Scanned With Camscanner

Scanned with CamScanner

Scanned by CamScanner
UNIT 5
DATA ACQUISITION
SYSTEMS
AUTOMATION
• In recent years AUTOMATION has influenced every field
of Industry and science like food processing , paper
production , oil refining , chemical manufacturing, textile
production , cement , automobile, aerospace, biomedical
and telemetry industries. etc…
• In each of these fields a lot of parameters are required to
be monitored , modified , controlled and communicated.
• There a lot of situations in industrial applications were
human intervention is harmful not possible or not useful
. For example measuring and controlling the
temperature , pressure , humidity etc.. of a large scale
chemical production or oil refining , lifting a heavy weight
body in manufacturing industries like automobile ,
aerospace industries etc..
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
• Consider an example of measuring & controlling
the pressure , temperature , humidity , viscosity
etc.. of oil refining process , which is impossible by
a human as the things will turn out to be
inefficient.
• Instead these things can be efficiently monitored
and controlled more efficiently by a computer and
make these jobs automated as computers are
more efficient , precise faster than human beings
• So there arises a need for measuring the physical
parameters and control them using computers.
Such systems are called as DATA AQCUISITION
SYSTEMS
➢ Data acquisition system (DAS) is a computerized
system that collects data from the real world, converts
it into the form of electrical signals and do required
processing on it for storage, and presentation on
computers.
➢ The complete system is controlled and operated by a
software application. This software application is
developed by using general-purpose high-level
programming languages like C, C++, java, etc.
➢ These systems are used in industrial and commercial
fields. They are used for collecting, storing and
processing of data.
Data Acquisition Systems, often abbreviated to DAS or DAQ, are systems designed to
measure and track some form of physical system, and convert this data into a form
that can be viewed and manipulated on a computer.
There are 5 important blocks
1. Physical system
2.Transducer
3. signal conditioner
4. Analog to Digital converter
5. Computer
➢ Physical System : It is a system or plant that generates the
physical quantity (such as temperature, pressure, force ,
weight etc.) to be monitored or controlled.
➢ Transducers: They convert physical quantities into an
electrical signal. They collect data from the physical system.
• The most commonly used transducers are:
RTD’s , thermocouples, and thermistors for temperature
measurements.
• Photo sensors for light measurements.
• Strain gages , piezoelectric transducers for force and pressure
measurements.
• Microphone for sound measurements.
• Potentiometer, LVDT, optical encoder for position and
displacement measurements.
➢ Signal Conditioning Unit: The signal produced by the transducers may
or may not be very suitable for our system to work properly. It may be
very weak, very strong or may have some noise.
To convert this signal into the most suitable form, amplification, and
filtration is done respectively by signal conditioning unit. So the signal
conditioning unit converts electrical signals in the most suitable form.
➢ Multiplexer: The multiplexer receives multiple analog inputs and

provides a single output signal according to the requirements.
If a separate channel is used for each quantity, the cost of installation,
maintenance, and periodic replacement becomes high. Therefore, a
single channel is used which is shared by various quantities.
➢ Analog to Digital (A/D) Converters: The data is converted into digital

form by A/D converters to be accessed by computers , oscilloscopes ,
mobile phones etc ..
➢ Computer : The digital data is acquired , accessed and recorded by

