ECE5320 Mechatronics

Assignment#01: Literature Survey on Sensors and

Actuators

Topic: Air Bubble Sensors/Piezoelectric
Nanoactuators
Prepared by:
Nathan Sorensen
Utah State University

3/11/2005
Air Bubble Sensors Outline
Reference list
To probe further
Major applications
Basic working principle illustrated
A typical sample configuration in application
(application notes)
Major specifications
Limitations
And many more relevant issues in
applications (such as, how to choose, cost
information, where to buy etc.)
Reference list
www.introtek.com
www.e-t-a.com
http://www.zevex.com/appliedtechnology/ultraso
nics.cfm
www.eidusa.com
www.consense.com
http://www.yamatakeusa.com/photo_electric_gui
de.htm
www.murata.com/catalog/p19/p19_04e.pdf

To explore further
(survival pointers of web references
etc)
Dos
Identify the exact purpose of the sensor. (Often level
sensors are also bubble sensors)
Identify the type of tubing or pipe to be used with the
device.
Donts
Dont assume that just because a sensor detects
bubbles that it can detect all sizes of bubbles.
Dont assume that a sensor is used for all sensing
mediums
Dont settle without comparing all the different types of
sensor options for a specific application.
Air Bubble Sensors
Finding the Needle in the Haystack
Major applications
What would be the use of a bubble sensor?
Detect anomalous bubbles in high
precision chemical processes.
Enable precise measurement of fluid flow.
Protect medical patients from embolisms
due to air being introduced through IV
lines into the blood stream.
Determine fluid flow rate.

Sensing Methods
Invasive
Sensors designed to come in contact with
the fluid medium.
Methods for invasive sensing include:
Photoelectric
Fiber Optical Strands
Conductivity
Ultrasonic
IR


Sensing Methods
Non-Invasive
No contact with the fluid being transferred
Non-Invasive sensing methods include:
Ultrasonic
IR
Capacitive

Invasive vs. Non-Invasive
Is there a drawback to which type is chosen?
Invasive sensors are exposed to the fluid being
transmitted and so are limited in two respects:
The sensor must not be reactive with the fluid to be
transferred through it.
The fluid must not inhibit the sensors activity by
particulate collection over time.
The longevity of the sensor requires that it not
be broken down over time.

Invasive vs. Non-Invasive
Do Non-Invasive sensors
have any similar
drawbacks to Invasive?
Particulate accumulation
on the wall can decrease
sensor accuracy.
The transport medium
must be able to be sensed
through

Copyright 1996-2005 Erlich Industrial Development, Corp. (EID, CORP) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
INTERFACER-AILS Features
Air in line output multi-turn trimmer adjustment.
Power via 5VDC.
Converts Air in line (via light) to CMOS or TTL voltage level.
Convert switch to voltage CMOS or TTL levels.
Can be customized to accommodate your input voltage requirement.
On board trimmer facilitates precise calibration of air detection
sensitivity.

Specifications
Output voltage 5V, 0.2VDC
PCB material FR4
Switch Input Filter B.P.F. 2Hz-1KHz
Storage temperature 40 - 70 [F]
Operating temperature 32 - 140 [F](0to 60C) @
95% RH
Low board DC voltage
9 [V]
Powersource 5VDC +/-5%,
Adjustment Via trimmer for air detection sensitivity
Mounting Two 0.125 holes
Manufacture 100% in USA
Sensor Selection Guide
Important Aspects to Consider:
Type of fluid
Type of tubing or pipe used to transport
fluid
Required precision
Ease of integration into design or existing
system.
Cost
Ultrasonic Bubble Sensors
By far the most prevalent
bubble sensing method.
Uses piezoelectric materials
to create ultrasonic waves
Two main types:
Continuous: transmits a
continuous ultrasonic wave and
detects the drop in wave
amplitude through air.
Pulsed Wave: transmits a
pulsed wave and then detects
both the amplitude and duration
of the received wave to
determine the medium.
Pulsed Wave vs. Continuous
Pulsed Wave are more
precise using time delay
and amplitude to
determine medium
Pulsed Wave require
microcontrollers and
special calibration
Continuous are far
cheaper and simpler
Continuous give analog
outputs

Advantages vs. Disadvantages
Advantages
Non-Invasive ultrasonic wave used for bubble
detection
Highly Precise: straight line of sight between
transmitter and receiver
Particulate accumulation will not effect bubble
detection
Can be used with any tubing type
Disadvantages
Piezoelectric ceramics are expensive

IR or Photoelectric Bubble Sensors
Can be invasive or non-invasive
Uses the timing delay from pulsed
light beam passed through
medium to detect bubbles
Widely used in medical
applications

Yamatake Sensing Control, Limited. Copyright 2004

Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Simple to integrate into
existing systems.
Well developed sensor
technology
Cheap
Disadvantages
Particulate accumulation
lowers accuracy over time
Non-Invasive type requires
transparent or translucent tube
material
Invasive type is exposed to
fluid
Copyright 1996-2005 Erlich Industrial Development, Corp. (EID, CORP)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Capacitive Bubble Sensor
Non-Invasive Sensor
Uses the capacitance
of the medium to
detect the presence
of air in the line


Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Non-invasive
Capacitance is not affected by particulate
accumulation on tube or pipe
Tube or Pipe can be any material
Disadvantages
Small bubbles are not easily detectable.
Must be calibrated to the specific tubing material
Cost
Fiber Optical Strand Bubble
Sensors
Invasive
Detects fluid or air by
the amount of light
refracted at the
sensor tip
Sensor made of glass
or other materials that
transmit light
Catalog Listings/ Specifications
HPF-D033 HPF-D027
Diameter 4 mm 6 mm
Bend Radius 30 mm 40 mm
Operation Temperature -30 to 105C -30 to 105
Advantages vs. Disadvantages
Advantages
Quick response time
Glass and other such materials are very
resilient to most fluids.
Disadvantages
Particulate accumulation at the tip causes
significant sensor error
Difficult to integrate into systems
Where do I buy them?
Bubble sensors are a rather specific
sensor so most of the sensor are sold
directly by the manufacturer.
Manufactures will also calibrate sensors to
ensure their accuracy in your particular
need.
Any questions about purchasing items
must be directed to the manufactures.