Pressure transduser, load cells , temperature compensation

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PRESSURE TRANSDUSER and LOAD CELLS

PRESENTED BY PRASANTHI . N

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PRESSURE TRANSDUSER

• Pressure transducers use a variety of sensing

devices to provide an electrical output proportional

to applied pressure.

• A pressure transducer might combine the sensor

element of a gauge with a mechanical-to-electrical

or mechanical-to-pneumatic converter and a power

supply

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Pitot static transducer

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Pressure sensing elements• The basic pressure sensing• elements can be configured• as:• (A) a C-shaped Bourdon tube• (B) a helical Bourdon tube• (C) flat diaphragm• (D) a convoluted diaphragm• (E) a capsule• (F) a set of bellowsA pressure transducer mightcombine the sensor element witha mechanical-to-electricalor mechanical-to-pneumaticconverter and a power supply

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Classification of electrical pressure transducers

There are basically two general types of electrical transducers:

1. Active devices:• the physical effect to be identified produces an

electrical quantity, e.g. a voltage.• Typical examples are piezo-electric transducers,

thermocouples, etc.• Their sensitivity is expressed as the ratio of the change

of electrical output to the change of physical input.S= ΔV/ Δp

• Their typical overall accuracy is of the order of 1%.

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2. Passive devices:• Cannot do anything by themselves. There

has to be an external power source (voltage) so that the device can be activated.

• an electrical circuit element (R,L,C) is modified by the physical effect (input pressure or voltage).

• The sensitivity of passive transducers is expressed as the ratio of the relative impedance variation ΔZ/Z to the change of physical input.

S= (ΔZ/Z) / Δp• Typical examples are resistive, inductive and

capacitive transducers

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• Their typical overall accuracy is also of the order 1%.

VR = RI

VL = L dI/dt

V = 1/c ∫ I dt

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Electrical transducers can also be classified according to their modulation mode.

• -continuous mode (DC): the analog output is a DC signal; proportional to the input signal.

• -amplitude modulation (AM): the output signal is an AC signal; its amplitude is a function of the measured quantity whereas its frequency is constant.

• -frequency modulation (FM): the output signal is an AC signal; its frequency is a function of the measured quantity whereas its amplitude is constant

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Different Types of Pressure Transducers• As many other instruments, the transducer is

affected by its environment. The accuracy of its output strongly depends upon a correct calibration as well as upon the conditions in which it is used.

In general, great care must be taken with respect to:

• -the transducer operating temperature

• -its reference pressure

• -electrical and magnetic fields eventually present

• -mechanical vibrations, etc…

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A correct selection of the transducer to be used in a particular application requires a correct knowledge of

• -its pressure sensitivity,

• -its range,

• -its frequency response or resonant frequency

• -its sensitivity to acceleration

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Variable capacitance transducers• The capacitance is given by the equation:

C = KS(N −1) /d• C: capacitance• K: dielectric constant of the material between the plates• S: Area of one side of one plate• N: Number of plates• d: distance between two adjacent platesA capacitance transducer operates on the principle that the

physical property to be sensed changes one of the variables in the above equation (usually the distance d) which then changes the capacitance C. If the modified transducer is in transducer distance d is modified, such fact a displacement transducer, but it is also used to measure force, pressure and acceleration.

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Example:• This capacitance transducer is used to determine the

level of liquid hydrogen. The capacitance between the central rod and the surrounding tube varies with the changing dielectric constant K Capacitance K, varying because of the changing liquid level.

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A classical type of capacitive transducer for pressure measurements

Variable CapacitancePressure Transducer

• A diaphragm is suspended between two parallel metallic plates in order to form two capacitances C1 and C2 .

• The capacitance will change their value according to the diaphragm deflection due to a pressure difference between its two sides.

• This type of transducers is mostly to used measure small changes of a fairly low static pressure.

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Variable resistance transducers

• The resistance of a conductor is given by:R = ρ l/s

ρ: thermal resistivity of the resistance materiall : length of the conductorsS: cross sectional area of the conductors• A resistive transducer operates on the principle that the physical

property to be sensed changes one of the variables in the above equation.

• The simplest of these devices is the ordinary switch. • Another type is a sliding contact resistive transducer: it converts a

mechanical displacement into an electrical output, either voltage or current. This is accomplished by changing the length of the conductor

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• There are basically two types of variable resistance pressure measurements:

• -Transducers which detect large resistance changes usually operate in potentiometer circuits.

