Measurement, Instrumentation and Computer Interfacing: A.Resistive Transducer Definition

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Assignment N 02

MEASUREMENT, INSTRUMENTATION AND COMPUTER INTERFACING

A.RESISTIVE TRANSDUCER

Definition:

The transducer whose resistance varies because of the environmental effects such type of transducer is
known as the resistive transducer. The change in resistance is measured by the ac or dc measuring
devices. The resistive transducer is used for measuring the physical quantities like temperature,
displacement, vibration etc.

The measurement of the physical quantity is quite difficult. The resistive transducer converts the
physical quantities into variable resistance which is easily measured by the meters. The process of
variation in resistance is widely used in the industrial applications.

The resistive transducer can work both as the primary as well as the secondary transducer. The primary
transducer changes the physical quantities into a mechanical signal, and secondary transducer directly
transforms it into an electrical signal.

Example
The circuit of the sliding resistive transducer is shown in the figure below. The sliding contacts are
placed on the resistive element. The slider moves horizontally. The movement of the slider changes the
value of the resistive element of the transducer which is measured by the voltage source E.

Sliding-transducer

The displacement of the slider is converted into an electrical signal.

Advantages of Resistive Transducer

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Assignment N 02

The advantages of the resistive transducer include the following.

 These transducers give quick responses.


 These are available in different sizes and they have high resistance.
 The voltage otherwise current for both the AC & DC is suitable for calculating variable
resistance.
 They are low-cost.
 The operation of these transducers is very easy and used in various applications wherever the
necessities are not mostly severe.
 These are used to measure the huge amplitudes of displacement.
 Its electrical efficiency is extremely high and gives adequate output to let control operations.
 Both the AC and DC, current or voltage is appropriate for the measurement of variable
resistance.
 The resistive transducer gives the fast response.
 It is available in various sizes and having a high range of resistance.

Disadvantages

When using these transducers, huge power is necessary to move the sliding contacts. The sliding
contacts can exhaust, become uneven and produce noise.

Thus, this is all about the resistive transducer which is used in different applications within the measured
transduction like pressure, mechanical strain, displacements, load, force, temperature, as well as the
velocity of fluid velocity into electrical o/ps. These apparatus are based on the change within resistance
brought about through the measured. Here is a question for you, what are the examples of resistive
transducer?

Working Principle of Resistive Transducer

The resistive transducer element works on the principle that the resistance of the element is directly
proportional to the length of the conductor and inversely proportional to the area of the conductor.

R = ρL/A

Where R – resistance in ohms.


A – cross-section area of the conductor in meter square.
L – Length of the conductor in meter square.
ρ – the resistivity of the conductor in materials in ohm meter.

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Interfacing MEE 3162
Assignment N 02

The resistive transducer is designed by considering the variation of the length, area and resistivity of the
metal. The transducer’s resistance can be changed because of the exterior environmental factors as well
as the conductor’s physical properties. The change in resistance can be measured using AC devices or
DC devices. This transducer acts like a primary as well as the secondary transducer. A primary transducer
is used to change the physical quantity to the mechanical signal whereas a secondary transducer is used
to convert a mechanical signal to an electrical signal.

A change in resistance of a circuit due to the displacement of an object is the measure of displacement
of that object, method of changing the resistance and the resulting devices are summarized in the
following Method of changing resistance.
Length - Resistance can be changed varying the length of the conductor,(linear and rotary).
Dimensions - When a metal conductor is subjected to mechanical strain, change in dimensions of the
conductor occurs, that changes the resistance of the conductor.
Resistivity -
When a metal conductor is subjected to a change in temperature and change in resistivity occurs which
changes resistance of the conductor.
Resulting device:-
Resistance potentiometers or sliding contact devices displacements ,Electrical resistance strain gauges.
Thermistor and RTD.
Use:-
the resistive transducer used for the measurement of linear and angular, and used for the
temperature mechanical strain measurement.

Applications of Resistive Transducer

The following are the applications of the resistive transducer.

Potentiometer
The translation and rotatory potentiometer are the examples of the resistive transducers. The
resistance of their conductor varies with the variation in their lengths which is used for the
measurement of displacement.

Strain gauges
The resistance of their semiconductor material changes when the strain occurs on it. This property of
metals is used for the measurement of the pressure, force-displacement etc.

