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EEE 2407 INSTRUMENTATION

Prerequisites:
Electrical Measurements, Analogue Electronics III
Course Objectives:
• To provide an in-depth understanding of the different
types of sensors and transducers
• To develop a basic understanding of the electronic
circuits used to convert sensor outputs to useful
signals.
• To develop an appreciation for the non-ideal
characteristics of actual sensors and sensor circuits

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EEE 2407 INSTRUMENTATION

Expected Outcomes:
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:

1. describe different instrument systems and their

characteristics
2. identify and select appropriate transducers for given
applications
3. understand various types of signal processing circuits
used for processing transducer outputs.
4. be well acquainted with the measurement techniques of
variables like stress, strain, displacement, acceleration,
temperature, and humidity
5. describe the techniques of microprocessor-based data
acquisition and storage.
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COURSE CONTENT
1.Chapter One: Generalized Performance and Principles of instrumentation
systems
2. Chapter Two: Instrument Characteristics, Meteorology, Standards and Error
Analysis
3. Chapter Three: Transducers
4. Chapter Four: Remote sensing techniques
5. Chapter Five: Signal conditioning e.g. chopper amplifier and pre-processing.
6. Chapter Six: Noise and interference reduction
7. Chapter Seven: Digital Instrumentation and Data Storage System
REFERENCES
1. Electrical and Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation, A. K. Sawhney,
Dhanpatrai and Sons, New Delhi.
2. Measurement and Instrumentation Principles, Third Edition, by Alan S
Morris, Butterworth-Heinemann Publishers, 2001.
3. Instrumentation Measurement and Analysis, B. C Nakra and K.K.Chaudhry,
3rd Edition, Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Ltd, 2009.
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INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS
1.1 Definitions.
Instrumentation/ Instrumentation System
 An instrumentation system is an assembly of various
instruments and other components interconnected to
measure, analyze and control the Electrical, Thermal,
Hydraulic and other non electrical quantities.
 An instrumentation system is a science and engineering of
measuring and/or controlling physical variables
(quantities)
Measurement
 Measurement (also called metrology) is the science of
determining values of physical variables.
 The measurement of a given parameter or quantity is the
act of quantitative comparison between a predefined standard
and an unknown quantity to be measured.
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1.1 Definitions
 To carry out Measurement, instruments are used
 An instrument can be defined as a device or a system which
is defined in such a way that it maintains a functional
relationship between a prescribed property of a
substance and a physical variable
 Example: For mercury-in-glass thermometer it has to maintain a linear
relationship between thermal expansion of mercury (prescribed property)
and temperature (physical variable).
 There are two basic requirements for meaningful results:-
1.The comparison standard is accurately defined and commonly accepted.
2. The apparatus/instrument used and the method adopted must be provable.

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1.2 Significance of Measurements

1. It improves precision and confidence in observations made in
Science.
2. Measurements enlighten the observer about the sources of
errors in measurements
3. It confirms the validity of a given hypothesis or invention
and also add to its understanding.
4. It supplies feedback information required to enable
economical design, operation and maintenance of systems.
5. In the case of process industries and industrial
manufacturing, measurement serves three purposes:
a) to improve the quality of the product,
b) to improve the efficiency of production, and
c) to maintain the proper operation.

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1.3 Function of Instrumentation and Measurement Systems

i. Indicating Function: Includes supplying information
concerning the variable quantity under measurement e.g.
the deflection of a pointer of speedometer, pressure gauge.
ii. Recording Function: where the instrument makes a written
record, usually on paper, of the value of the quantity under
measurement against time (or other variable). E.g., a
potentiometric type of recorder used for monitoring
temperature records the instantaneous values of temperatures
on a strip chart recorder.
iii.Signal Processing: Performed to process and modify the
measured signal to facilitate recording/control.
iv.Controlling Function: The information is used by the
instrument or the system to control the original measured
quantity. It is one of the most important functions especially
in industrial control processes.

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1.4 Basic Requirements of a Measurement System

/Instrument
The following are the basic requirements of a
good quality measurement system/instrument:
a) Ruggedness
b) Linearity
c) No hysteresis
d) Repeatability
e) High output signal quality
f) High reliability and stability
g) Good dynamic response
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1.5 Applications of Measurement Systems
Properties to be measured Application Field
• Battery fluid level ………………………………...Automobile
• Atmospheric pressure, hygrometry level ………….Metrology
• Beam resistance ……………………………………Civil engineering
• Blood Glucose level………………………………..Biology
• ECG signals ………………………………………..Health, medicine
• Fiber optic flow……………………………………Telecommunications
• Flight speed, altitude………………………………Transportation
• Presence detection …………………………………Home automation
• Radar detection, surveillance………………………Military
• Sugar level in a fruit………………………………..Agriculture
• Undersea pressure, depth…………………………..Marine industry

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1.5 Applications of Measurement Systems
 The different applications of the instruments and measurement
systems are:
i. Monitoring a Process/Operation: Indicate the value or condition of
parameter under study but these readings do not provide any control
operation. Examples, a car speedometer , an ammeter, a voltmeter, water and
electric energy meters .
ii. Control a process/Operation: Applied in automatic control systems (see
Fig.1.1 showing a simple Process control system)
Examples: domestic appliances, such as, refrigerator, air conditioner or a hot
air oven. All of these employ a thermostatic control
iii. Experimental Engineering Analysis
Question:
Discuss the Procedure for carrying out Experimental Engineering
Analysis.

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1.5 Applications of Measurement Systems

ii. Control a process/Operation

Fig. 1.1 Process control system

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1.6. Elements of Generalized Measurement System/Functional
Elements
 The operation of a measuring instrument or a system can be
described in a generalized manner in terms of functional elements.
 These may be taken as basic elements, whose scope is
determined by their functioning rather than their
construction.
 The main functional elements of a measurement system are:

i) Sensing element
ii) Variable conversion element
iii)Variable manipulation element
iv) Signal conditioning element
v) Data transmission element
vi) Data presentation element.

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1.6. Elements of Generalized Measurement System/Functional
Elements

Sensing Variable Variable

element conversion manipulation
Quantity element element
to be
measured
(measurand)

Data
Data storage /play
transmission
back element
element

Data presentation
Observer element
Fig. 1.2 Block diagram of functional elements of a measurement system / instrument
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1.7.Classification of Measuring Instruments
 The instruments may be classified into separate classes according to
several criteria as follows:
i) Mechanical, electrical and electronic instruments
ii) Absolute and secondary instruments
iii) Manual and automatic instruments
iv) Analogue and digital instruments
v) Self operated and power operated instruments
vi) Self contained and remote indicating instruments

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1.8. Instrument Selection Criteria
 The following are the points that should be considered while choosing the
instrument for particular application:
1. Identify all operating cases, such as normal operation at minimum, normal and
maximum flow, alternative operating modes, start-up, etc
2. Collect all relevant process data for each operating case.
3. Specify the environmental conditions that the instrument will be subjected to.
4. The extent to which the measuring system will be disturbed during the
measuring process.
5. Consideration of durability, maintainability and consistency of performance.
6. Published literature.
7. Select suitable instrument makes and types for each measurement option.
8. Instrument cost

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