Scribd
Upload
3 views14 pages

Selecton of Sensors

The document provides an overview of various sensors and transducers used to measure different natural phenomena, including temperature, moisture, strain, sound, vibration, position, pressure, and force. It includes comparative tables detailing the characteristics, advantages, and applications of common sensors in each category. The information is aimed at helping users select the most suitable sensor for their specific applications.

Uploaded by

Roman Shrestha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views14 pages

Selecton of Sensors

The document provides an overview of various sensors and transducers used to measure different natural phenomena, including temperature, moisture, strain, sound, vibration, position, pressure, and force. It includes comparative tables detailing the characteristics, advantages, and applications of common sensors in each category. The information is aimed at helping users select the most suitable sensor for their specific applications.

Uploaded by

Roman Shrestha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

Sensors and Transducers

Selection of Sensors
Introduction
 You can choose from many different sensors on the market
today to measure all types of natural phenomena.
 How to compares the most common sensors for measuring
different parameters and select the best option for your
application.
 SENSORS FOR
 Temperature
 Moisture
 Strain
 Sound
 Vibration
 Position and Displacement
 Pressure
 Force
Temperature Sensor
Temp. Sensor Signal Conditioning Required Accuracy Sensitivity Comparison

Thermocouple • Amplification Good Good • Self-Powered


• Filtering • Inexpensive
• Rugged
• Large Temperature Range
RTD • Amplification Best Better • Very Accurate
• Filtering • Very Stable
• Current Excitation
Thermistor • Amplification Better Best • High Resistance
• Filtering • Low Thermal Mass
• Voltage Excitation
Fiber Optics •Little or No Amplification Best Best • Good for Hazardous
• Filtering Environments
• Good for Long Distances
• Immune to Electromagnetic
Interference (EMI)-Induced
Noise
• Small, Lightweight

Table 1. Comparison of Common Temperature Sensors


Table 2. Comparison of Common Strain Gage Configurations
Strain
Sound
Microphones Price Environment Impedance Level Sensitivity Comparison

Prepolarized Medium Tough Medium Best • Condenser designs are most used
Condenser • Best in humid environments

Externally High Tough Medium Best • Condenser designs are most used
Polarized • Best in high-temperature environments
Condenser

Carbon Low Average High Good • Low quality


Microphone • Used in early basic design of telephone
handset

Electret Low Average Low Better • Better with high frequencies


Piezoelectric Medium Tough High Good • Suitable for shock and blast pressure
measurement applications

Dynamic/ High Tough Medium Better • Resistant to moisture


Magnetic • Not good in highly magnetic environment

Table 3. Comparison of Common Sound Sensors


Vibration

Vibration SensorsNatural Frequency Number of Damping Scale Factor Comparison


Axes Coefficient
Ceramic >5 kHz Up to 3 Small Requires High • Used in vibration and shock
Piezoelectric Output measurements
(accelerometer)
Linear Variable <80 Hz Up to 3 Medium Varies • Limited to steady-state acceleration or
Differential low-frequency vibration measurement
Transformer
(LVDT)
Proximity Probe <30 Hz Up to 3 Medium Varies • Limited to steady-state acceleration or
low-frequency vibration measurement

• Spring mass attached to wiper of


potentiometer

Variable <100 Hz Up to 3 Medium Varies • Output exists only when mass is in


Reluctance motion

• Used in shock studies and oil


exploration

Table 4. Comparison of Common Vibration Sensors


Position and Displacement
Position Sensor Price Environment Accuracy Sensitivity Comparison
Hall Effect Sensor Low Standard On or off On or off • Only certain that target is nearby when depressing sensor

Optical Encoders – Linear Varies Standard Varies High • Accuracy determined by number of counts per revolution
and Rotary
Potentiometers Low Standard High High • Required to be physically attached to moving target

Linear and Rotary Variable High Known for High High • Handles a high degree of power
Differential Transformers tolerance of dirty • Requires signal conditioning
(LVDT) or (RVDT) industrial • RVDTs typically operate over any angular range of ±30 to 70
environments °C
and precision
Eddy-Current Proximity Mediu • Noncontacting Medium Varies • Not good where high resolution is required
Probe m • Tolerance of • Not good for use when a large gap exists between sensor
dirty and target (optical and laser sensors are better)
environments • Good when mounted on a reasonably stationary mechanical
• Not sensitive to structure to measure nearby moving machinery
material between
sensor and target

Reflective Light Proximity Varies Standard Varies High • Line of sight to target required for measurement
Sensor • Good for use when large gap exists between sensor and
target
• Accuracy determined by quality of sensor

Table 5. Comparison of Common Position Sensors


Pressure
Pressure Relative Tire Example Comparison
Measurement Types

Absolute Absolute pressure = standard atmospheric Relative to 0 Pa, the pressure in a


pressure + gauge pressure vacuum

Gauge Reading from tire pressure gauge Relative to local atmospheric


pressure
Vacuum Typically negative value when relative to local Relative to either absolute vacuum
atmospheric pressure. Flat tire = 0 kPa on (0 Pa) or local atmospheric pressure
vacuum gauge

Differential Differential pressure = pressure difference Relative to another pressurized


between two different tires container

Sealed Sealed pressure = gauge pressure + difference Relative to sea level pressure
between local atmospheric pressure and sea
level pressure

Table 6. Comparison of Relative Pressure Measurement Types


Force
Load Cell Price Weight Range Accuracy Sensitivit Comparison
Sensors y
Beam Style Low 10 – 5 k lb High Medium • Used with tanks, platform scales
• Strain gages are exposed and require
protection
S Beam Low 10 – 5 k lb High Medium • Used with tanks, platform scales
• Better sealing and protection than
bending beam
Canister Mediu Up to 500 k lb Medium High • Used for truck, tank, and hopper
m scales
• Handles load movements
• No horizontal load protection

Pancake/Low Low 5 – 500 k lb Medium Medium • All stainless steel


Profile • Used with tanks, bins, and scales
• No load movement allowed
Button and Low Either Low Medium • Loads must be centered
Washer 0 – 50 k lb or 0 • No load movement allowed
– 200 lb typically

Table 7. Comparison of Common Load Cell Sensors


SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Specification
Specification

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy