ME 455, Precision Engg.

&
Metrology
Topic: Introduction and Basic Terminologies
week: 1
Lecture: 1
Level: 4th Semester 2nd Year
program: BE Mechanical Engineering

Course Teacher: Engr. Adnan ([email protected])

Access At: portal.suit.edu.pk
Mechanical Engineering Department, SUIT Peshawar
Engr. Adnan Mechanical Engineering
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Department SUIT Peshawar
Course Distribution:

• Mid-term: 30%

• Final: 50%

• Quizzes: 5%

• Assignments: 5%

• Individual/Group Semester Project: 10%

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Course Outline
Introduction to measurement and instrumentation. Significance of
measurement, planning of experiments, general measurement system,
calibration
Static and dynamic characteristics of instruments: measurement
sensitivity, range, accuracy, precision, repeatability, and uncertainty of
instruments, measurement errors
Measurement of length, displacement, force, torque, strain,
frequency, pressure, flow, and temperature.
Introduction to data acquisition systems, signal conditioning, display
elements.

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Recommended Books
Text Book(s):
1. Alan S Morris, Measurement and Instrumentation
Principles, 3rd Edition, Jordan Hill, Oxford

Reference Book(s):

1. E. Doeblin, Measurement Systems Applications and

Design, McGraw Hill

2. D. G. Alciatore, M. B. Histand, Introduction to

Mechatronics and Measurement Systems.

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Course Learning
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Level of Learning
No CLO PLO
(Bloom’s Taxonomy)
UNDERSTAND the basic concepts related C2
1 to measurement PLO-01

UNDERSTAND the construction, working

2 and applications of various sensors. PLO-01 C2

3 Interface sensors to data acquisition device PLO-05 C3

4 ANALYZE the sensor data PLO-02 C4

Develop sensor based solution
5 PLO-03 C3

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WeeklyPlan

Assignments/ Course Learning Outcome

WEEK # Topics
Quizzes (CLO)

Introduction to Measurement and Instrumentation, Measurement

1 system applications, Control System, Basic Elements of Closed-Loop CLO-1
Systems, Elements of a measurement System
Classification of Sensors, Transducer, Active and passive instruments,
2 Analogue and digital instruments, Null-Type and Deflection-Type Instruments, Assign # 1 CLO-1 CLO-1
Indicating instruments and instruments with a signal output
Sensor & Transducer,Output Stage, Static characteristics of instruments, Static
3
Performance parameters, Accuracy and inaccuracy, CLO-1
Precision/repeatability/reproducibility, Range or span, Linearity, Sensitivity of
measurement
Threshold, Resolution, Sensitivity to disturbance, Sensitivity drift, Hysteresis
4 effect, Dead Space, Dynamic characteristics of instruments, Response Time, Quiz # 1 CLO-1 CLO-1
Time Constant, Rise Time, Settling time
Temperature Measurement sensors and its Types, Thermocouples,
5 Thermocouple junction, Thermophiles, Resistance temperature detectors, CLO-2
Thermistors
Temperature Measurement, Thermocouple, RTD, Thermistors Advantages and
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Disadvantages, Semi-Conductor Devices, Thermal Radiation, The Infrared Assign #2 CLO-2 CLO-2& 4
Measuring System, Thermal Imaging and its working, Emissivity, Bimetallic
strip, Bimetallic Thermometer
Pressure Measurement sensor and itsTypes, Conventional Methods, Closed
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End Manometers, Diaphragm pressure sensor, Capacitive Pressure Sensor, CLO-2
Fibre Optic Pressure Measurement Sensors, Bellow Gauge, Bourdon tube
pressure gauge, Types of Bourdon Pressure Gauges
Pressure Measurement sensor, Resonant Wire Pressure Transducer, Dead
8 weight tester, Thermocouple gauge, Wheatstone Bridge, Pirani Pressure Quiz #2 CLO-2 CLO-2& 4
Gauge, Mcleod Gauge
9 Mid-Semester Examination

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 Force Measurement, Electronic load cell, Load Cells, Piezoelectric load
10 cells, Pneumatic & Hydraulic load cells, Vibrating wire sensor, Mass- CLO-2
balance (weighing) instruments, Pendulum scale

Force Measurement, Translational Motion Transducers, The resistive

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potentiometer, Types of Potentiometers, The Linear Variable Differential Assign #3 CLO-2& 4 CLO-2& 4
Transformer Variable capacitance transducers, Inductive/Eddy Current
Displacement sensor
Flow Measurement, Coriolis Meter, Thermal Mass Flow Meters,
12 Differential Pressure Flow meter, Types of obstructions in differential Quiz #3 CLO- 2 & 4 CLO-2
pressure flow meter,
Flow Measurement, Variable Area Flow- Meter (Rotameter), Positive
13 Displacement Flow Meter, Types of PD Flow Meters, Turbine Flow CLO-2& 4
Meter, Electro-magnetic Flow Sensor, Ultrasonic Flow Sensors,

