L3-CRY-INST-PRES
ESSENTIAL
PRESERVATION
Level 3 · hardware
Cryogenic Pressure Sensors
Ultra-High Vacuum and Process Pressure Transducers
Pressure sensors monitoring dewar vacuum jacket integrity and process pressures
Purpose
Pressure sensors monitoring dewar vacuum jacket integrity and process pressures
Context
Child of L2-CRY-INST
Principles
- ▸Pirani gauges measure vacuum pressure via gas thermal conductivity (0.1-100 Pa range)
- ▸Capacitance diaphragm gauges provide process pressure measurement
- ▸Cold cathode ion gauges measure ultra-high vacuum in dewar jackets (<0.01 Pa)
- ▸Pressure rate-of-rise indicates vacuum leak rate for predictive maintenance
Typical implementations
- ▸MKS Instruments Baratron capacitance manometers
- ▸Pfeiffer IKR 270 cold cathode vacuum gauge
- ▸Edwards Active Pirani gauge (APG series)
Lunar considerations
- ▸Vacuum jacket pressure rise indicates seal degradation or MMOD penetration
- ▸Must detect very slow leaks that accumulate over decades
- ▸Radiation damage to ion gauge electronics requires hardened designs
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Pressure sensors monitoring dewar vacuum jacket integrity and process pressures |
Physical
| materials | Inconel diaphragm, Sapphire feedthrough, Titanium gauge housing |
Interfaces
Provides
- Vacuum and process pressure data
Requires
- Data acquisition for pressure monitoring
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Cryogenic Pressure Sensors" (L3-CRY-INST-PRES). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-CRY-INST-PRES
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.