INTRUMENTATION SYSTEM

ELEMENTS – PART 1
Module 1.2.1

Created by:
Conrado F. Ostia, Jr.
Types of Sensor
• Displacement sensors
• Speed sensors
• Fluid pressure sensors
• Fluid flow sensors
• Liquid level sensors
• Temperature sensors
Displacement Sensors
Examples of Displacement Sensors:
“Displacement sensors fall into two groups: those that make contact with the object being monitored,
by spring or mechanical connection with the object, and those which are noon-contacting.”

• Petentiometer – consists of a resistance element with a

sliding contact which can be moved over the length of the
element and connected as shown in Figure 2.1.
• Strained-gauges – consist of
a metal foil strip (Figure
2.2a), flat length of metal
wire (Figure 2.2b) or a strip
semiconductor material
which can be stuck onto
surfaces like a postage stamp.

Behavior:

R
 G
R

where G – the gauge

factor
ε - the stain
• Capacitor sensor – has a capacitance given by:

 r 0 A
C
d
• Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) – a
transformer with a primary coil and two secondary coils.
• Optical encoder – provides a digital output as a result of an angular
or linear displacement.
• Moiré fringes – are produced when light passes through two
gratings which have rulings inclined at a slight angle to each other.
• Optical proximity sensors – generally consist of a light-emitting diode (LED)
and a radiation detector which might be a phototransistor (often a a pair of
transistors known as a Darlington pair), a photodiode or a photoconductive
cell.
• Pyroelectric sensors -
• Mechanical switches – gives an
on-off output when the switch
contacts are opened or closed
by the presence of an object.
• Capacitive proximity switch – a proximity switch that can be used with
metallic and non-metallic objects.
Speed sensors
• Optical methods – linear speeds can be measured by determining the
time between when the moving object breaks one beam of radiation
and when it breaks a second beam so measured distance away.
• Incremental encoder – can be used for a measurement of angular
speed or a rotating shaft, the number of pulses produced per second
being counted (described in slide 7).

• Tachogenerator – consists of a coil mounted in a magnetic field (Figure

2.19).
Fluid pressure sensors
• Diaphragm sensor – the movement of the centre of a circular
diaphragm as a result of a presssure difference between its two sides is
the basis of a pressure gauge.
• Piezoelectric sensor – When certain crytals are stretched or
compressed, charges appear on their surfaces. This effect is called
piezo-electricity. Examples of such crytalls are quartz, tourmaline,
and zirconate-titanate.
• Bourdon tube - an almost rectangular or elliptical cross-section tube
made from materials such as stainless steel or phosphor bronze.
Fluid flow
Principle:

Q P
• Differential pressure methods –involve constant size constrictions.

Examples:
• Turbine meter or turbine flowmeter – consists of a multi-bladed rotor
that is supported centrally in the pipe along which the flow occurs.
• Ultrasonic time of flight flow meter – uses ultrasonic waves to
determine the flow rate of a fluid.
• Vortex flow rate method
• Coriolis flow meter
END OF THE MODULE