AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT

Linear Variable Differential Transformer

Objectives:

 To Know what is meant by the linearity and range of a mutual

inductive type transformer.
 To study how a dc voltage output may be obtained from a mutual
inductance type transducer.
APPARATUS USED:

• Experiment kit
• Multimeter
• Connecting wires
• AC supply
 Introduction
• LVDT is an passive transducer.
• Transducer is used to convert one form of physical
quantity into another form.
• In LVDT linear displacement is converted to the
voltage.
• LVDT is used for measuring linear displacement.
• It works on the principle of mutual inductance,
producing an electrical signal, which is proportional
to the displacement of a moving core.
• LVDT consists of a coil assembly and a core.
LVDT Construction
Shaft of Screw gauge

B2

A
B1

E1 E2
 Construction
• The coil assembly is typically mounted to a stationary
form, while the core is connected to the object whose
position is being measured.
• The coil assembly consists of three coils of wire wound
on the hollow form. The inner coil is the primary, which
is excited by an AC source as shown in Fig.
• Magnetic flux produced by the primary is coupled to the
two secondary coils, inducing an AC voltage in each coil.
• Two secondary windings are connected in series
opposition to get the differential output ( E1-E2).
 LVDT Working
• The position of the core determines how the
signal of the primary coil is coupled to each of
the secondary coils.  
• When the core is centered perfectly between
both secondary and the primary, as shown in
fig2, the voltage induced in each secondary is
equal in amplitude and 180 deg out of phase.
Thus the LVDT output is zero because the
voltages cancel each other.
 When the core is in its central position,
equidistant between the two secondary,
equal but opposite voltages are induced in
these two coils, so the output voltage is
zero.
 Displacing the core to the left causes the first
secondary to be more strongly coupled to the
primary than the second secondary. The
output is in phase with the primary input (say
+ve direction).
 Likewise, displacing the core to the right
causes the second secondary to be more
strongly coupled to the primary than the
first secondary. The greater voltage of the
second secondary causes an output voltage
to be out of phase with the primary voltage
( -ve direction). 
 LVDT Characteristics
The output of an LVDT is a direct and linear function of the input
across its specified measuring range, although linearity falls off as
the core reaches or exceeds the ends of its range. This is because
less magnetic flux is coupled to the core from the primary.
 Observation Table

Negative
Positive Transducer o/p Transducer o/p
Null Position(mm) Displacement
Displacement (mm) voltage (mV) voltage (mV)
(mm)

4.56 0.5 0.26 -0.5 0.26

4.56 1 0.53 -1 0.53
4.56 1.5 0.78 -1.5 0.78
4.56 2 1.03 -2 1.03
4.56 2.5 1.31 -2.5 1.31
4.56 3 1.57 -3 1.57
4.56 3.5 1.83 -3.5 1.83

4.56 4 2.09 -4 2.09

 LVDT ADVANTAGES
• The LVDT has low power consumption.
• It has higher sensitive.
• It has ruggedness.
• It has wide range.
• It has low hysteresis.
 LVDT DISADVANTAGES
There are some disadvantages of linear variable
differential transformer (LVDT) which are given
below,
• It has large primary voltage produce distortion
in output.
• Temperature affects the performance.
 Applications:

There are some important applications of linear

variable differential transformer (LVDT) which
are given below,
• It act as a secondary transducer, it is used to
measure force, weight and pressure.
• The LVDT can be used for displacement
measurement ranging from fraction of mm to
few cm.
Graph:

Sensitivity of LVDT= Change in output voltage/ Change in displacement

∆𝐲 𝟏. 𝟎𝟑 − 𝟎. 𝟓𝟑
= = 𝟎. 𝟓 𝐦𝐕/𝐦𝐦
∆𝐱 𝟐−𝟏
 RESULTS

 LVDT characteristics are observed and studied.

It is found that for a particular range, there is
linear relationship between displacement and
the output voltage of LVDT.
 VIVA Q.
Qus 1 What is the principle of LVDT?
Ans 1 An LVDT measures displacement by associating a specific
signal value for any given position of the core. This association of a
signal value to a position occurs through electromagnetic coupling of an
AC excitation signal on the primary winding to the core and back to the
secondary windings.
Qus2 What is reason for connecting secondary of LVDT in series opposition?
Ans2: To get subtracted voltage
Qus 3 What are materials used for core of the LVDT
Ans3 An LVDT core is normally a cylinder made from permeable magnetic
material which provides inductive coupling between the primary coil and
the secondary coils. The core's material is often some kind of
ferromagnetic metal such as iron or ferrimagnetic compounds such as
ferrites.
 VIVA Q
Qus 4 What are advantages of LVDT?
Ans 4. Ans The LVDT has low power consumption.
It has higher sensitive.It has ruggedness.
It has wide range.It has low hysteresis.
Qus 5 What are disadvantages of LVDT?
Ans 5. It has large primary voltage produce distortion in output.
Temperature affects the performance.
Qus 6. What are the applications of LVDT?
Ans 6. LVDTs have been widely used in applications such as power turbines,
hydraulics, automation, aircraft, satellites, nuclear reactors, and many
others. These transducers have low hysteresis and excellent repeatability
 VIVA Q
Qus 7 What is LVDT and how it works?
Ans 7 An LVDT measures displacement by associating a specific
signal value for any given position of the core. This association
of a signal value to a position occurs through electromagnetic
coupling of an AC excitation signal on the primary winding to
the core and back to the secondary windings.
Qus 8 What is sensitivity of LVDT?
Ans 8 sensitivity is usually specified in terms of milliVolt output
per thousandths of an inch core displacement per Volt of
excitation (mV/mil/Volt).  Sensitivity mostly affects the gain
required of the LVDT's signal conditioning electronics.
 VIVA Q
Qus 9 What are the three main parts of LVDT?
Ans 9 The main components of an LVDT are a transformer and a
core. The transformer consists of three coils —
A primary and two secondaries (S1 and S2) — wound on a hollow
form, which is typically made of glass-reinforced polymer

Qus 10 What is the difference between LVDT and Rvdt?

Ans 10. The shape of the LVDT is rectangular whereas the RVDT is
cam shaped. The main function of LVDT is to alter the linear
motion to an electrical signal, whereas RVDT is used to calculate
the angular displacement. The input voltage of LVDT is 1 volt to 24
volts RMS whereas in RVDT will be up to 3V RMS