Measurements and Instrumentation

ME-312
Lec. Hamza Asif
Introduction
• Measurement & Instrumentation – Mechanical Engineers need to
have a basic understanding of the design and working of the modern
instruments and measuring devices.
• Keen interest for learning is a requirement.
• At least 75% attendance policy will be enforced.
• Notes taking and book reading is encouraged.
Motivation
• A simple Google search for Instrumentation Engineer Jobs as of 11 Sep 2017
yields:

• A Google search for MS programs in Instrumentation yields:

• Imperial College London : Process Automation, Instrumentation and Control, M.Sc.
• University of Edinburgh: Sensor Systems and Imaging, MSc
• Hochscule Karlsruhe: Sensor Systems Technology, MS.
• List of MS programs in instrumentation in USA
(http://search.geebeeworld.com/search/USA-Masters+Degree-Instrumentation)
• And MANY more…
Books
Textbook Measurement & Instrumentation, Third edition, Alan S Morris
Reference Book Fundamentals of Instrumentation & Measurement, Placko
Measurement, Instrumentation & Sensors Handbook, John G. Webster
Grading Policy
BREAKDOWN
ESE OHTs Quizzes Project Assignment

• Quizzes 10%

• Assignments 5% 5%
10%

• One Hour Tests 30%

10%
45%

• Project 10%

• Final Examination 45% 30%

• Group projects start after the First OHT

Outcome Based Education (OBE) System
• Outcome-based education (OBE) is an educational theory that bases
each part of an educational system around goals (outcomes). By the
end of the educational experience, each student should have
achieved the goal.
Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)
Within a few years of graduation, the students with Bachelors in Mechanical
Engineering are expected to attain the following.
PEO 1: Have strong competence in Mechanical Engineering resulting in
successful careers.
PEO 2: Pursuing research and innovation and be able to provide industrial
solutions for engineering and technical problems.
PEO 3: Leading or participating in efforts to address societal and technical /
business challenges.
PEO 4: Enhancing their professional development and technical knowledge
through continuing education.
Program Learning Outcome (PLO)
Students must attain following twelve PLOs at the end of the degree program.
1. Engineering Knowledge
2. Problem Analysis
3. Design / Development of Solutions
4. Investigation
5. Modern Tool Usage
6. The Engineer and Society
7. Environment and Sustainability
8. Ethics
9. Individual and Teamwork
10. Communication
11. Project Management
12. Lifelong Learning
Course Learning Outcome (CLO)
• Each course that is taught to you has targeted to meet certain
outcome, termed as ‘Course Learning Outcome’ (CLO)
• Each CLO is linked to a PLO
• More than one CLOs of a particular course may also be attributed
with one PLO
• Each CLO is also linked with a particular learning Domain and
respective level of learning
CLOs and PLOs for this course…

Level of
No CLO PLO
Learning
1 Apply engineering measurement techniques by using PLO 1 C3
any of the studied sensors.

2 Determine the accuracy of measurements of physical PLO 3 C4

phenomenon by statistical techniques

3 Data Acquisition and Signal Processing for a given PLO 3 C4

problem
CLO / PLO Attainment
• In your exams some questions will be linked with a specific CLO
• You must secure at least 50% of the allocated marks to that question
in order to attain the respective CLO
• Average of your earned score of a particular CLO will establish the
attainment criterion
• To attain a PLO, again you must secure more than 50% of the
contribution of questions linked with that PLO
What to expect?
Basics of
LabVIEW Programming
Instrumentation and Hands On Practice
and DAQ System
Transducers
Classification of Sensors
Introduction to LabVIEW
Static and Dynamic Characteristics Group Projects
Programming
of Instruments

Operational Modes

Error, Calibration and Noise

Data Acquisition System Lab Practicals
Sensors for Flow, Pressure,
Temperature, Displacement
Measurement
• The quantitative determination of a physical
characteristic.
• In practice, measurement is the conversion of
a physical quantity or observation to a
domain where a human being or computer
can determine the value
• e.g. Temperature of a room, the pressure
inside a chamber, the applied force, etc.
Measurement System Applications
1. Measurement systems are used in regulating trade. E.g. The
amount of rice being transported from a rice mill in tons/Kg
2. Measuring instruments are used in monitoring functions. e.g.
monitoring the pressure in a chamber
3. Measurement instruments are used as part of automatic feedback
control systems.
Dimensions & Units
• Dimensions: A characterization of any physical quantity. e.g. mass,
length, time…
• Units: The arbitrary magnitudes assigned to the dimensions are
called units. e.g. kg, m, s.
• Dimensions can be divided into
• Primary or Fundamental Dimensions
• Secondary or Derived Dimensions
Unit Systems
• Different Unit Systems we use today:

