Scribd
Upload
526 views15 pages

Mechanical Tachometers and Digital Tachometer

There are two main types of tachometers: mechanical and electrical. Mechanical tachometers use counters connected to a spindle attached to the object to display rotational speed. Electrical tachometers generate a voltage proportional to speed using a magnet and armature. Digital tachometers use a photoelectric sensor to count holes on a rotating disc and measure pulse frequency to determine speed. A stroboscope flashes light at adjustable frequencies to make marks on a rotating object appear stationary, allowing rotational speed to be determined from the flash frequency.

Uploaded by

Allen George
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
526 views15 pages

Mechanical Tachometers and Digital Tachometer

There are two main types of tachometers: mechanical and electrical. Mechanical tachometers use counters connected to a spindle attached to the object to display rotational speed. Electrical tachometers generate a voltage proportional to speed using a magnet and armature. Digital tachometers use a photoelectric sensor to count holes on a rotating disc and measure pulse frequency to determine speed. A stroboscope flashes light at adjustable frequencies to make marks on a rotating object appear stationary, allowing rotational speed to be determined from the flash frequency.

Uploaded by

Allen George
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Measurement of angular velocity

Measurement of angular speed may be made with a


tachometer
Tachometers are classified as
(1) Mechanical Tachometers and digital tachometer
Mechanical tachometer
It has a spindle which can be attached to the object whose
speed is to be measured
The spindle is connected to mechanical counters which
display the count
Mechanical speed indicators can be used to up to speeds of
20000rpm to 30000 rpm
Measurement of angular velocity
Measurement of angular velocity
Electrical tachometer
D. C. Tachometer
D.C.tachometer generator consists of a small armature which
is coupled to the machine whose speed is to be measured.
This armature revolves in the field of a permanent magnet
The emf generated is proportional to the product of magnetic
flux and speed
Flux of the permeant magnet is constant, hence emf is
proportional to the speed
The emf is measured with the help of a moving coil voltmeter
Measurement of angular velocity
Electrical tachometer
D. C. Tachometer
Measurement of angular velocity
Electrical tachometer
D. C. Tachometer
Advantages
 The direction of rotation directly indicated by the polarity
of the output voltage
 The output voltage is typically 10 Mv/rpm and can be
measured with conventional type d.c voltmeters
 Dis-advantages
 Brushes on small tachometers often produce
Maintenance problems
Measurement of angular velocity
Digital Tachometer
Higher speed measurements are possible with digital pickups
Photoelectric Tachometer
 This method of measuring speed rotation consists of
mounting an opaque disc on a rotating shaft
 The disc has a number of equidistant holes on its periphery
 At one side of the disc a light source is fixed and at the
other side of the disc, in line with the light source , a light
sensor such as a photo tube is placed
 When the opaque portion of the disc between the light
source and the light sensor , the latter is illuminated and
produces output
Measurement of angular velocity
Digital Tachometer
Photoelectric
 When a hole appears between the two , sensor will
produce a output
 The frequency at which these pulses are produced
depends up on the no. of holes in the disc and its speed
 No; of holes is fixed, the pulse rate is a function of speed
 Advantages
 (a) The output format is digital and this means if the
tachometer is a part of instrumentation system, no analog
to digital conversion is required
 Dis-advantages
 Light source must be replaced from time to time
Measurement of angular velocity
Digital Tachometer
Photoelectric
Measurement of angular velocity
Stroboscope and stroboscopic methods
The method of use of the stroboscope depends up on
imperfect dynamic response of the human eye.

If the stroboscope emits a series of flashing lights at a frequency faster


than the fan rotating speed, you will see more fan blades than there
actually are.

In contrast, if the frequency of the flashing lights is slower than the fan
rotating speed by a fraction of a whole number, you will see the actual
number of fan blades.
Measurement of angular velocity
Stroboscope and stroboscopic methods
The method of use of the stroboscope depends up on
imperfect dynamic response of the human eye.
If a strong light is caused to flash on a moving object . At the
time each flash occurs , occupies a given position, the object
will appear to be stationery
The stroboscope consists of a source of flashing light whose
frequency can be varied and controlled .
A distinctive mark is made on the shaft or on a disc attached
to the shaft
The flashing frequency is adjusted until the mark appears
stationery
Measurement of angular velocity
• Under these conditions , the speed is equal to the flashing
frequency
• The scale of the stroboscope is calibrated in terms of
speed which can be directly read off
Measurement of angular velocity
• If there is one mark on the shaft, speed of the shaft is
equal to flashing light frequency.

• If there are two marks on the shaft, speed of the shaft is


equal to f/2 , where f is the flashing light frequency.
• If there are three marks on the shaft, speed of the shaft is
equal to f/3 , where f is the flashing light frequency.
• When the disc appears to be stationery , the speed of
rotating machine is given by
• n= f/m
• Where f= number of flashes per second and m= number
of point marks
Measurement of angular velocity
• The disc appears stationery for all speeds which are a
multiple of primary speed.
• Therefore to avoid confusion an approximate value of
actual speed should either be known or measured by
other means.
• If single line images are obtained at m different flashing
rates
• f1, f2, f3….fm , the shaft speed is given by
• n= fm f1 (m-1)/ (fm-f1
• Where fm= highest flashing frequency f1= lowest
flashing frequency, m= number of flashing frequencies
Measurement of angular velocity
• Advantages
• (1) It requires no special attachment with the shaft
• (2) It is very convenient to use a stroboscope for spot
checks on machinery speeds and for laboratory work
• Dis- advantages
• Method is less accurate than the methods using digital
meters
• The stroboscope cannot be used in surroundings where
the ambient light is above a certain level

You might also like