ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION &

MEASUREMENTS
Lecturer: engr. Sumera Jabbar

Class: 3rd semester

Bs Electrical Engineering Technology

Institute of Southern Punjab Multan

 Content

• Sensors and transducers

 Active transducers
 Passive transducers
 Sensors And Transducers

• Self Generating Transducers: Active Transducers

Self generating transducers produce their own output

voltage from an external stimulus (such as motion or heat).
 Thermocouple
Photovoltaic
 Piezoelectric
 Thermocouple
The thermocouple is one of the most commonly used method for measuring the process
temperature. The operation is based on See beck effect.
Thermo-couple consists of two dissimilar metals joined together as shown. It forms two
junctions 1 and 2 in which one junction is hot and other is cold. Due to this difference in
temperature, an e.m.f. is generated and electric current flow in circuit.
Numerical
 Photovoltaic Transducers
• Photovoltaic cell, often called a solar cell, produces a voltage that is a function of both
color and intensity of the light falling on its surface.
• It is used in light meters, in the measurement of the presence of nuclear radiation, and
measurement of gas density.
• The basic silicon p-n junction solar cell consists of a thin layer of p- material deposited
over a thicker layer of n material forming a p-n junction.
• The p material is so thin as to be transparent to light, this light energy on the junction
region creates electron hole pairs.
• The electrons are pulled to the n material, and the holes to the p- material. This action
creates a potential difference between two sides.
• When external load is connected across the device, a current which is a function of light
intensity, flows. Thus the photovoltaic cell is self generating source of EMF.
• The response speed of photovoltaic cell is relatively slow, they are not suitable for
detecting high speed events.
 Piezoelectric Transducer
• The word piezoelectric is derived from the Greek word piezen, which means to squeeze
or press.
• A piezoelectric transducer (also known as a piezoelectric sensor) is a device that uses
the piezoelectric effect to measure changes in acceleration, pressure, strain, temperature
or force by converting this energy into an electrical charge.
• When a mechanical pressure or vibration is applied to a crystal of barium titanate,
quartz(SiO2) or Rochelle salt, the displacement of the crystals causes a potential
difference. This property known as piezoelectric effect is used in piezoelectric
transducers.
• The rate of charge produced will be proportional to the rate of change of mechanical
stress applied to it. Higher will be stress higher will be voltage.
• One of the unique characteristics of the piezoelectric effect is that it is reversible means
when voltage is applied to them, they tend to change dimension along with certain plane
i.e quartz crystal structure is placed into an electric field, it will deform quartz crystal by
an amount proportional to the strength of the electric field. If the same structure is
placed into an electric field with the direction of field reversed, the deformation will be
the opposite.
 Applications
• In microphones, the sound pressure is converted into an electric signal and this signal is
ultimately amplified to produce a louder sound.
• It is also used in medical diagnostics.
• It is used in electric lighter used in kitchens. The pressure made on piezoelectric sensor
creates an electric signal which ultimately causes the flash to fire up.
• Used in inkjet printers
• It is also used in restaurants or airports where when a person steps near the door and
the door opens automatically.
 Linear Variable Differential Transformer
• The differential transformer is a passive inductive transformer, well known as linear
variable differential transformer.
• LVDT is used to measure the weight, force and also pressure.
• It consists of a primary winding and two secondary windings wound over a hollow tube
and positioned so that the primary is between two of its secondaries.
• Two secondary windings are connected in series opposition.
• An iron core slides within the tube therefore affects the magnetic coupling between the
primary and two secondaries.
• Core is made of soft iron or nickel iron.
• When the core is in the center, the voltage induced in the two secondaries is equal.
• When the core is moved in one direction of center, the voltage induced in one winding
is increased and that in the other is decreased.
• LVDT produces a higher output voltages for small changes in core position.
• Low cost
• No permanent damage to the LVDT if measurement exceed the designed range.