In modern measurement processes, the parameter to be measured is sensed and converted to an electrical signal for processing and display. The apparatus and methods used to perform this task include the use of a wide range of transducers and conditioning circuits that are usually interface to computers for final signal processing and display. This course highlights this measurement process and the design and operation of the electronic circuit and systems that enable it. In depth analyses of the physics of the operation of sensors and their interfaces to analogue and digital electronic circuits will be studied. Examples of Industrial measurement systems will be discussed with particular attention to their design details. Students will be exposed to the real world instrumentation and measurement system during their industrial case study sessions. This aspect of the course has proven to be very informative and eye-opening for the students creating high motivation levels and increased interest.
o Measurement system architecture; errors in measurements; standards used in measurements
o Units and standards; electrical measuring instruments- AC voltages and currents; magnetic fields; phase; resistance, capacitance and inductance measurements; vector impedance meters; power and energy measurements; magnetic measurements; process parameter measurements – displacement, force, torque, dimension, density, viscosity, pH, level measurements, flow, pressure, temperature, ; DC voltages and currents; static electric field
o Categories of sensors – resistive, voltage generating, variable magnetic coupling, variable capacitance, fiber optic, photomultiplier tubes, ionizing radiation sensors, electronic noses, electrochemical, mechano-electrochemical, velocity sensors, mass flow meters, industrial sensors; Application of sensors to physical measurements
o Differential amplifiers; operational amplifiers; instrumentation amplifiers; active analogue filters, signal processing, charge amplifiers; digital filters; DSP techniques
o Sampling techniques; ADC and DAC; digital data transmission
o Noise in circuits; circuit optimization to reduce noise; low noise designs; coherent interference and its minimization;
o AC and DC Wheatstone Bridge; Kelvin bridge; Anderson constant current loop; Equivalent AC circuits for passive components; AC bridges; Null methods of measurements
o Capacitive sensor for the detection of hidden object; electric field sensors; velocity meters; industrial systems.
One 2-hour final exam 60%
One 1-hour in-course test 20%
Case Study of an Industrial Measurement System (Practical investigation) 20%
Students select local industries and perform on-site visits to study their instrumentation and measurement systems. An oral presentation is made at the end of the semester.
After completing this course, students should be able to:
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