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What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure

Often you will see a measurement of vacuum pressure described as an absolute pressure reading, so is there any difference between the two?

A vacuum pressure is one that is lower than the ambient environment surrounding pressure, and is typically measured relative to a perfect vacuum or full vacuum.

Since the reference pressure is not relative to another pressure and does not change, it is called the absolute reference or absolute pressure reference.

Featured vacuum measurement products

  • DPS Low Differential Pressure Transmitter Using 25 mbar DP sensor on vacuum below 0.2 bar absolute - I would like to measure a differential pressure of 0 to 25 mbar in a vacuum of < 0.2 bar absolute pressure.
  • DS200P Sanitary Low Range Pressure Gauge, Switch and Sensor - All in one electronic switch, gauge and sensor designed specifically for use in the food, drink and biomedical industry for measuring process pressures.

Any pressure measured relative to a full vacuum, whether above or below the surrounding ambient air pressure, is called an absolute pressure.

A vacuum pressure can always be measured and defined as an absolute pressure, but an absolute pressure can also be used to define pressures outside the vacuum range.

What is the difference between vacuum and absolute pressure

Featured absolute pressure measurement products

  • 300°C max temperature, 0 to 300 bar, high range pressure sensor - The 35X HTC can measure up to 300 bar (and higher if necessary) on media up to temperatures of 300 degC max.
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Related Product and Application Guides

  • Barometric Pressure
  • Absolute Pressure
  • Suction Pressure

Related Technical Terms

  • Absolute Pressure
  • Barometric Pressure
  • MSL – Mean Sea Level
  • Negative Gauge Pressure
  • Reference Pressure
  • Suction Pressure
  • Vacuum

Related Online Tools

  • Suction Pressure to Vacuum Calculator
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Related Product Types

  • Vacuum Pressure Transmitters
  • Standard version of LEO Record Vacuum, Suction Pressure Data Loggers, Recorders
  • Suction Pressure Transmitters
  • Vacuum, Suction, Negative Pressure Gauges

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