Introductory class
EE305 Instrumentation and measurements
Teaching Assistant Šejla Džakmić
First week‘s plan
Syllabus (text book, weekly plan, grade assesment...)
Introduction, basic terminology
What is measurement?
Why do we need measurements?
How it is done?
Units
Measurement application
Chapter 1
Fundamentals of measurement systems
Since the very beginning of human
civilization
Industrial revolution (19th century)
Rapid development of instruments
and measurement techniques
Rapid growth in industrial technology
Industrial application of computers
Instruments to measure, record and
control process variables
To be accurate and inexpensive
Why do we need measurements?
Fundamental concept in science
Properties of an object determined
by comparing to the standard value
Engineering, construction,
manufacturing, farming, etc...
Cost effectivenes (more accurate
and cheaper)
Safety (process and humans)
Product quality
Control process
Our main interest
Industrial application
Control process
Elements of a measurement system
A measuring system - provides information about the physical value
of some variable being measured.
A physical quantity - any property of matter that can be quantified,
measured and expressed in numbers.
Length, mass, time, temperature, current, luminous intensity,
matter
Every physical variable is measured by a certain unit
A unit - gives an output reading of signal according to the magnitude
of unknown variable.
A measuring instrument - a device that determines the magnitude
of physical quantity
Measurement units evolution
There are two major types of units
Fundamentals units and derived units
From the 7 fundamentals units all other units are driven.
There are various systems of units the most popular ones are:
Metric system - Meter, centimeter, multimeter
Imperial system - Yards, feet, inches
SI system (International System of Units/ – modern form of
metric system)
All multiples and subdivisions of basic metric units are related
to the base by factor of 10
Easier to use than Imperial units
Fundamental SI units
Measurement units evolution
Elements of a measuring system
Elements of a measuring system
Sensor – primary element in measuring system
- gives an output that is a function of measurand
- approximately linear function for most of the sensors (uniformly)
- liquid-in-glass thermometer, thermocouple, strain gauge
Elements of a measuring system
Variable conversion element
To convert the output variable to
more convenient form
Ex: displacement-measuring
strain gauge
Varying resistance
Convert it to voltage
Bridge circuit
Transducer – sensor & VCE
Elements of a measuring system
Signal processing element
Amplifier Filter
Amplifies the output of the Filter induced noise
primary transducer or VCE Transmitter - signal
Improves the sensitivity and processing is incororated
resolution into transducer
Necessary for thermocouples When observation point of
the output is far away form
transducer
Choosing appropriate measuring instrument
Nature of the application
Required parameters: accuracy, resolution,
sensitivity, power, efficiency...
Better characteristics – higher costs
Durability, maintainability, constancy
Measurement system application
Three application areas: Example: The weather station
Monitoring and recording For average person
functions For agriculturist
Automatic process control systems control sense, i.e.: apply antifrost
Analysis measures
Short and long term weahter
predicitions
Next time...
Instrument types
Characteristics of instruments
Calibration
Error
Accuracy
Summary
What are the main elements in measurement system?
What are their functions?
Which elements are not needed in some measurement systems?
Why?
What are the main factors governing the choice of measuring
instrument?
