Electrical wheatstone bridge

Figure 2.10—Thermal conductivity detector. To the left is a schematic showing the path of the carrier gas. To the right is a schematic of the TCD and its operating principle, based on an electrical Wheatstone bridge (equilibrium exists when R /R2 = Ri/Ra)-...

Figure 2.14 Thermal conductivity detector. Left, schematic showing the carrier gas passage. Right, the cross-sectional scheme of the metal block with its operating principle, based on an electrical Wheatstone bridge assembly (equilibrated when Rj/Rj = R3/R4).

Specific Conductance. The specific conductance depends on the total concentration of the dissolved ioni2ed substances, ie, the ionic strength of a water sample. It is an expression of the abiUty of the water to conduct an electric current. Freshly distilled water has a conductance of 0.5—2 ]lS/cm, whereas that of potable water generally is 50—1500 ]lS/cm. The conductivity of a water sample is measured by means of an a-c Wheatstone-bridge circuit with a null indicator and a conductance cell. Each cell has an associated constant which, when multiphed by the conductance, yields the specific conductance. 

Several manufacturers make explosimeters or combustible gas indicators. Although they differ somewhat in design and operating features, their operation is based on the fact that a measurable amount of heat is released when a combustible gas or vapor is burned. Most meters contain a battery-operated electrical circuit known as a Wheatstone bridge, which is balanced by means of controls on the outside of the instrument. 

Electrical resistance monitors use the fact that the resistance of a conductor varies inversely as its cross-sectional area. In principle, then, a wire or strip of the metal of interest is exposed to the corrodent and its resistance is measured at regular intervals. In practice, since the resistance also varies with temperature, the resistance of the exposed element is compared in a Wheatstone bridge circuit to that of a similar element which is protected from the corrodent but which experiences the same temperature. 

Flammable atmospheres can be assessed using portable gas chromatographs or, for selected compounds, by colour indicator tubes. More commonly, use is made of explos-imeters fitted with Pellistors (e.g. platinum wire encased in beads of refractory material). The beads are arranged in a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The flammable gas is oxidized on the heated catalytic element, causing the electrical resistance to alter relative to the reference. Instruments are calibrated for specific compounds in terms of 0—100% of their lower flammable limit. Recalibration or application of correction factors is required for different gases. Points to consider are listed in Table 9.10. 

One of the first applications of the new mesh and node intramolecular circuit rules discussed above is the well-known problem in electrical circuit theory of the balancing of a Wheatstone bridge. In Fig. 21, a molecular Wheatstone bridge is presented, made of loop-like 4 tolane molecular wires bonded via benzopyrene end-groups for nano-pads 1 and 3, and via pyrene end-groups for nano-pads 2 and 4. This four-electrode and four-branch molecule is connected to a battery and an ammeter. 

Electrical conductivity detector is commonly use. The sensor of the electrical conductivity detector is the simplest of all the detector sensors and consists of only two electrodes situated in a suitable flow cell. The sensor consists of two electrodes sealed into a glass flow cell. In the electric circuit, the two electrodes are arranged to be the impedance component in one arm of a Wheatstone bridge. When ions move into the sensor cell, the electrical impedance between the electrodes changes and the out of balance signal from the bridge is fed to a suitable electronic circuit. The out of balance signal is not inherently linearly related to the ion... 

Strain Gages. Essentially, they are based on electrical measurements of strains produced by the action of stress. There are several ways for measuring strains, but the most convenient is the resistance method. The apparatus used for these measurements, known as "resistance manometer , depends upon the change in resistance of a metal (such as platinum, manganin or mercury) when subjected to pressure. The change in resistance is usually measured by means of a very sensitive Wheatstone bridge, but it may also be measured by a potentiometer or by an... 

These measure the change in thermal conductivity of a gas due to variations in pressure—usually in the range 0.75 torr (100 N/m2) to 7.5 x 10"4 torr (0.1 N/m2). At low pressures the relation between pressure and thermal conductivity of a gas is linear and can be predicted from the kinetic theory of gases. A coiled wire filament is heated by a current and forms one arm of a Wheatstone bridge network (Fig. 6.21). Any increase in vacuum will reduce the conduction of heat away from the filament and thus the temperature of the filament will rise so altering its electrical resistance. Temperature variations in the filament are monitored by means of a thermocouple placed at the centre of the coil. A similar filament which is maintained at standard conditions is inserted in another arm of the bridge as a reference. This type of sensor is often termed a Pirani gauge. 

The method determines the partial pressure of methane in the gas phase above the solution (Henry s law). Methane catalytically oxidizes on a heated platinum filament, that is part of a Wheatstone bridge. The heat generated increases the electrical resistance of the filament which is measured and compared against calibrated standards. 

---