Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lecture 2 - Instrument Parts and Characteristics
Lecture 2 - Instrument Parts and Characteristics
Industrial Instrumentation
In This Lecture:
Components of Instruments
Performance Characteristics of
Instruments
2
Components of Instruments
Sensors
4
Sense
Convert Detect
Sensor
Measure Infer
5
Properties of a good sensor:
A good sensor:
Is sensitive to the measured property
Is insensitive to any other property likely to be
6
Sensor Sensitivity:
◦ Sensors that measure very small changes must have very high
sensitivities.
7
Sensor Deviations
If the sensor is not ideal, several types of deviations
can be observed:
8
Sensor Deviations (Cont.)
The sensor may to some extent be sensitive to
properties other than the property being
measured. For example, most sensors are
influenced by the temperature of their
environment.
9
Sensor Resolution
10
Properties which can be measured by sensors:
Acoustic, Sound, Navigation
Vibration Optical, Light, Imaging
Environment, Pressure
Weather, Moisture, Position, Angle,
Humidity Displacement, Distance,
Composition, Weight Speed, Acceleration
Electric Current, Proximity
Electric Potential, Thermal, Heat,
Magnetic, Radio Temperature
Flow, Fluid Velocity
Force, Density, Level
11
Applications of Sensors
12
Transducers
13
Introduction
A transducer is a device that converts one type of energy
to another.
14
Types:
Input transducer:
◦ Converts a physical signal to electric signal
15
Signal Processors
16
A/D and D/A Convertors
17
Amplifiers / Attenuators
18
Hookup Wires
19
Recorders
a) Chart Recorders
b) Data Loggers
20
a) Chart Recorders
Strip chart recorders
Circular chart recorders
Roll chart recorders
21
Applications
Instant visual feedback is required
22
b) Data Loggers
Ability to automatically collect data on a 24-
hour basis.
Upon activation, data loggers are typically
23
Applications
Unattended weather station recording (such as wind speed /
direction, temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation).
Unattended hydrographic recording (such as water level, water
depth, water flow, water pH, water conductivity).
Unattended soil moisture level recording.
Unattended gas pressure recording.
Process monitoring for maintenance and troubleshooting
applications.
Process monitoring to verify warranty conditions
Tank level monitoring.
Load profile recording for energy consumption management.
24
Performance Characteristics
of Instruments
Introduction
26
Static Calibration
27
Static Calibration
A test in which known values of the input are
applied to a sensor (measurement system) for the
purpose of observing the sensor (system) output is
termed as “Static Calibration”.
28
Static Characteristics
29
Accuracy & Precision
30
Mistakes
Introduced due to human activities
◦ Careless reading
◦ Mistakes in recording observations
◦ Incorrect application of a correction
◦ Improper application of instruments
◦ Computational errors
Can be avoided only by taking care in reading and
recording the measurement data.
◦ At least three independent reading should be taken,
preferably under conditions in which instruments are
switched off and on.
31
Error
GROSS ERROR:
◦ Reading the wrong numbers from a tape measure
◦ Making a measurement with the tape snagged around some
structure
◦ Reading the wrong values from a form when processing the
measurements
32
SYSTEMATIC ERROR:
Systematic errors are ones that can be repeated and can
be accounted for in processing.
If you calibrate a tape measure against a known
standard and find that it always measures distances
that are too long.
1. Instrumental error
Error inherent in instrument due to the mechanical
structure
2. Environmental error
Conditions external to the instrument.
33
Sources of Error
Insufficient knowledge of the process
parameters and design conditions
Poor design
Change in process parameters, irregularities,
upsets, etc.
Poor maintenance
Error caused by people who operate
instrument equipment
34
Range:
The lowest and highest reading an instrument can measure.
A thermometer is calibrated from 0 -100 ºC has a range
of 0 - 100 ºC.
Span:
The algebraic difference between the upper and lower range
values.
The thermometer calibrated from 0 - 100 ºC has a span
of 100 ºC.
Also called “Full scale output”
35
Dead Zone
Dead zone (dead spot) is the largest range of
values of a measured variable to which the
instrument does not respond.
Sensitivity
Incremental ratio of the output signal (y) to
the desired input signal (x).
36
37
Linearity
The closeness to which a curve approximates a
straight line.
a) Best-fit straight line
b) Terminal-based straight line
c) Independent straight line
38
Hysteresis (Backlash)
39
Drift
Drift is an undesired change or a gradual variation
in output over a period of time that is unrelated to
changes in input, operating conditions, or load.
40
Dynamic Characteristics
41
Introduction
Dynamic characteristics refer to the
performance of the instrument when the
input variable is changing rapidly with
time.
42
Offset
The steady state deviation when the set point is
fixed is called offset.
43
Speed of Response
It is the rapidity with which an instrument
responds to changes in the measured quantity.
44
Fidelity
Fidelity is the ability to reproduce the changes in
input signal faithfully.
45
Lag
It is a retardation or delay in the response of
an instrument to changes in the measured
quantity.
46
47