How does a bubbler tube measure pressure in a water treatment system?

A bubbler tube measures pressure in a water treatment system by utilizing the principle of hydrostatic pressure, where a column of water produces pressure relative to its height. In this system, air is introduced through a submerged tube, and the water level in the tube indicates the pressure of the water being measured.

The method involves measuring the flow of air that escapes from the tube, which correlates to the height of the water in the tube. As the pressure increases, the height of the water column adjusts, affecting the amount of air that can be bubbled out. Hence, the use of an air compressor is important, as it supplies the necessary air to create bubbles. However, using an air compressor alone does not measure pressure directly; it serves merely as the mechanism to generate pressure for the bubbler system while the pressure measurement is taken from the water column.

In contrast, other methods such as the mercury manometer, diaphragm gauge, and pressure transducer actively measure pressure by different means that do not use the bubble formation principle that the bubbler tube relies on. Therefore, the use of an air compressor is crucial for providing the air necessary for the pressure measurement in the bubbler system.