EI1202 MEASUREMENTS AND INSTRUMENTATION

UNIT I - FUNDAMENTALS Functional elements of an instrument Static and dynamic characteristics Errors in measurement Statistical evaluation of measurement data Standards and calibration # MEASUREMENT : Measurement is the process of comparing unknown magnitude of certain parameter with the known predefined standard of that parameter. For instance, if we have to measure the temperature of the body, we measure it with the thermometer that has predefined scale indicating different values of the temperature. If we have to measure the length of the wall, we measure it with the measuring tape that has predefined markings on it. The measurement enables us obtaining magnitude of certain parameters whose value is not known by comparing them with the standards whose value is predefined.

What is indirect and direct measurement?

'Direct measurement' refers to measuring exactly the thing that you're looking to measure, while 'indirect measurement' means that you're measuring something by measuring something else. For example.. In physics, there are some things that are very easy to measure 'directly.' These are things like weight, distance, etc. So if I wanted to measure how long a piece of wood is, I would just measure how long it is. But let's say I wanted to find out about something that is a little harder to measure... like how quickly the wind is blowing. I may not be able to measure the wind's actual speed, but if I had a windmill, I could measure how much power the windmill is making. Then, using this information, I could work backwards to figure out how fast the wind must be. This would be an example where I have to measure something 'indirectly.' # Types of instruments : Mechanical Drawbacks- 1. Heavy and bulky 2. cause noise pollution 3. high power consumption Drawbacks- 1. Slow response Adv- 1. Fast response 2. high sensitive 3. low weight 4.reliability is high

electrical electronic

# Classification of instruments :

1. Absolute instruments :
y y y y y These instruments which gives the magnitude of the quantity to be measured in terms of the physical constants of the instrument. No calibration is necessary. Obtaining reading is tedious and time consuming as the readings is required to be calculated. Rarely used Eg : tangent galvanometer, rayleighs current balance.

2. Secondary instruments :
y y y y y They are direct reading instruments. The quantity to be measured by these instruments can be determined from the deflection of the instruments. They are often calibrated by comparing them with either some absolute instruments or with those which have been already calibrated. Direct readings without any calculations. Commonly used. Eg : ammeter, voltmeter, wattmeter, energymeter.

# Deflection type : The permanent magnet moving coil instruments are most accurate type for direct current measurements. The action of these instruments is based on the motoring principle. When a current carrying coil is placed in the magnetic field produced by permanent magnet, the coil experiences a force and moves. As the coil is moving and the magnet is permanent, the instrument is called permanent magnet moving coil instrument. This basic principle is called DArsonval principle. The amount of force experienced by the coil is proportional to the current passing through the coil. Adv : sensitivity is high.

# Null type :

# Measurement system performance :

a. Static characteristics : The measurement of quantities that remain constant, or vary slowly with time. 1. Accuracy It is the closeness with which an instrument reading approaches the true value of the quantity being measured. 2. Reproducibility- It is the degree of closeness with which a given value may be repeatedly measured.

3. Sensitivity- ratio of the change in output signal to a change in the input quantity 4. Drift- A slow variation in the output signal of a transducer or a measuring system which is not due to any change in the input quantity. It is due to the changes in the operating conditions of components inside the measuring system. y Zero drift y Sensitivity drift 5. Static error- algebraic difference between the value indicated and the true value of the quantity presented to the input. 6. Dead zone- it is defined as the largest change of input quantity for which there is no output of the instrument b. Dynamic characteristics : The relationship between the system input and output when the measured quantity (measurand) is varying rapidly. Output response depends on: y Types of input o Step input function with the amplitude, given a step change, f(t)=A for t>0

Ramp input function with the amplitude changing linearly with time, f(t)=kt for t>0

Sinsusoidal input function where the amplitude varies sinusoidally with time. F(t)= sin (2 ft) for t>0

Types of instrument,

4 Dynamic error Defined as the algebraic difference between the indicated value of a measurand and its true value at any instant when the measurand is a function of time.