Measurement Uncertainty (Accuracy)

Example :
A pressure gauge with a range between
0-1 bar with an accuracy of ± 5% fs
(full-scale) has a maximum error of:
5 x 1 bar = ± 0.05 bar
100
Notes: It is essential to choose an
equipment which has a suitable operating
range.
 Measurement Uncertainty (Accuracy)

Example :
A pressure gauge with a range between
0 - 10 bar is found to have an error of
± 0.15 bar when calibrated by the
manufacturer.
Calculate :
a. The error percentage of the gauge.
b. The error percentage when the
reading obtained is 2.0 bar.
 Measurement Uncertainty (Accuracy)

Answer :
a. Error Percentage = ± 0.15 bar x 100 = ± 1.5%
10.0 bar
b. Error Percentage = ± 0.15 bar x 100 = ± 7.5 %
2.0 bar

• The gauge is not suitable for use for low range

reading.
• Alternative : use gauge with a suitable range.
 Measurement Uncertainty (Accuracy)

Example :
Two pressure gauges (pressure gauge A and B) have a
full scale accuracy of ± 5%. Sensor A has a range of
0-1 bar and Sensor B 0-10 bar. Which gauge is more
suitable to be used if the reading is 0.9 bar?

Answer :
Sensor A :
Equipment max error = ± 5 x 1 bar = ± 0.05 bar
100
Equipment accuracy
@ 0.9 bar ( in %) = ± 0.05 bar x 100 = ± 5.6%
0.9 bar
Measurement Uncertainty (Accuracy)

Sensor B :
Equipment max error = ± 5 x 10 bar = ± 0.5 bar
100
Equipment accuracy
@ 0.9 bar ( in %) = ± 0.5 bar x 100 = ± 55%
0.9 bar
Conclusion :
Sensor A is more suitable to use at a reading of 0.9 bar
because the error percentage (± 5.6%) is smaller compared
to the percentage error of Sensor B (± 55%).
Dynamic characteristics
 Dynamic characteristics

Dynamic Steady value of

Change in Input output
behavior

The general model for Linear time invariant system is given as

𝑑 𝑛 𝑞𝑜 𝑑 𝑛−1 𝑞𝑜 𝑑𝑞 𝑑 𝑚 𝑞𝑖 𝑑 𝑚−1 𝑞𝑖−1 𝑑𝑞𝑖

𝑎𝑛 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑛−1 + ⋯ 𝑎1 𝑜 + 𝑎𝑜 𝑞𝑜 =𝑏𝑛 𝑚 + 𝑏𝑛 + ⋯ 𝑏1 + 𝑏𝑜 𝑞𝑖
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑚−1 𝑑𝑡

Where 𝑞𝑜 is the output and 𝑞𝑖 are the inputs

 Dynamic characteristics
Zero order instruments
𝑑𝑛 𝑞𝑜 𝑑𝑛−1 𝑞𝑜 𝑑𝑞 𝑑 𝑚 𝑞𝑖 𝑑𝑚−1 𝑞𝑖−1 𝑑𝑞𝑖
𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑡 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑑𝑡 𝑛−1 + ⋯ 𝑎1 𝑑𝑡𝑜 + 𝑎𝑜 𝑞𝑜 =𝑏𝑛 𝑑𝑡 𝑚 + 𝑏𝑛 𝑑𝑡 𝑚−1 + ⋯ 𝑏1 + 𝑏𝑜 𝑞𝑖
𝑑𝑡

𝑎𝑜 𝑞𝑜 =𝑏𝑜 𝑞𝑖
 Dynamic characteristics
First order instruments
𝑑𝑛 𝑞𝑜 𝑑𝑛−1 𝑞𝑜 𝑑𝑞 𝑑 𝑚 𝑞𝑖 𝑑𝑚−1 𝑞𝑖−1 𝑑𝑞𝑖
𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑡 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑑𝑡 𝑛−1 + ⋯ 𝑎1 𝑑𝑡𝑜 + 𝑎𝑜 𝑞𝑜 =𝑏𝑛 𝑑𝑡 𝑚 + 𝑏𝑛 𝑑𝑡 𝑚−1 + ⋯ 𝑏1 + 𝑏𝑜 𝑞𝑖
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑞𝑜
𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑜 𝑞𝑜 =𝑏𝑜 𝑞𝑖
𝑑𝑡
𝑲𝒒𝒊
𝒒𝒐 =
𝟏+𝝉𝑫

𝑏𝑜
𝐾= Static sensitivity
𝑎𝑜

𝑎1 Time constant
𝜏=
𝑎𝑜

Example: Liquid in glass thermometer

 Dynamic characteristics
Second order instruments

𝑑 2 𝑞𝑜 𝑑𝑞𝑜
𝑎2 2 + 𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑜 𝑞𝑜 =𝑏𝑜 𝑞𝑖
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

a2 D 2 qo  a1 Dqo  ao qo  bo qi
bo qi
qo 
ao  a1 D  a2 D 2

K  bo / ao
qo K   a1 / 2 ao a2

qi D 2 /  2  2 D /   1   ao / a2