Robust 4-20mA pressure transmitters designed to resist seawater corrosion. Ideal for ship sytems, desalination plants, subsea & coastal monitoring.
Pressure transmitters designed for seawater service incorporate specialized materials like Titanium, engineered ceramics, or alloys such as Hastelloy for all wetted components to combat the highly corrosive effects of saltwater. This focus on material science ensures long-term reliability and accurate 4-20mA signal output in demanding marine, offshore, and coastal applications, preventing premature failure due to pitting or crevice corrosion common with standard materials. These robust instruments are essential for reliable measurements in applications ranging from shipboard systems and desalination plants to subsea equipment and environmental monitoring.
DMK457 Marine Approved Pressure Transmitter - Marine approved pressure transmitter with 4-20mA current loop output for shipbuilding with optional CuNiFe housing for sea-water compatibility
DMK 458 Seawater Low Range Pressure Transmitter - Sea water corrosion resistant low range pressure transmitter for marine, ship and offshore engineering.
LMK 487 Submersible Ballast Tank and Draught Level Pressure Transmitter - A 22mm diameter titanium body seawater depth and level probe with a 4-20mA output with Lloyds and DNV-GL ship approval, for monitoring the quantity of ballast or the draft of a ship’s hull.
Find out more about Sea Water Resistant Pressure Transmitters to determine which product options and capabilities will best meet your application requirements.
Selecting pressure transmitters for applications involving seawater requires careful consideration of material compatibility due to the high salinity and inherent corrosivity of the medium. Standard industrial materials often succumb quickly to the aggressive nature of seawater, leading to premature sensor failure and unreliable measurements. Therefore, transmitters designed specifically for marine or coastal environments utilize specialized materials for all components exposed to seawater, commonly referred to as “wetted parts”. These typically include the sensing diaphragm, the process connection, and potentially the housing if the unit is submersible or frequently splashed.
The primary challenge stems from various forms of corrosion exacerbated by chlorides in seawater, including pitting, crevice corrosion, and galvanic corrosion, especially when dissimilar metals are present. Even materials like standard 316 stainless steel, often considered corrosion-resistant, can exhibit limited lifespans in warm or stagnant seawater conditions. To ensure long-term operational integrity and maintain the accuracy of the 4-20mA output signal, these transmitters often employ advanced materials. Robust options such as Titanium alloys offer exceptional resistance across a wide range of temperatures and salinity levels. Certain engineered ceramics, like high-purity Alumina (Al2O3), provide excellent chemical inertness, making them suitable for sensing diaphragms.
Special metal alloys like Hastelloy C276 or Monel 400 are frequently specified for their superior performance against pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride-rich environments. For specific components or lower-pressure applications, high-performance plastics such as PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) or PEEK (Polyether ether ketone) might be used for their excellent chemical resistance, although mechanical strength and pressure ratings need careful evaluation. The choice of material often depends on the specific application parameters, including temperature, pressure range, flow conditions, and the potential presence of other chemicals or biological activity (biofouling), which can also influence corrosion rates.
These specialized transmitters find critical use in diverse marine and coastal applications. Examples include monitoring ballast tank levels on ships, measuring line pressure in seawater cooling systems for engines or industrial processes, instrumentation within desalination plants (particularly on intake and brine discharge lines), controlling systems in aquaculture facilities, monitoring pressure in subsea hydraulic control modules for offshore oil and gas platforms, deployment on oceanographic research buoys, and integration into coastal monitoring stations for tide and wave height measurement. The robust construction ensures dependable operation despite constant exposure to the harsh marine environment.