• The English System, which is also known as the

United States Customary System (USCS). This
system has an non apparent systematic numerical
base, e.g. 12 𝑖𝑛 = 1 𝑓𝑡, 3 𝑓𝑡 = 1 𝑦𝑎𝑟𝑑 …

• The SI System, which is also know as the

International System. The SI is a simple & logical
system based on a decimal relationship between
the various units, e.g. 1000 𝑚 = 1 𝐾𝑚 ,
100 𝑐𝑚 = 1 𝑚 …
Primary/Fundamental Dimensions in SI System
Length-------------------------meter (m)
Mass---------------------------kilogram (kg)
Time---------------------------second (s)
Temperature----------------kelvin (k)
Electric current------------Ampere (A)
Luminous Intensity-----------candela (cd)
Amount of matter--------mole (mol)
Instrument
• An instrument is a device that transforms a physical variable of
interest (the measurand) into a form that is suitable for
reading/recording (the measurement).
• For example, a mercury thermometer converts temperature to a
column length that can be seen by the human eye
Instrumentation
• It comprises of scientific activities and technologies that are related
to measurement.
• It is a link between physical, chemical and biological phenomena and
their perception by humans
Measurements and Instrumentation… and
Mechanical Engineers
• Interdisciplinary research, design and operations: Mechatronics,
Electromechanical Systems, Biomechanics, Process Control,
Automation…
• Mechanical Engineers are required & expected to fully understand
and actively use electronics and instrumentation in the industry (e.g.
PLC and SCADA) and research sectors (e.g. Robotics).
History of Measurement and Instrumentation
• As old as human civilization – Barter Trade
• Industrial revolution in 19th Century - new instruments
and measurement
• Electronics & Computers development in 20th
Century → more sophisticated instruments
• Modern Production Techniques need tighter accuracy
limits
• Research for more accurate and cheaper instruments
→ competitions among manufacturers
• Smart Instruments → digital computing power within
instruments themselves
Sensors and Transducers
• Transducer: A device that converts a signal from one physical form to
a corresponding signal that has a different physical form. Therefore a
transducer is an energy converter
• Sensor: A transducer that responds to a physical stimulus (heat, light,
sound, pressure, motion, flow, and so on), and produces a
corresponding signal
• More generally the physical phenomenon is converted into a
measurable electrical signal such as voltage or current. The terms
sensors and transducer are used interchangeably in this course and
modern usage
Actuators & Data Acquisition
• Actuator: The term actuator is preferred when an electrical signal is
converted to mechanical action. More generally an actuator is an
electromechanical device that physically moves an object. Actuators
are often classified by the power source they use such as hydraulic or
pneumatic or electrical
• Data Acquisition (DAQ): Gathering information from measurement
sources, such as sensors and transducers
Phenomenon and Transducers
Phenomenon Transducer

Temperature Thermocouple, RTD, Thermistor

Light Photo Sensor

Sound Microphone

Strain Gage
Force and Pressure
Piezoelectric Transducer

Position and Displacement Potentiometer, LVDT, Optical Encoder

Acceleration Accelerometer
Simple Instrumentation Model
• The key functional element of the instrument model is the sensor, which has the
function of converting the physical variable input into a signal variable output
• Signal variables have the property that they can be manipulated in a transmission
system, such as an electrical or mechanical circuit
• Due to this property, the signal variable can be transmitted to an output or
recording device that can be remote from the sensor
Typical Modern Instrumentation Model
• Typically an analog sensor measures a physical quantity in the form of a voltage
or current variation (a.k.a. signal). (Slide)
• This signal is amplified. (why?)
• An Analog to digital converter converts the analog amplified signals into digital
signals.
• These are transmitted to a computer which can easily understand them as 1s and
0s.
Categorization of Sensors
Sensors can be categorized into two broad classes:
• Passive Sensors: Passive sensors do not add energy to the system as
part of the measurement process but they may remove energy in
their operation. e.g. Mercury-in-glass thermometer
• Active Sensors: Active sensors add energy to the measurement
environment as part of the measurement process. e.g. Potentiometer
Examples
• Thermometer works when mercury or any temperature sensitive fluid expands
and rises in a column depending on the variation of ambient temperature
• Potentiometer is a three-terminal resistor with a sliding contact that forms an
adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper,
it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat
Summary
• Measurement and Instrumentation offer desirable skills to
Mechanical Engineers in Industry as well as Research.
• Measurements and Measurement Units defined and discussed.
• Instrumentation discussed.
• Transducers, Actuators and Sensors discussed.
• Instrumentation Models discussed.
• Sensors classified as Active and Passive Sensors.