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Level Measurement, Direct methods, Indirect methods, Dip Stick, Sight Assign #4 CLO-2 CLO-2
Glass, Floats, Ultrasonic, Radar, Optical dip-stick,Float Actuated Devices

Level Measurement,Hydrostatic Level Sensing,Bubbler Unit, Capacitive

15 Level Measuring, Ultrasonic Level Measurement, Conductivity Level CLO-2& 4
Sensors, Vibrating level switches

Data Acquisition System, PC-Based Data Acquisition System Overview,

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Block Diagram, Data Acquisition, Signal Conditioning, Programmable CLO-1&3
Software, Designing DAS: Factors to Consider, Analog to Digital [A/D]
Converters, Analog Inputs

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Data Acquisition System,Analog Outputs, Overview, Digital to Analog Quiz #4 CLO-3 CLO-3
Converter (DAC), Choosing a DAC, Applications
18 Final Semester Examination

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 Basic Elements of
Closed-Loop Systems
Comparison
Element

CONTROL CORRECTION
UNIT
PROCESS
Reference Unit Error UNIT
Controlled Variable
Signal

MEASURING
DEVICE
Measured Value

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Introduction to
measurement
Measurement (also called metrology) is the science of determining
values of physical variables
Instrumentation is the technology of measurement.
Importance of Measurement is simply and eloquently expressed in the
following statement of famous physicist Lord Kelvin: ”I often say that
when you can measure what you are speaking about and can express it
in numbers, you know something about it; when you cannot express in it
numbers your knowledge is of meager and unsatisfactory kind”.

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Instrumentation
The term instrumentation refers to a group of permanent systems
which help us measure objects and maintain control of a process. In this
sense, instruments and systems of measurement constitute the “tools”
of measurement and metrology.

Precision is a term that describes an instrument’s degree of freedom

from random errors (How closely the results agree with each other).

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Measurement Units
Physical Characteristic
◦ Qualitative Aspect
◦ Quantitative Aspect

Fundamental units

Derived units

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Physical Variables

• Temperature

• Pressure

• Light intensity

• Displacement

• Speed

• Level

• Flow-rate

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Fundamental or Primary
Units

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Derived or Secondary

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Measurement system applications

1. Monitoring of a process or operation to indicate its state or

condition.

Examples:
i. Monitoring environmental conditions
ii. Water and electricity meters monitor quantity used.
iii. Patient monitoring in hospitals (blood pressure, heart beat,
temperature) etc.
iv. In vehicles various instruments are incorporated to indicate speed,
fuel left in tank, engine temperature etc.

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2. Process control:
automatic control systems incorporate
measuring instruments at various stages of the
process.

3. Data recording – this is the recording of data

for storage and later use.

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 Measurement System
• A measurement system can be thought of as a black box which is used for making
measurements. It has its input the quantity being measured and its output the
value of that quantity.
• Example: A temperature measurement system, a thermometer, has an input of
temperature and an output of a number on a scale.

Input Output
THERMOMETER
Temperature Number On A Scale

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 Control System
• A control system can be thought of as a black box which is used to control its
output to some particular value or particular sequence of values.
• Example: A domestic central heating control system has its input the
temperature required in the house & has the output the house at that
temperature.

Input Output
CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM
Required Temperature Temperature at the
set value

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 Control System
• Consider your body temperature, unless you are ill, remains almost constant regardless of
whether you are in a cold or hot environment.

• To maintain this constancy, your body has a temperature control system. The system has an
input from sensors which tell it what the input is and then compares it with what the
temperature should be and then provides the appropriate response in order to obtain the
required temperature. This is an example of feedback control; signals are fed back from the
output.

• Temperature control system for a centrally heated house is also one of the example of a
feedback control system in which a thermostat or controller is used which automatically
switches the furnace on or off according to the difference between the set temperature and the
actual temperature.

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 Open & Closed-Loop Control Systems
Open-Loop System Closed-Loop System

Automated processes can be controlled by If a manufacturing process is automated, then

humans operators, by computers, or by a it requires closed loop control.
combination of the two. If a human
operator is available to monitor and The other is the closed loop system in which

control a manufacturing process, open output gives the feedback to the input to

loop control may be acceptable. adjust the parameters accordingly. Example is

the electric fire having the thermometer which
In open Loop system, there is no feedback allows 1KW or 2KW heating elements on or off
from the output. Example is the electric according to the difference between the
fire which has a selection switch which actual and the required temperature.
allows a 1kW or a 2kW heating element to Input Electric
Switch
Fire
be selected one at a time. Required temp Deviation Electric
Input Output Signal Power
Electric
Switch
Fire
Decision to
Electric A temp change
switch on or off Measuring
Power
Device

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Feed Back Control
System

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 Basic Elements of
Closed-Loop Systems
Comparison
Element

CONTROL CORRECTION
UNIT
PROCESS
Reference Unit Error UNIT
Controlled Variable
Signal

MEASURING
DEVICE
Measured Value

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Open Loop & Closed Loop Speed
Control

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