AU-222-Automobile Instrumentation

Lecture No:16
Dr.Saqib Jamshed Rind

NED University of Engineering and Technology

Department of Automotive and Marine Engineering
 Lecture Contents

After completing this lecture student should know about:

• Magnetic Measurement.
• Pressure Measurement
• Flow Measurement
• Level Measurement
• Force Measurement
 Magnetic Measurement
 The magnetic field is a vector quantity, that is, it has two
properties: magnitude and direction. Magnetic-
field measuring instruments measure one or both of these
properties.
 The vector magnetometer, as its name implies, measures both
the direction and magnitude of the magnetic-field vector.
 A magnetometer is a device that measures magnetism—the
direction, strength, or relative change of a magnetic field at a
particular location.
 There are two basic types of magnetometer
measurement. Vector magnetometers measure the vector
components of a magnetic field. Total field
magnetometers or scalar magnetometers measure the
magnitude of the vector magnetic field.
 Pressure measurement
Pressure: Pressure is the force applied perpendicular to the
surface of an object per unit area over which that force is
distributed. Measured in N/m2 Bar, Pascal.
F
P
A
Absolute pressure: This is the difference between the pressure
of the fluid and the absolute zero of pressure.
Gauge pressure: This describes the difference between the
pressure of a fluid and atmospheric pressure. Absolute and gauge
pressure are therefore related by the expression:

Differential pressure: This term is used to describe the

difference between two absolute pressure values, such as the
pressures at two different points within the same fluid.
 Pressure measurement
 In most applications, the typical values of pressure measured
range from 1.013 bar (the mean atmospheric pressure) up to
7000 bar. This is considered to be the ‘normal’ pressure range,
and a large number of pressure sensors are available that can
measure pressures in this range.
 Whilst some of the pressure sensors developed for the ‘normal’
range can also measure pressures that are either lower or
higher than this, it is preferable to use special instruments that
have been specially designed to satisfy such low- and high-
pressure measurement requirements.
 Pressure Sensors
Diaphragms:
This is elastic element pressure
transducer. Applied pressure
causes displacement of the
diaphragm and this movement is
measured by a displacement
transducer.
Capacitive pressure sensor:
A capacitive pressure sensor is
simply a diaphragm-type device
in which the diaphragm
displacement is determined by
measuring the capacitance change
between the diaphragm and a
metal plate that is close to it.
 Pressure Sensors
Fibre-optic pressure sensors:
 Light travels from a light source, down an optical fibre, is
reflected back from a diaphragm, and then travels back along a
second fibre to a photodetector. There is a characteristic
relationship between the light reflected and the distance from
the fibre ends to the diaphragm, thus making the amount of
reflected light dependent upon the diaphragm displacement
and hence the measured pressure.
 Pressure Sensors
Bellows:
 Another elastic-element type of pressure sensor that operates
on very similar principles to the diaphragm pressure sensor.
 Fabricated as a seamless tube of either metal or metal alloy,
produce translational motion of the end of the bellows that can
be measured by capacitive, inductive (LVDT) or
potentiometric transducers.
 Pressure Sensors
Bourdon tube:
 The Bourdon tube is also an elastic element type of pressure
transducer. Used for measuring the gauge pressure of both
gaseous and liquid fluids.
 This displacement is measured by some form of displacement
transducer, which is commonly a potentiometer or LVDT.
 Intelligent pressure transducers
In this, the motion is
transmitted to a vane that
progressively shades one of
two monolithic photodiodes
that are exposed to infrared
radiation. The second
photodiode acts as a
reference, enabling the
microprocessor to compute
a ratio signal that is
linearized and is available
as either an analogue or
digital measurement of
pressure.
 Flow Measurement
Mass flow rate conveyor-based method :
These methods are concerned with measurement of the flow of
solids that are in the form of small particles.
A load cell measures the mass M of material distributed over a
length L of the conveyor. If the conveyor velocity is v, the mass
flow rate, Q, is given by:
 Flow Measurement
Volume Flow Rate Differential pressure (obstruction-type)
meters:
Differential pressure meters involve the insertion of some device
into a fluid-carrying pipe that causes an obstruction and creates a
pressure difference on either side of the device. Such meters are
sometimes known as obstruction-type meters or flow-restriction
meters.

When such a restriction is placed in a pipe, the velocity of the

fluid through the restriction increases and the pressure decreases.
The volume flow rate is then proportional to the square root of
the pressure difference across the obstruction.
 Flow Measurement
Volume Flow Rate Differential pressure (obstruction-type)
meters:
 Level Measurement
Ordinary Dipstick:
This consists of a metal bar
on which a scale is
mentioned. The bar is fixed
at a known position in the
liquid-containing vessel. A
level measurement is made
by removing the instrument
from the vessel and reading
off how far up the scale the
liquid has wetted.
 Level Measurement
Optical Dipstick:
Light from a source is reflected
from a mirror, passes round the
chamfered end of the dipstick,
and enters a light detector after
reflection by a second mirror.
When the chamfered end
comes into contact with liquid,
its internal reflection properties
are altered and light no longer
enters the detector. By using a
suitable mechanical drive
system to move the instrument
up and down and measure its
position, the liquid level can be
monitored.
 Level measurement
Pressure-Measuring Devices (Hydrostatic Systems):
 Force measurement
Vibrating wire sensor:
This instrument consists of a wire that is kept vibrating at its
resonant frequency by a variable-frequency oscillator. The
resonant frequency of a wire under tension is given by:

where M is the mass per unit

length of the wire, L is the
length of the wire, and T is
the tension due to the applied
force, F. Thus, measurement of
the output frequency of
the oscillator allows the force
applied to the wire to be
calculated.
 Lecture Summary
In this lecture we have discussed :
• Magnetic Measurement.
• Pressure Measurement
• Flow Measurement
• Level Measurement
• Force Measurement
 Text Books & References

1) Understanding Automotive Electronics by William B.

Ribbens, 6th edition.
2) Handbook of Automotive Power Electronic by Taylor and
Francis.
3) Automotive Electronics Designs Fundamentals by Springer
4) Automobile Electrical and Electronics by Tom Denton.