux at the tested levels. For long-term ROI, the practical calculation is simple: fewer replacements in hot, vibrating locations means less downtime and lower spares consumption.
Please verify current lifecycle status and availability with Oil AutoTech before ordering. Contact Oil AutoTech today for pricing and availability.
Selection Checklist
Before you buy, confirm the connector type you need, since the CP 216 is offered with either a LEMO connector or a Vibro-Meter high-temperature connector. Confirm cable length and whether you need a cable assembly for the IPC 704. Confirm the maximum temperature at your measurement point against the continuous and extreme ratings. Oil AutoTech provides hands-on technical selection help and fast-dispatch spares for oil, gas and industrial automation applications.
