Resistive transducers

A very useful application of the circuit of Figure 8.3b is produced if we replace the feedback resistor Ru with a resistive transducer such as a coated semiconductor thermistor. The commercial availability of small, rapid-response, chemically inert thermistors that have conveniently measurable resistances at temperatures of 200-600 K makes them an excellent choice as the transducer in chemical applications that require the rapid and accurate measurement of temperature. Unfortunately, a continuous current in Ru may produce undesirable... 

Non-destructive methods include holographic interferometry, resistance transducers, stress-sensitive covers, and other similar techniques. In practice, the following physical methods of non-destructive monitoring of residual stresses are commonly used X-ray diffraction, measurement of dielectric properties, and ultrasonic control. The main purpose of these methods is to monitor the structural transformations or distortions taking place as a result of residual stresses and local deformations. However, the application of methods such as X-ray diffraction to measure distortions in unit cel dimensions, ultrasonics to measure elastic wave propagation velocities, etc., all encounter numerous experimental problems. Therefore, in ordinary laboratory conditions only quantitative estimations of residual stresses can be obtained. 

Another type of transducer is the pneumatic pressure transducer. It has good robustness, but poor temperature sensitivity, poor dynamic response, and average measurement error. The capillary transducer has fair robustness, fair temperature sensitivity, and fair dynamic response. The total measurement error varies from 0.5 to 3% depending on the quality of the transducer. The pushrod is similar to the capillary transducer, except that it tends to have poor temperature sensitivity and poor total error. The piezo-resistive transducer has good robustness because of its relatively thick diaphragm, good temperature sensitivity, good dynamic response, and low measurement error. A comparison of different pressure transducers is shown in Table 4.1. 

Piezo-resistive pressure transducers offer a number of advantages [82]. The transducer is quite robust because of the relatively thick diaphragm. There is no liquid fill inside the transducer as a result, there is no concern about leakage of mercury. The natural frequency of piezo-resistive transducers is about three orders of magnitude better than strain gauge type transducers. As a result, the dynamic response of piezo-resistive transducers is very good compared to that of strain gauge transducers. 

Commonly, information about the composition of samples can be obtained by measuring the electrical conductivity (or resistivity). In some cases, simply the resistance of the sample itself contains the desired information in other cases the principles discussed for resistive transducers must be applied (Sect. 1.2.2). Normally this means that the interaction of sample components causes resistance changes in the receptor layer. Such changes can be measured and evaluated to extract analytical results. 

The development of active ceramic-polymer composites was undertaken for underwater hydrophones having hydrostatic piezoelectric coefficients larger than those of the commonly used lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics (60—70). It has been demonstrated that certain composite hydrophone materials are two to three orders of magnitude more sensitive than PZT ceramics while satisfying such other requirements as pressure dependency of sensitivity. The idea of composite ferroelectrics has been extended to other appHcations such as ultrasonic transducers for acoustic imaging, thermistors having both negative and positive temperature coefficients of resistance, and active sound absorbers. 

Whereas it is no longer an iaterpolation standard of the scale, the thermoelectric principle is one of the most common ways to transduce temperature, although it is challenged ia some disciplines by small iadustrial platinum resistance thermometers (PRTs) and thermistors. Thermocouple junctions can be made very small and ia almost infinite variety, and for base metal thermocouples the component materials are very cheap. Properties of various types of working thermocouple are shown in Table 3 additional properties are given in Reference 5. 

For most points requiring temperature monitoring, either thermocouples or resistive thermal detectors (RTD s) can be used. Each type of temperature transducer has its own advantages and disadvantages, and both should be considered when temperature is to be measured. Since there is considerable confusion in this area, a short discussion of the two types of transducers is necessaiy. 

Analog inputs and outputs in data-based (DDC) controllers are usually standardized and record the signals from sensors or transducers as 0(2)-10 VDC or 0(4)-20 mA. The inputs module can also be standardized for resistances, as Pt 100 DIN, Pt 1000 or Ni 1000 DIN (Pr = platinum, Ni = nickel). 

The impedance of the transducer is important if it provides an output signal to an electronic device (an amplifier, for example) and the impedance of the two must be matched for accurate measurement. Some transducers (thermocouples, for example) generate their output by internal mechanisms (i.e. they are self-excited). Others such as resistance thermometers need an external source and an appropriate type must be available. Transducers used in the measurement of the more common physical quantities are discussed below. 

Urethane Liquid Exceptional abrasion, cut, and tear resistance. Poor moisture and heat resistance. Variety of formulations leading to different properties including range of durometers without plasticizers. Antistatic rollers and tires, hose for transfer of flammables, strain gages, pressure transducers. 

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