output terminals like computers or magnetic tapes , printers ,
oscilloscopes etc..
ADVANTAGES OF DAS
• Increased throughput or productivity.
• Improved quality or increased predictability of
quality.
• Improved robustness (consistency), of processes or
product.
• Increased consistency of output.
• Reduced direct human labor costs and expenses.
• Installation in operations reduces cycle time.
• Can complete tasks where a high degree of
accuracy is required.
ADVANTAGES OF DAS
• Replaces human operators in tasks that involve hard physical
or monotonous work (e.g., using one forklift with a single
driver instead of a team of multiple workers to lift a heavy
object)
• Reduces some occupational injuries (e.g., fewer strained backs
from lifting heavy objects)
• Replaces humans in tasks done in dangerous environments
(i.e. fire, space, volcanoes, nuclear facilities, underwater, etc.)
• Performs tasks that are beyond human capabilities of size,
weight, speed, endurance, etc.
• Reduces operation time and work handling time significantly.
• Frees up workers to take on other roles.
• Provides higher level jobs in the development, deployment,
maintenance and running of the automated processes.
• Improved data security
TOPICS
TRANSDUCERS
1. STRAIN GAUGE
2. LVDT
3. THERMOCOUPLE
SIGNAL CONDITIONER
INSTRUMENTATION AMPLIFIER
DATA CONVERTERS
DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER
1. BINARY WEIGHTED DAC 1. SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ADC
2. R/2R LADDER DAC 2. FLASH ADC
TRANSDUCERS
• These are devices that convert one form of energy
into another form.
• These are generally classified into 2 types
1.Electrical Transducers
2.Mechanical Transducers
• Electrical transducers convert a non electrical
quantity into an electrical quantity.
Eg : LVDT , Strain gauge , Thermo couple ,
microphone etc..
• Mechanical transducers convert a non mechanical
quantity into a mechanical quantity.
Eg : Bourdon tube , Manometer , Spring ,
Louds[peakers , Diaphragm , bellows etc..
Electrical Transducers
These can be further classified as
1. Active & Passive Transducers based upon their requirement of
external activationActive and Passive Transducer:
Active transducers are those which don’t need auxiliary power source
to produce output. The energy required for production of output signal
is obtained from physical quantity being measured.
Eg: piezoelectric crystals, tacho-generators , Thermocouple etc.
Passive transducers are those which need an auxiliary power source to
produce output.
Eg: linear potentiometer , strain gauge , LVDT etc.
2.Analog & Digital Transducers based upon the input to be a continuous

