EE 2042 Electrical Measurements and Instrumentations

Dr. KTM Udayanga Hemapala

Outline Syllabus
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sensors and Transducers Sampled data systems Digital instrumentation Oscilloscope Statistical basis of measurements

Introduction
Electrical Units

General structure of measurement system

A measuring system is used to provide the information about the physical value of the variable which is measured

General structure of measurement system

The sensor gives an output (it is function of the measurand) Measurand is the input applied to it For most but not all sensors, this function is at least approximately linear. Measurements are made for
Evaluating the magnitude of the measurand Monitoring the behavior of physical quantities Control feedback signal generation A thermocouple is a device consisting of two different conductors (usually metal alloys) that produce a voltage , proportional to a temperature difference, between either ends of the two conductors.

Eg: 1. Temperature measurement

Thermometer

In general, the sensor is only part of a measurement system. The types of primary sensors available for measuring a wide range of physical quantities will be presented later.

General structure of measurement system. ctd

Eg: 2 Hot water system

Signal Conditioning
This element is needed where the output variable of a primary transducer is in an inconvenient form and has to be converted to a more convenient form. For instance, the displacement-measuring strain gauge has an output in the form of a varying resistance. The resistance change cannot be easily measured and so it is converted to a change in voltage by a bridge circuit, which is a typical example of a variable conversion element. Reference: http://www.sensorland.com/HowPage002.html In some cases, the primary sensor and variable conversion element are combined, and the combination is known as a transducer.

The Signal processing Element

The Signal processing elements exist to improve the quality of the output of a measurement system in some way. A very common type of signal processing element is the electronic amplifier, which amplifies the output of the primary transducer or variable conversion element, thus improving the sensitivity and resolution of measurement. This element of a measuring system is particularly important where the primary transducer has a low output. For example, thermocouples have a typical output of only a few millivolts. Other types of signal processing element are those that filter out induced noise and remove mean levels etc.

The Data Presentation and Display Elements

They are used to record and present the achieved reading for the measured quantity and display it.

Method of measurements
Method of measurements can be classified as
Direct measurements In-direct measurements

Direct measurements
The quantity to be measured is directly produce a certain effect Ex: Current measurement, here the deflection of the pointer is due to the current

In-direct measurements
The quantity is not measure directly Ex: power measuring of a resistor It is done by not measuring the power but measuring the current and voltage, then use the P=VI equation