The relative pressure compensation takes place via a feed-through or opening through which the ambient pressure can reach the back of the sensor diaphragm. The ambient pressure thus acts on the diaphragm from both sides and equalizes. Only the pressure that exceeds the ambient pressure is displayed.
About 90 % of all pressure measurements involve relative pressures, since in most applications the relation of the process pressure to the ambient pressure is relevant. So, for example, in a hydrostatic level indicator without a relative pressure compensation, a fluctuating atmospheric pressure would lead to an incorrect display.
With the usual fluctuations of approx. ±20 mbar, the measured level would change by approx. ±20 cm in the case of water. A typical example is tire pressure: a car tire is filled with a relative pressure of 2.5 barrel at sea level in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. The tire is now at an absolute pressure of approx. 3.5 barabs. On a mountain pass at an altitude of 3000 m, only about approx. 0.7 barabs acts from the outside due to the lower atmospheric pressure. The tire expands and its surface area becomes smaller. The relative pressure in the tire is now 2.8 barrel and needs to be corrected. The absolute pressure remains unchanged at 3.5 barabs.
