First Semester 2020-2021

Comprehensive Examination (Open book)

Transducers and Measurement Techniques (INSTR F312)

Time: 75 Minutes Max Marks: 50 Date:21.12.2020

Note: This question paper has 4 questions. Assume and clearly specify any missing data suitably. Marks
are indicated against each question.

1. A force measurement set up uses a steel cantilever beam

and a LVDT as a secondary transducer with a sensitivity of LVDT
0.5 V/mm as shown in figure. The free end tip of the
cantilever is attached to the core of the LVDT by a rigid
String
string which will transfer the tip deflection completely to
the displacement of the core of the LVDT. If the cantilever
is 0.25 m long, 20 mm wide and 4 mm thick. (a) calculate
the deflection at the free end when a tip force of 25 N is Cantilever
applied at this end. (The modulus of elasticity of steel is beam
Tip force
200 GN/m2). The output voltage from the LVDT is to be
(F)
read on a 10V voltmeter having 100 divisions. Two tenths
of a division can be read with certainty on the voltmeter.
(b) calculate the minimum and maximum value of force
that can be measured with this arrangement. [8] Fig. 1

2. A thermocouple has an e.m.f. of 4.1 mV at 100 °C and 16.4

mV at 400 °C relative to a cold junction of 0 °C. A deflection
bridge incorporating a nickel metal resistance sensor is to be
used as the voltage source ET2,0 necessary for automatic
reference compensation of the thermocouple e.m.f. The nickel
sensor (R1) has a resistance of 10 Ω at 0 °C and a temperature
coefficient of resistance of 6.8 × 10−3 °C−1. Design the
deflection bridge (as shown in Fig. 2) assuming a 10 V supply
is available and R2 = 100 Ω. [10]
Fig. 2

3. A thermistor with sufficient heating current is to be used to measure the flow turbulence in a
slow-moving gas stream. The frequency spectrum of the turbulence extends up to 10 Hz and
the gas temperature is 90 °C. With a constant current of 23.4 mA, the steady state voltage
across the thermistor was 3.5 V. Using the thermistor data given below, comment on the
suitability of the constant current system for this application with proper justification. [12]
𝛽
Thermistor data: Resistance, 𝑅𝜃 = 𝐾𝑒𝑥𝑝 (𝜃 ) , where θ is thermistor temperature in K,
Given, 𝑅𝜃 = 150 Ω at 110℃ and 𝑅𝜃 = 185 Ω at 100℃ , where, Mass = 10−4 kg, Specific
heat = 1.64 × 102 J kg−1 °C−1
4. A fluid of density 900 kg/m3, having significant solid particles suspended in it, is flowing
through a circular steel pipe of inner diameter 0.150 m and outer diameter as 0.20 m. Fluid
viscosity is 0.005 Pa-s. The flow rate of this fluid has to be measured from one of the given
available options (Table 1).
(a) Choose the most appropriate measurement technique from the given options and justify
your choice. Assume a breakdown maintenance only strategy is practiced, and there is a
10-year total lifetime. [6]
(b) On the basis of your choice of measurement system made in part (a), calculate one of
the following for an average mass flow rate of 12 × 105 kg/hr through the pipe. [14]
 Pressure differential, if your choice is orifice plate based measurement technique.
Assume corner taps for this.
 Frequency shift and the ratio of transmitted power to received power, if your choice
is ultrasonic based measurement technique. Assume transmitter and receiver are
made of quartz.

Parameter Orifice plate Ultrasonic Doppler

(Concentric type) flowmeter
Initial Cost (INR) 50,000 2,00,000
Material cost per repair (INR) 5000 6000
Labour cost per hour (INR) 200 200
Process cost per hour (INR) 1000 1000
Repair time (Hr) 8 10
Annual failure rate (yr-1) 2.0 1.0

Data for Orifice plate:

d = 0.08m, 𝐶 = 0.5959 + 0.0321𝛽 2 − 0.184𝛽 8, 𝜖 = 1, 𝐸 = 1/√(1 − 𝛽 4 ), where symbols have their

usual meanings in context of orifice plate based flow measurement. Clearly state any assumptions, if you
have made any.

Data for Ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter

𝜃 = 45°, natural frequency of quartz piezoelectric crystals = 1 MHz, on an average 20% energy is scattered
back in the direction of receiving crystal, velocity of sound in fluid = 1400 m/s. Rsteel = 4.7× 107 , Rquartz =
1.5 × 107, power attenuation coefficient for steel = 0.1 m-1, power attenuation coefficient for fluid = 1 m-1
Symbols have their usual meanings in context of Ultrasonic Doppler flowmeter. Clearly state any
assumptions, if you have made any.

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