This document provides an overview of an instrumentation and measurement course. It discusses the course contents, objectives, and topics to be covered. The topics include the application of instrumentation in process control using sensors and valves, electronic instrumentation systems, and different sensor types. It also discusses key performance characteristics of instruments like sensitivity, accuracy, precision, range, and resolution which are important in selecting the appropriate instrument for a given measurement task.
This document provides an overview of an instrumentation and measurement course. It discusses the course contents, objectives, and topics to be covered. The topics include the application of instrumentation in process control using sensors and valves, electronic instrumentation systems, and different sensor types. It also discusses key performance characteristics of instruments like sensitivity, accuracy, precision, range, and resolution which are important in selecting the appropriate instrument for a given measurement task.
This document provides an overview of an instrumentation and measurement course. It discusses the course contents, objectives, and topics to be covered. The topics include the application of instrumentation in process control using sensors and valves, electronic instrumentation systems, and different sensor types. It also discusses key performance characteristics of instruments like sensitivity, accuracy, precision, range, and resolution which are important in selecting the appropriate instrument for a given measurement task.
This document provides an overview of an instrumentation and measurement course. It discusses the course contents, objectives, and topics to be covered. The topics include the application of instrumentation in process control using sensors and valves, electronic instrumentation systems, and different sensor types. It also discusses key performance characteristics of instruments like sensitivity, accuracy, precision, range, and resolution which are important in selecting the appropriate instrument for a given measurement task.
Course Contents Course contents available on: http://www.uet.edu.pk/faculties/facultiesinfo /mechatronics_control/course_machatronics. html
Course Objective Upon completion of Instrumentation & Measurement, you should be able to:
Explain the role of sensors and instruments in a control process.
Explain sensor principle, design and operation.
Understand design, interfacing and signal conditioning for each
sensor type. Select and calibrate sensors or instruments. Work with most of the sensor types.
Topics to be covered today
Application of Instrumentation and Measurement Electronic Instrumentation systems Sensors and Transducers measurement sensitivity, range, accuracy, precision
Application of instrumentation and measurement
Process control requires sensors for measuring variables and valves for implementing decisions and itself work as decision makers. Successful process control requires appropriate instrumentation, so engineers should have the understanding of the principles of common instruments.
Human natural observation capabilities are generally not
designed for process conditions. Instruments must have desired capabilities to match process conditions. Process Control has the role of a decision makers (Like brain) Sensors feel the condition and originate the signal followed by modification and amplification for effective display /transmission or control objectives.
Process control
Sensors & Transducers
----- Sensors to measure process conditions and valves to influence process operations are essential for all aspects of engineering practice. Engineers want to design and operate processes that remain in safe conditions, produce the desired amounts of high quality products and are profitable. Therefore, engineers must provide measuring devices for key variables and valves (or other devices, such as variable speed electric motors) to influence or steer the process. ----To be useful, systems must interact with their environment. To do this they use sensors and actuators. Sensors and actuators are examples of transducers A transducer is a device that converts one physical quantity into another examples include: a mercury-in-glass thermometer (converts temperature into displacement of a column of mercury) a microphone (converts sound into an electrical signal).
Almost any physical property of a material that changes in response to some excitation can be used to produce a sensor. A sensor is a device that converts a physical phenomenon into an electrical signal. As such, sensors represent part of the interface between the physical world and the world of electrical devices, such as computers. The other part of this interface is represented by actuators, which convert electrical signals into physical phenomena.
Instrument Tool or equipment for Sensing, Detecting, Measuring, Recording, Controlling or
Communicating
measurand.
Can
be
manual
or
automatic.
Typical components of instrument
A Sensor: (measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal) A Modifier (Change the type of signal) A Display unit (transmitting arrangement )
Measurement System Sensor RTD Potentiometer Strain Gage
LVDT
Processor or Signal Conditioner Wheatstone Bridge Operational Amplifier
Display Digital Analog
Simple Instrument Model
Modern/Electronic Instrument model
Instrumentation System
Typical Example:
Functional Elements of an Instrument
Fluid Temperature Measured Quantity
Process/ Measured medium
Tubing
Temperature Tube
Primary Sensing Element
Variable Conversion Element
Pressure
Data Transmission Element
Pressure
Variable Conversion Element
Motion
Variable Manipulation Element
Motion
Data Presentation Element Observer
Spiral Bourdon Tube
Linkage Gear
Scale & Pointer
Modern Example
Performance Characteristics of Instruments
Sensors are used for process monitoring and for process control. These are essential elements of safe and profitable plant operation that can be achieved only if the proper sensors are selected and installed in the correct locations. While sensors differ greatly in their physical principles, their selection can be guided by the analysis of a small set of issues, which are presented in this section. Each issue is introduced here with process examples, and details on the issues are provided in the remainder of this site for the most common sensors in the process industries. ---- The performance characteristics of an instrument are very necessary for choosing the most suitable instrument for specific measuring task. Static Characteristics: considered for instruments used to measure an unvarying process conditions Dynamic Characteristics: for measuring quantities that fluctuates with time. ---- The relative importance of each issue depends upon the specific application; for example, one application might require excellent accuracy, while another might require only moderate accuracy, but high reliability. Generally, we find that the greater the requirements for good performance, the higher the cost for purchase and maintenance. Therefore, we must find the proper balance of performance and cost, rather than always specify the best performing sensor
Performance Characteristics of Instruments (Contd)
Characteristics of an instrument includes; Sensitivity Accuracy Precision Repeatability Range Resolution
Others (Span, Dead zone etc.)
Static Characteristics
Measurement Sensitivity The sensitivity of measurement is a measure of the change in instrument output that occurs when the quantity being measured changes by a given amount. Thus, sensitivity is the ratio: Output Input
Static Characteristics
Accuracy Accuracy is the degree of conformity of the measured value with the accepted standard or ideal value, which we can take as the true physical variable.
Accuracy is usually expressed in engineering units or as a
percentage of the sensor range, for example: Thermocouple temperature sensor with accuracy of 1.5 K. Orifice flow meters with accuracy of 3% of maximum flow range
Static Characteristics
Precision
Precision is the degree of exactness for which
an instrument is designed or intended to perform.
Accuracy vs. Precision
Precision without accuracy
Accuracy without precision
Precision and accuracy
Static Characteristics
Range/Span Range represents the minimum and maximum values which can be determined by an instrument or equipment. Difference between upper and lower range is known as Span. Span can be the same for two different range instruments.
If a chemical reactor typically operates at 300 C, the engineer might
select a range of 250-350 C. Since the reactor will be started up from ambient temperature occasionally, an additional sensor should be provided with a range of -50 to 400 C.