• -Transducers which detect small resistance changes are used in bridge circuits (strain gage transducers are a classical example )

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• Potentiometric pressure transducer:The basic operating principle of potentiometer circuit

pressure transducer is shown in Figure.This device consists of a capsule, a sliding contact wiper

and the resistance wire winding.• The pressure to be measured is applied to the

capsule which, through a linkage rod, moves a sliding contact (wiper) across the electrical resistance wire windings.

• The movement of the wiper arm across the potentiometer converts the mechanically detected sensor deflection into a resistance measurement

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Strain gage transducer:• A strain gage transducer transforms a deformation

(or a micro-displacement) into a resistance variation.• By using 2 or 3 gages, the components of the local

deformation can be obtained.• Several types of strain gage pressure transducers are:

1. Gaged diaphragm pressure transducers2. Cantilever type transducers3. Embedded strain gage transducers4. Unbounded strain gage transducers

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• 1. Gaged diaphragm pressure transducers:

• They contain a diaphragm with strain gages bounded directly to the surface.

• When pressure is applied to the surface, the diaphragm deflects and the resistance of the strain gages change.

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2. Cantilever type transducers:• These transducers consist of

a pressure velocity element connected through a linkage rod to some type of cantilever instrumented with strain gages.

• The most frequently used types of pressure collecting elements are diaphragms, capsules and bellows.

• The most common application of these devices is for low pressure measurements. Bounded strain gage cantilever type

transducers

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3. Embedded strain gagetransducers:• Generally, the embedding

material is an epoxy resin which transmits the strain when a uniaxial pressure is applied.

• The strain gage then provides a proportional resistance change.

• Generally embedded strain gage transducers are very small.

• They are useful for high pressure environments where a fast time

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4. Unbounded strain gage pressure transducers:• They operate on the same

principle as bounded strain gage transducers: the electrical resistance of a .wire varies with strain changes.

• In the device, the wires are strung on electrical insulating pins, one of which is on a fixed frame and one of which is on a movable armature.

• Under pressure, the diaphragm elongates moving the armature, then causing the strain gages to produce a change in electrical resistance

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Piezoelectric transducers

• The piezoelectric effect is the ability of a material to generate an electrical potential when subjected to a mechanical strain.

• This is the ability of a material to change dimensions when subject to a voltage.

• Some materials which exhibit these characteristics are: Quartz, Rochelle salt, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and even ordinary sugar.

• One problem with these devices is that very sophisticated technology is required for the manufacture of piezoelectric sensors.

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LOAD CELL

• Load cell is a passive transducer or sensor which

converts applied force into electrical signals. They are

also referred to as “Load transducers”

• Load cells are basically a beam or other shaped

member arranged so that an applied load will cause a

proportional strain at certain fixed points on the

device

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MEASURMENT PRINICIPLE

• Load cell primarily consists of a spring material and

strain gage. Spring material causes strain due to

applied load and strain gage changes its resistance in

accordance with the change in strain.

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CLASSIFICATION: BASED ON SHAPES OF SPRING MATERIAL

1. Column Type

It uses a simple structure and

uses 2 strain gages; one in

longitudinal and other in

transverse direction. It can be

used for both tension and

compression measurements.

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2. Roberval Type (Double-beam Type, Parallel-beam Type)

• These load cells use bending as the sensing principle. When a force (F) is applied to the Roberval-type load cell, strain gauge 1 contracts while the strain gauge 2 stretches. Value of strain depends upon L, t and width of the beam.

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3. Shear Type • Strain gauges are bonded at a

45o angle on the neutral axis of the load cell. Shear-type load cells can be made smaller than Roberval-type load cells with the same capacity. They are strongly resistant to transverse loading and it is easy to make them highly precise. The measurement range is generally between 100kg and 20 T

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4. Ring Type (Annular Type)

• The ring load cell is a high precision load cell and primarily has an intermediate capacity, ranging from 500kg to 20ton

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5. Diaphragm Type• The diaphragm-type

load cell has a round shape. The primary advantage of using a diaphragm-type load cell is that its height can be lowered and it is resistant to transverse loading.

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CLASSIFICATION: BASED ON DIRECTION OF LOADING

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CLASSIFICATION: BASED ON OUTER SHAPE

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CLASSIFICATION: BASED ON AIR TIGHTNESS

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