Transducer

Device when activated from one form energy converted to another quantity or Device which converts one physical quantity or condition to another

Physical quantity heat , intensity of light, flow rate, liquid level, humidity etc
Sensor : sense physical quantity

Classification of transducers
1. 2. 3. 4. Based on principle of transduction Active & passive Analog & digital Inverse transducer

Based on principle used

Thermo electric Magneto resistive Electro kinetic Optical

Passive transducer
Device which derive power reqd. for transduction from auxiliary power source - externally powered Eg : resistive, inductive, capacitive Without power they will not work

Active transducer
No extra power reqd. to produce I/p Self generating Draw power from input applied Eg. Piezo electric xtal used for accelartion measurement

Analog transducer
convert I/p quantity into an analog o/p Analog o/p- a continuous fn. Of time Eg. Strain gauge, L VDT, thermocouple

Digital transducer
Converts I/p into an electrical o/p in the form of pulses

Inverse transducer
Which converts electrical signal to physical quantity

Thermocouple
A thermocouple is a device consisting of two different conductors (usually metal alloys) that produce a voltage proportional to a temperature difference between either end of the pair of conductors. Thermocouples are a widely used type of temperature sensor for measurement and control and can also be used to convert a heat gradient into electricity. They are inexpensive,interchangeable, are supplied with standard connectors, and can measure a wide range of temperatures. In contrast to most other methods of temperature measurement, thermocouples are self powered and require no external form of excitation. The main limitation with thermocouples is accuracy and system errors of less than one degree Celsius (C) can be difficult to achieve.

 Any junction of dissimilar metals will produce an electric potential related to temperature. Thermocouples for practical measurement of temperature are junctions of specific alloys which have a predictable and repeatable relationship between temperature and voltage. Different alloys are used for different temperature ranges. Properties such as resistance to corrosion may also be important when choosing a type of thermocouple. Where the measurement point is far from the measuring instrument, the intermediate connection can be made by extension wires which are less costly than the materials used to make the sensor. Thermocouples are usually standardized against a reference temperature of 0 degrees Celsius; practical instruments use electronic methods of cold-junction compensation to adjust for varying temperature at the instrument terminals. Electronic instruments can also compensate for the varying characteristics of the thermocouple, and so improve the precision and accuracy of measurements.

Application
Current transformers are used in current metering installations for use with current meters, current transducers, power transducers and power analyzers. The current monitoring of time varying electrical loads, such as electric motors, is of prime importance to plant engineers, maintenance engineers and design engineers.

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