Resistance Thermometer
The resistance of the metals changes because of changes in temperature. This property of conductor is
used for measuring the temperature.

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Thermistor
It works on the principle that the temperature coefficient of the thermistor material varies with the
temperature. The thermistor has the negative temperature coefficient. The Negative temperature
coefficient means the temperature is inversely proportional to resistance.
There are a number of ways because of which the resistance of the metal changes with the changed in
the physical phenomenon. And this property of conductors is used for measuring the physical quantities
of material.

B. HYDRAULIC AMPLIFYING ELEMENTS

HYDRAULIC AMPLIFIER

A device which increases the power of a signal in a hydraulic servomechanism or other system through
the use of fixed and variable orifices. Also known as hydraulic intensifier.

A hydraulic intensifier is a hydraulic machine for transforming hydraulic power at low pressure into a
reduced volume at higher pressure.

Operation of hydraulic intensifier

Such a machine may be constructed by mechanically connecting two pistons, each working in a separate
cylinder of a different diameter. As the pistons are mechanically linked, their force and stroke length are
the same. If the diameters are different, the hydraulic pressure in each cylinder will vary in the same
ratio as their areas: the smaller piston giving rise to a higher pressure. As the pressure is inversely
proportional to the area, it will be inversely proportional to the square of the diameter.

The working volume of the intensifier is limited by the stroke of the piston. This in turn limits the
amount of work that may be done by one stroke of the intensifier. These are not reciprocating machines
(i.e. continually running multi-stroke machines) and so their entire work must be carried out by a single
stroke.

This limits their usefulness somewhat, to machines that can accomplish their task within a single stroke.
They are often used where a powerful hydraulic jack is required, but there is insufficient space to fit the
cylinder size that would normally be required, for the lifting force necessary and with the available
system pressure.

Using an intensifier, mounted outside the jack, allows a higher pressure to be obtained and thus a
smaller cylinder used for the same lift force. Intensifiers are also used as part of machines such as
hydraulic presses, where a higher pressure is required and a suitable supply is already available.

Hydraulic amplifying elements find a wide range of applications in the form of hydraulic actuators in the

control elements used in the automobile hydraulic brakes and hydraulic steering systems. The
advantages is compactness for a specified force while the disadvantages are possible leakages and
problems in dusty environments.

As an example,
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 Woodward’s Hydraulic Amplifier

Woodward’s Hydraulic Amplifier is a linear electro-hydraulic actuator designed to operate steam


turbine control valves or valve racks. This integrated actuator is intended for use on mechanical-drive or
generator-drive steam turbines, and uses a low-pressure hydraulic oil source (typically turbine lube oil)
to provide its output shaft force.

The Hydraulic Amplifier’s superb accuracy and resolution make it ideal for steam turbine valve control
and related turbine speed and load control.

Another example of a hydraulic amplifier is

 Vanni hydraulic microphone

This is a probably unique electro/hydraulic amplifier, in the sense that you put an electrical signal in, and
get an electrical signal out, but at least some of the process of amplification is performed by hydraulics.
It is based on the Vanni hydraulic microphone.

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H is a standard carbon microphone. The electrical signal from it, produced by modulating the current
from the battery, passes through a transformer marked P S and applied to the coils E-E, which vibrate
the diaphragm M. This process is purely electrical.

This movement is communicated to the pillar N and the lever L, so that electrode A is wiggled about,
modulating the resistance of the acidulated water stream between A and B and giving variable
impedance to ground. The pointy thing at the top is the aerial, and the coil in the connection to it is the
secondary coil of an arc or Fessenden continuous-wave transmitter.

I do not have high hopes for the audio performance of this arrangement. Whoever drew it seems to
have misunderstood the principle of operation; the liquid column is shown breaking up into separate
droplets that would surely have created a extremely unpleasant or bad noise far greater than the audio
signal.

REFFERENCES

1. Instrumentation measurement & analysis 3e-bc nakra-k k chaudhary


2.http://www.darshan.ac.in/Upload/DIET/Documents/EE/EMMI_Ch
%205_11102018_063106AM.pdf
3. http://www.idc-
online.com/technical_references/pdfs/electronic_engineering/Resistive_Transducer.pdf
4. https://audiovolt.co.uk/collections/wharfedale-pro

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Assignment N 02

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