Design of Mechatronics

systems
MEC 343

Lecture 3
Selection of Sensors (2)

Dr. Abdelaziz Hussien

 Temperature
Temperature :
is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the
system particles.

• The electrical way of measuring the

temperature depends on the electrical
properties of the material towards the
temperature change.

• The applications on electrical method are

Thermistor, thermocouples, and Resistance
temperature detector (RTD) sensors.
 Thermistor
Thermistor:
The thermistors are resistors whose resistance changes
with the temperature. The thermistors respond
negatively to the temperature and their resistance
decreases with the increase in temperature.

The range of the thermistors is a small and they are very

low in cost. However, since their range is small they have
to be operated at lower current levels. They are usually
ceramic semiconductors commonly made of oxides of
one or more of the following metals: nickel, manganese.

3
 Thermocouples
Thermocouples:
• A thermocouple consists of two dissimilar metals, joined
together at one end, and produces a small unique voltage at a
given temperature. This voltage is measured and interpreted by
a thermocouple thermometer.
• The thermocouples respond proportional to the temperature
and their resistance increases with the increase in temperature.

4
 Thermocouples (Cont.)
Thermocouples Materials:
1. High emf values per degree temperature, i.e.
high sensitivity that could be detected with
standard measuring equipment.
2. Reasonably linear temperature–emf
relationship.
3. Stability of emf, i.e. stable calibration.
4. The Thermocouple must withstand:
a. High temperature.
b. Rapid temperature change.
c. Effect of corrosive medium; i.e. resistance to chemical
changes.
5. Mechanical strength at their temperature range.
6. Cheapness. 5
 Thermocouples (Cont.)
➢ Applications on thermocouples:
• Exposed (measuring) junction:
Is recommended for the measurement of flowing or
static non-corrosive gas temperature when the
greatest sensitivity and quickest response is required.

• Insulated junction:
Suitable for corrosive media although the thermal
response is slower.

• Earthed (grounded) junction:

Suitable for corrosive media and for high pressure
applications. It provides faster response than the
insulated junction. 6
 Resistance temperature detector (RTD)
Resistive temperature Detectors (RTD):
• They are made of metals and are characterized by
positive temperature dependence.

• Platinum is the best material because of its small

resistivity and strong temperature dependence.

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 Pressure
Pressure:
is an expression of force exerted on a surface per unit
area.
Pressure sensor:
is a device that senses pressure and converts it into an
electric signal where the amount depends upon the
pressure applied.

• The applications on electrical method are

LVDT, Piezoelectric, and Diaphragm.
 LVDT
LVDT:
• LVDT pressure transducers are generally favored by the
nuclear industry.
• LVDT transducers provide high immunity to radiation.
• LVDT sensors can also withstand higher temperatures,
with high radiation continuous working.
• LVDT sensors also benefit from the fact they can have
remote electronics up to 1,000 meters or more of cable
between the sensor and the signal conditioning
electronics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_tSHYHiDdw
 Piezoelectric
Piezoelectric:
• Is transferred the mechanical energy to
electrical energy.
• It used on the electronics drum pads to
detect the impact of the drummer’s stick.
• It used on the combustion engines to
monitor the combustion when developing
internal combustion engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xHJYQreZnM&t=38s
The Criteria to Select Pressure Transducers
Transducer Advantage Disadvantage

• Non- contact.
• Vibration system affects on the
• Low hysteresis.
performance of LVDT.
LVDT • Low output impedance.
• Required DC output.
• High resolution.
• Low Sensitivity.
• Fast response.

• High Accuracy
• Dynamic sensing only.
• Very high pressure measurement,
• Temperature sensitive affects on
Piezoelectric up to 70MPa
the performance of Piezoelectric.
• Small size
• Fast response.
 Diaphragms
It is a thin flat plate of circular shape. The plate is fixed round its edge . When a
differential pressure is applied across the plate, it deflects.
➢ The types of diaphragm:
1. Single Diaphragm.
2. Flush Diaphragm.
3. The slack Diaphragm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmbLwlnqI3g
 Diaphragms (Cont.)
• The slack Diaphragm:
 The Criteria to Choose Pressure Transducers
➢ Performance consideration:
• Determine the maximum pressure that you intend to
measure.
• Determine the pressure reference required by
application.
• Identify the engineering unit.
• Accuracy:
✓ Static accuracy: Linearity, Repeatability, and
Hysteresis.
✓ Thermal effect: How temperature affects the output.
✓ Total accuracy: Static + thermal effect.
• Burst pressure: Are the system safe or not?
• Fatigue loading: High cycle rate. Burst pressure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFLa8Q5YJrQ
 The Criteria to Choose Pressure Transducers
➢ Performance consideration (Cont.):
• Physical constrain: location, size,…etc.
• Configuration requirements: Diaphragm, Flush Diaphragm.

➢ Electrical consideration:
• Electrical output: Analog, Digital, Combined.
• Electrical terminal: connector, distance.

➢ Environmental consideration:
• Indoor or outdoor use: Dust, Dirt, Weather, ….etc.
• Submersible: Water, Salt water,….etc.
• Contact or not contact.
• Calibration.
• Lead time, and response.
• Testing & Approval.
 Flow
Flow:
the quantity of fluid that passes a point per unit time

• Measuring flow is one of the most important

aspects of process control.

• The fluid flowing through pipes have different

properties, so different flow measuring devices are
used.

• The applications on electrical method are some

differential pressure flow meters , and Vortex.
 Differential Pressure Flow Meter
The most common types of differential pressure flow meters are:
➢ Orifice flow meter.
➢ Venturi Tubes.
➢ Flow Nozzles.

https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=GXDJvva1g9
A
 Differential Pressure Flow Meter
The most common types
of differential pressure
flow meters are:
➢ Orifice flow meter.
➢ Venturi Tubes.
➢ Flow Nozzles.

https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=BvOqNwNuuAA
Vortex Flow Meter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pL7bGEF52s
 Ultrasonic Flow Meter
A type of flow meter that measures the velocity of a fluid
with ultrasound to calculate volume flow rate.

https://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=_pL7bGEF52s
 Ultrasonic Flow Meter
The most common types of ultrasonic flow meters are:
➢ Transit time type:

• The pulses of ultrasound propagating into and against the

direction of the flow.
• Common Uses:Transit Time flow meters work with clean liquids
like water, oils and chemicals.

➢ Doppler Shift Type:

• By measuring the frequency shift from the Doppler Effect.

• Common Uses:

• Heavily Aerated Liquids.

• Raw Sewage.
• Any Liquid with Over 100 particles of Suspended Solids.
 Electromagnetic Flow Meter
Electromagnetic flow meters (Magnetic flow or Mag meter) use
lorntz law of Electromagnetic Induction to determine the flow of
liquid in a pipe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=f949gpKdCI4&fbclid=IwAR3DzwX1
aZpxWat8RQYrruIksgKIcKvphVfnnDS
j1aumPCMZTstyOEEU_fQ
The Criteria to Select Flow meter Sensors
Criteria Orifice Venturi Flow Nozzle Vortex
High range with
Range Flexible No moving part No moving parts high temperature &
No moving parts

Installation Easy Hard Hard Easy

Size Small Large Large Small

Stability Fluid/Gas Gas Steam Fluid/Gas/Steam

Pressure Loss High Low moderate Low/moderate

Power Loss High Low Low Low

Cost Low High Moderate Low

The Criteria to Select Flow meter Sensors

24
 Level
Liquid level:
The act of establishing the height of solid or liquid
surface in reference to a zero point.

• Level is another common process variable that is

measured in many industries.

• The method used will very widely depending on the

nature of the industry, the process, and the
application.

• The applications on electrical method are

Capacitive, Ultrasonic, and Radiation level sensors.
 Capacitance Level Indicator
Capacitance Level Indicator:
The principle of capacitive level
measurement is based on the
capacitance change of a capacitor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTB1l2bfWmU
 Ultrasonic Level
Ultrasonic Level:
• Non-Contact direct level sensor
• Level is a function of the time it takes
an ultrasonic pulse to hit the surface
and return.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvPRriWINIE
 Radiation Level Detector
Radiation Level Detector:
• Used where other electrical
methods would not survive.
• Also the most common reason for
using a radiation level detector is
that it does not need to come in
contact with the liquid being
measured.

The amount of radiation received is inversely proportional to the

amount of liquid between the radiation source & the detector.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JslxugGR6Ms
 The Criteria to choose Level Sensors
Selection criteria:
➢ When determining the type of level sensor that
should be used for a given application, there are a
series of questions that must be answered:

• Open tank or closed tank?

• Can the level sensor be inserted into the tank or

should it be completely external? Contact or non-
contact?

• Is the measurement Continuous or point

measurement?

• What type of substance is being measured? (Water,

solid, milk,…etc).
Thank You 30