function of time or discrete function of time.
Transducers converting input quantity to continuous time output are
Analog transducers.
Eg: Strain gauge, thermocouple etc.
Digital transducers convert input to electrical output in form of pulses.
Eg: A/D & D/A Converters
How to select a Transducer / Characteristics of
Transducers
• Operating Principle. The transducers are many times selected on the basis of
operating principle used by them. The operating principles used may be
resistive, inductive, capacitive, optoelectronic, piezoelectric etc.
• Sensitivity. The transducer must be sensitive enough to produce detectable
output for the smallest possible input.
• Dynamic Range. It should have a wide operating range so that it can be used
over a wide range of measurement conditions.
• Accuracy. Its practical value must be as close to the theoratical / ideal value as
much as possible.
• Ruggedness. Its should be able to withstand overloads for short durations and
adequate safety measures should be present for overload protection.
• Noise : The transducer due to its internal working principle adds some noise to
the signal to be measured . It should be designed to add as much less noise as
possible.
How to select a Transducer / Characteristics of
Transducers
• Speed : It is the ability of a transducer to respond to the inputs as soon
as possible. So the transducers speed of response should be as high as
possible.
• Frequency Response It should ideally have a flat frequency response
curve. That is ideally should be able to convert every signal frequency
• Loading Effects. The transducer should have a high input impedance
and a low output impedance to avoid loading effects.
• Environmental Compatibility. It should be able to work equally well in
all environmental and temperayture conditions.
• Size and weight : Should be as much as compact as possible to make it
economical and easily implementable.
• Stability and Reliability. The transducer should exhibit a high degree of
stability to be operative during its operation and storage life.
• Repeatability:I t should give exactly same output , under same
environmental conditions when the same quantity is applied.
STRAIN GAUGE
• A strain gauge is a passive transducer, that converts non-
electrical quantities like force , pressure , tension , weight
etc.. into a change in resistance which can be converted
into a proportional voltage.
CONSTRUCTION
➢ It consists of a grid of wire mounted on a base like paper ,
plastic or Bakelite .
➢ It is tightly bound to a measuring object under strain
using a thin layer of epoxy resin.
STRAIN GAUGE
WORKING PRINCIPLE
It works under the principle that when a resistive
wire is elongated or compressed by some external
force its resistance changes.
ELONGATION
COMPRESSION
STRAIN GAUGE
• Thus we observe that there is change in resistance
due to change in length of the wire. This effect can
be categorized by a parameter called as GAUGE
FACTOR. R ->
• GAUGE FACTOR : It is defined as the ratio of
fractional change in resistance due to fractional
change in length
STRAIN GAUGE
• When a surface under measure or test is strained , its
resulting change in length is transferred to the strain
gauge , thus causing a change in resistance of its grid
wire proportional to the applied strain.
• As this change in resistance is very small in magnitude
it cannot be measured by a voltmeter , instead a
wheatstone bridge is used to sense or measure such a
small change.
• The strain gauge is connected to one of the arms of a
wheatstone bridge as shown in the fig. with a source
of voltage .
• As per the principle of wheatstone bridge the bridge
remains balanced as far as R1 = R2 and the resistance
of the strain gauge = R3.
STRAIN GAUGE
• Thus initially such a balance is achieved by
satisfying the above conditions thus showing a zero
regarding in the galvanometer.
• But when strain is applied the resistance of the
strain gauge changes , causing in an imbalance in
the bridge and generating a voltage which could be
read in the galvanometer.
LINEAR VOLTAGE DIFFERENTIAL TRANSDUCER(LVDT)
➢ It is a passive which translates the linear motion into an electrical
signal.
CONSTRUCTION
➢ It consists of a single primary winding P and two secondary
windings S1 and S2 wounded on cylindrical former.
➢ A movable soft iron core is placed inside the former. The
displacement to be measured is applied to an arm connected to the
core.
➢ The assembly is placed in a stainless steel housing to provide
electrostatic and electromagnetic shielding.
➢ The primary winding is connected to an AC voltage source. The
frequency of AC applied to the primary winding may be in the range
of 50 Hz to 20 KHz.
➢ Since the primary winding is connected to an AC source it produces
an alternating magnetic field which induces AC voltages in two
secondary windings.
➢ The output voltage of secondary S1 is ES1 and that of
secondary S2 is ES2. Since, both the windings are
connected in the series opposition the output voltage of
the winding (Eo) will be the difference of the two voltages
i.e. Eo = ES1 – ES2
CASE I : Core in NULL Position

