“SPECIFICATION OF MEASURING

DEVICES”

Prof. Miguel Maldonado Saavedra

Department of Metallurgical Engineering

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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Sensor

 Device that receives an stimulus (measurand)| and

responds with an electrical signal

• Analog signal
Signal conditioning for
transmission
Transmitter Current (4-20mA)
Voltage (ej. 0-5V)
•Digital signal
Transform a source of energy
into an electrical signal
Transducer

Sensor element that allows Primary Element

measurement

Process
1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Sensor specification

 For specification purposes the most important

characteristics are:
➢ Transfer function
➢ Range or span
➢ Accuracy
➢ Linearity
➢ Resolution
➢ Response time
➢ Output signal
➢ Power requirements
➢ Construction material
➢ Environmental rating
SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Transfer function

 An ideal or theoretical output-stimulus relationship

exists for every sensor
➢ Characterized by a transfer function

 Example: Resistance Temperature Device (RTD)

𝐑(𝛀) = 𝐑 𝐨 𝟏 + 𝐚𝐓 − 𝐛𝐓 𝟐
SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Upper and Lower range values

 Maximum (URV) and minimum (LRV) magnitud of

stimuli that can be measured by the sensor with
given characteristics such as accuracy, linearity, etc

 LRV is usually called zero

 URV is usually called Full Scale (FS)

 In new intelligent sensors these parameters can be

modified
SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Span or Range

 Dynamic range of stimuli that can be converted by a

sensor
_
➢ Span = URV LRV

 Example: A sensor is capable of measuring

temperatura between -20oC and 200o C
1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Hysteresis error

 Deviation of the sensor´s output at a specificed point

of the input signal when it is approached from the
opposite directions

Typical causes are:

➢ Friction
➢ Structural changes in materials

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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Non-linearity error

 Specified for sensors whose transfer function can be

approximated by a straight line

 It is defined as the maximum deviation (L) of a real

transfer function from the approximation straight line
➢ Usually expressed in percent of the span or referred
to the actual measured value

 Some sensor used the term Linearity for expressing

actually nonlinearity errors.
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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Non-linearity error

 There are several way of expressing nonlinearity

depending how the line is superimposed in the transfer
function

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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Independent Linearity

 Referred to the so-called “Best straight line”

➢ Line midway between two parallel straight lines closest
together and enveloping all output values on a real
transfer function

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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Repeatibility

 A Repeatibility (Reproducibility) error is caused by the

inability of the sensor to represent the same value
under identical conditions

 Defined as the maximum

difference between output
readings as determined by
two calibrating cycles

∆
𝛅𝐑 (%) = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 ∙
𝐅𝐒
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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Resolution

 Describes the smallest increment of stimulus which

can be sensed

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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Accuracy

 Measurements  Errors (reference standard)

 Errors
➢ Bias (Variable or constant)
➢ Precision (random  scattering)
➢ Histeresis, non-linearity, etc

 The International Organization for Legal Metrology

(OIML, 1984) defines accuracy as
➢ “The closeness of agreement between the result of a
measurement and the true value of the measurand”
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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Accuracy

 ACCURACY is a combination of bias and precision

errors. It may also include other errors such as
hysteresis

True bias
Value

measurements
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1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Accuracy

 Vendors used different ways to calculate accuracy

Error
Accuracy   100%
Span

Error
Accuracy   100%
FS
Error
Accuracy   100%
Actual value
1. INTRODUCTION TO PROCESS CONTROL
Accuracy

o o
 Example: A sensor with range between -20 C and 180 C
measures 80oC. Calculate the error if the reported accuracy
is (a) 1% referred to the range, (b) 2% referred to FS and ©
1.5 % referred to the actual measured value

Error
(a) Span 1%   100%  Error  2o C
200

Error
(b) FS 2%   100%  Error  3.6o C
180

Error
(c) Actual 1.5%   100%  Error  0.8o C
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SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Output signal

 Analog
➢ Current 4-20mA, 0 - 20mA
➢ Voltage 0 – 5VDC, 0- 10VDC

 Digital (Fieldbsu Foundation)

➢ Ethernet IP
➢ Modbus
➢ Profibus,
➢ Devicenet, etc
SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Instrument Network

 Example of Automation Network

SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Power requirements

 Typically
➢ DC voltage 10 – 24VDC
➢ AC Voltage 110 – 240 VAC
SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Environmental Rating (IP Code)

 IEC standard 60529 classifies and rates the degree

of Protection against intrusion (body parts), dust,
water.

IP XY
SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Environmental Rating (IP Code)

 First Digit: solid particle protection

SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Environmental Rating (IP Code)

 Second Digit: liquid ingress protection

SENSOR SPECIFICATION
Environmental Rating (IP Code)

 Second Digit: liquid ingress protection (Cont.)