Engineering / 12. Automated control systems in production

Muhtarova M.N., Ermaganbetova S.D., Alibayeva A., Khozhabayeva Zh.

 

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan

 

Information on sensors from the composition of measuring systems, their classification and their metrological characteristics

 

Annotation. A measuring system is a collection of measuring, connecting, computational components that form measuring channels and auxiliary devices functioning as a single unit intended to obtain information about the state of an object by means of measuring transformations in the general case of a set of time-varying and spatially distributed quantities characterizing This state; Machine processing of measurement results; Registration and indication of measurement results and the results of their machining; Transforming these data into system output signals for different purposes. "

Keywords: sensors, measuring transducer, parameter, signal.

Sensors are information devices that convert a controlled physical parameter into a signal suitable for further processing by a person or a machine; Sensors are called devices whose signals affect, bypassing a person, the subsequent links in the processing of information. There are a huge number of sensors that can be used in various measuring systems.

When classifying the sensor, it is first of all indicated by the sensor of what physical quantity it is (for example, a pressure sensor).

By types of input and output values, the sensors can be divided into converters:

- Electrical quantities in electrical;

- non-electrical quantities in non-electrical quantities.

The sensors are also divided into generator and parametric. If the output is an "active" electrical quantity - voltage, charge, current, electromotive force (EMF), then we have a generator sensor. For example, a thermocouple is a generator sensor, it has an EMF output. If the output is a "passive" electric quantity, often referred to as a parameter, that is, resistance, inductance, mutual inductance, capacitance, dielectric or magnetic permeability, etc., then this sensor is parametric. For example, an inductive displacement sensor is a parametric sensor. Here the inductance of the sensor is a function of displacement. Therefore, when classifying a sensor, it is necessary to indicate which active value or parameter is output.

Sensors can be classified according to the following characteristics: by designation, by output signal, by the way information is presented, by remoteness of action.

The functions performed by instruments and sensors can be understood from the consideration of information schemes of two typical tasks - the task of determining the characteristics of an object and the task of controlling an object.

The task of determining characteristics, which is aimed at evaluating the physical properties of an object, is solved by analyzing the accumulated information about the object's response to deterministic or random external influences. The accumulation of information is carried out by an open circuit (Fig. 1, a): the output coordinate of the object  x(f), depending on the external action u(t)t is perceived by the device or sensor and converted into a signal y(t).

The task of management, aimed at organizing the necessary behavior of the object, is solved by comparing and analyzing information about the actual and specified parameters of the controlled process and the corresponding impact on the management bodies of the facility. The control is performed in a closed circuit (Figure 1, b), in which the output coordinate of the object x(t), converted by the instrument or sensor into the signal y(t), is compared with the desired (required) output coordinate  xo(f)  using the master to the signal  yo(t).

The control can be manual or automatic. With manual control, a person compares the reading of the instrument y(t) with the set value of the monitored parameter  yo(t)  and acts in the necessary manner on the control to ensure that

y(t)=yo(t).

 

The operation of the operator is facilitated if the instrument shows directly the amount of the error

Δy(t)=y(t)-yo(t),

while the operator's task is to continuously note the instrument reading to zero, such a device is called a director.

There is a set of metrological characteristics that are available for all sensors regardless of their type, the principle of operation and the type of physical quantity being converted. Metrological support of the measuring system includes standardization and calculation of metrological characteristics, tests for the purpose of type approval and testing for compliance with the approved type, certification, verification and calibration.

Speaking about the metrological support of the measuring system, we must not forget that the modern measuring system consists of two large parts: hardware and software. It is difficult to distinguish which of these parts is more important, and both of them directly affect the metrological characteristics of the system. In some cases, the impact of software on the measurement results is significantly higher than the hardware. Therefore, the software must also undergo metrological certification.

The conversion function f(x), the calibration characteristic and the range of measurements (transformations) indicate, respectively, the theoretical and experimental nature of the relationship between the input and output quantities, and also the limits in which the sensor or any measuring transducer transforms the input quantity with an allowable error. The values ​​of the input quantity that limit the range of measurements (transformations) from below and from above are called respectively the lower and upper limits of the measurements (transformations). The transformation function and the calibration characteristic of the sensor, like any measuring transducer, are tried to be as linear as possible.

Parameters of the sensor are the sensitivity S and the conversion factor Kc of the input quantity to the output value. The sensitivity of a chain of sensors connected in series and secondary measuring converters with linear transformation functions is equal to the product of their sensitivities:

S = ∏ Si     ïðè   i = 1, 2, …. N

The above formula determines the resulting sensitivity and determines the requirement of linearity of conversion of each of the measuring transducers.

The settling time characterizing the decay rate of the transient (unsteady) process in the sensor plays a decisive role when choosing the latter as an input measuring transducer when it acts on a measuring instrument operating in a dynamic mode. In this case, we sometimes use the analogous term - the time constant, which also characterizes the inertial properties of the converter. The requirement for the speed of the sensor is hence.

Since the sensors are measuring instruments, the most important metrological characteristic is the error in the conversion. To the previously mentioned requirements, the requirements of stability of time characteristics, noise immunity, reliability should also be added. In practice, the parameters and characteristics of the sensors are improved by applying circuit and algorithmic solutions for processing.

As an example, consider the temperature sensor HEL-700. This is a platinum thermistor (RTD) with a linear temperature dependence of the resistance. It features high accuracy, speed, interchangeability and a wide operating temperature range. The sensor parameters are as follows:

1) Operating temperature range (degrees C) - (-200 .. + 260) ° C.

2) Resistance at 0 ° C - 1000 ± 2 Ohm.

3) Time constant - less than 1 s.

4) Absolute error - no more than ± 0,5 ° Ñ.

6) Recommended measuring current is 1.0 mA.

7) Sensitivity in the operating temperature range - not worse than 3.0 Ohm/deg.

8) Overall dimensions - 2,8x4,75 mm.

9) Measured medium - gas, water.

Many modern sensors, which are often called intelligent, are combined with electronic circuits for signal normalization, as well as control circuits for operating modes and preprocessing circuits.

 

Literature

1. Tsapenko M.P. Measuring information systems: structure and algorithms, circuit design: Proc. Manual for universities. - Moscow: Energoatomizdat, 1985.

2. Yevdokimov Yu.K., Lindval V.R., Shcherbakov G.I. LabVIEW for the radio engineer: from the virtual model to the real device. A practical guide for working in the LabVIEW software environment. - Moscow: DMK Press, 2007.

3. Lebedev A.V., Petrov A.B. Computer-aided design of measuring information systems / Methodological instructions for use in graduate engineering / MIREA. - M., 2004.

4. V.I. Kalashnikov, S.V. Nefedov, A.B.Putilin and others; Ed. G.G.Ranneva.Information and measuring technology and technology: Textbook for universities - Moscow: Higher School, 2002.

5. N.N. Evtikhiev, J.A. Kupershmidt, V.F. Papulovsky, V.N. Skugorov. Measurement of electric and non-electrical quantities: Textbook. Manual for schools. - M.: Energy Atomizdat, 1990.