when there is no displacement , the core is in the center or NULL
position , thus equal number of flux from primary gets linked to
both the secondarys thus generating an overall Zero EMF/voltage at
the output .
Eo = ES1 – ES2 = 0
• When the core moves to the leftward position, flux linking
with S1 will be more than S2.
• The induced voltage ES1 will be more than ES2.
• The output voltage will be (ES1 – ES2) and the output
voltage will be in phase with ES1.
• If the core moves rightward position from the NULL
position, flux linking with S2 will be more than S1.
• The induced voltage ES2 will be more than ES1.
• The output voltage will be (ES2 – ES1) and the output
voltage will be in phase with ES2.
➢Thus, the output voltages are proportional to the
core displacement.
➢The output voltage may be amplified by an
amplifier. The amplified output can be measured
by an electronic voltmeter which can be calibrated
in terms of displacement.
THERMOCOUPLE
➢It is an Active Transducer that Converts thermal
energy into electrical energy.
CONSTRUCTION
➢It consists of 2 wires of different metals joined
together within a loop.
THERMOCOUPLE
➢ Let the 2 metals be named as A & B
➢ Assume that metal ‘A’ is Copper & metal ‘B’ is Iron.
➢ Junction X is in contact with the body whose
temperature is to be measured . This junction is
usually called as Hot junction.
➢ Where as Junction Y is in contact with the body whose
temperature is known and is usually called as Cold
junction. It is usually maintained at 0oc.
➢ A PMMC instrument is connected in this arrangement
to measure the voltage generated due to temperature
. Since the EMF generated is of the order of millivolts
a more sophisticated measuring instrument called as
PMMC is used instead of Voltmeter.
THERMOCOUPLE
WORKING PRINCIPLE
➢ It works on the principle of. According to seebeck effect when
the temperature of the junctions of 2 different metals differ
then an EMF is generated in the closed loop. This EMF causes
an electric current to flow in the closed loop circuit.
➢ Assume that Junction 1 is at temperature T1 , where as
Junction 2 is at temperature T2 . That is T1 > T2 .
➢ Hence the electrons at the hot junction are highly energized
than electrons at the cold junction. The highly energized
electrons from junction ‘X’ moves towards the junction ‘Y’
through copper metal . This movement of electrons create
holes at junction ‘A’ making it positively charged
➢ The accumulation of charges at junction ‘X’ makes it
negatively charged . Since the junction ‘X’ is positively
charged it attracts the electrons from junction ‘Y’ towards it.
THERMOCOUPLE
THERMOCOUPLE
THERMOCOUPLE
➢ Therefore the return flow of electrons from Junction ‘Y’ to
Junction ‘X’ is through iron metal.
➢ The electrons at cold junction will not be as highly
energized as the electrons at hot junction, hence they
move slowly.
➢ The direction of current flow in the hot junction is from
Copper to Iron , where as The direction of current flow in
the cold junction is from Iron to Copper.
➢ Charge neutrality is maintained at both the Junction ‘X’ &
‘Y’.
➢ In order to find the unknown temperature at junction ‘X’
the current flowing through the thermocouple should be
measured with the help of a voltmeter or any measuring
instrument.
➢ The measured voltage is proportional to the temperature
difference Vα (T1 – T2)
THERMOCOUPLE
➢ The formula for calculating the unknown temperature is
V =S(T1 – T2)
Where S= S1 – S2
S – overall Seebeck effect
S1 – seebeck coefficient of metal ‘X’ and
S2 – seebeck coefficient of metal ‘Y’.
➢ The generated EMF depends upon the type of the metals
and the temperature difference between the 2 nodes .
Thus thermocouple is classified into different types based
on the type of metal used.
THERMOCOUPLE
• T – Type Thermocouple
Positive wire — Cu
Negative wire — Constantan
It can be used up to 350oC. It is very stable and
inexpensive. Generally, it is used for very low-
temperature applications.
• E – Type Thermocouple
Positive wire — Chromel
Negative wire — Constantan.
It can be used up to 850oC. It is most sensitive
thermocouple. It generates a high output voltage.
THERMOCOUPLE
• J – Type Thermocouple
Positive wire — Iron
Negative wire — Constantan
It can be used up to 1000 oC. It is a very common type of
thermocouple. Its stability is high.
• K — Type Thermocouple
Positive wire — Chromel
Negative wire — Alumel
It can be used up to 1200oC. It is a widely used type of
thermocouple. It is a cheaper type as compared to other types.
• S – Type Thermocouple
Positive wire — Platinum 10% Rohodium
Negative wire — Platinum
It can be used up to 1400oC. It has very high precision thus
used for very high accuracy requirements.
• An instrumentation is a type of differential
amplifier with a very high input impedance thus
make it particularly suitable for use in
measurement and test equipment.
• It also has low DC offset, low drift, low noise,
very high Differential gain & very high common-
mode rejection ratio .
• Instrumentation amplifiers are used where
great accuracy and stability of the circuit both
short and long-term are required.
• From the figure
➢From the virtual short concept
➢ Applying KCL at
node Vx
Thus from the expression we observe that Instrumentation amplifier

has a very high gain and hence can be used even to amplify very
weak signals. The improve in Differential gain also improves CMRR.

Scanned With Camscanner

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Scanned With Camscanner

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Scanned with CamScanner

Scanned with CamScanner

➢ Multiplexer: The multiplexer receives multiple analog inputs and

➢ Analog to Digital (A/D) Converters: The data is converted into digital

➢ Computer : The digital data is acquired , accessed and recorded by

2.Analog & Digital Transducers based upon the input to be a continuous

CASE I : Core in NULL Position

Thus from the expression we observe that Instrumentation amplifier

You might also like