REFERENCE MANUAL

DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT
USING LVDT

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 REFERENCE MANUAL

DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT

INTRODUCTION :-

Displacement is the vector representing a change in position of a body

or a point with respect to a reference. It may be linear or rotational motion, ex-

pressed in absolute or relative terms. Many of the modern scientific and

industrial observations need a very accurate measurement of this parameter.

Being a fundamental quantity, the basic sensing device is widely adapted with

suitable linkages for the measurement of many derived quantities, such as

force,stress,pressure, velociy, and acceleration. The magnitude of measurment

ranges from a few microns to a few centimetres in the case of linear

dispacementand and a few seconds to 3600 in the case of angular

displacement .

A majority of displacement. transducers sense the static or dynamic displace

ment by means of a sensing shaft or similar links mechanically coupled to the

point or body whose motion is to be measured. Such attachment of both linear

and angular transducsers are usually of simple mechanical configurations, but

the coupling must be primarily designed to avoid any slippage after it is fastened

and thereby keep the back-lash minimum. For liear diplacement measurements.

the common types employed are the threaded end,lug, clevis, and bearing cou
plings.

PRINCIPLES OF TRANSDUCTION :-

1) Variablel Resistance - potentiometric

2) Variable Inductance / LVDT / Variable reluctance

3)Variable capacitance

4) Synchros /Resolvers

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1) VARIABLE RESISTANCE DEVICE :-

The sensing element is basically a resistance potentiometer with a moveable

wiper contact attached to an insulated plunger type shaft, mechanically linking the point

under measurement (shaft coupled). Both linear & Angular displacement can be mea-

sured by using proper shaft / wiper coupling.

The three major elements critical in potentiometric device are,

1).Winding wire or resistance layer

2).Winding former or base

3).Wiper

MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES

The Resistance measurement can be carried out by simple circuit.

Proper voltage source in series with series resistance is adjusted as shown in circuit

diagram.

Rcal
q

displacement
q

V q
q
q

L
d Vout

Potentiometric Transducer ( Linear motion)

Let d = Input displacement

L = Total travel of the wiper
Output Voltage Vo = Vin ( d / L ) for Linear motion

OR

Let = Input angular displacement in degrees

t = Total travel of the wiper in degrees
Output Voltage Vo = Vin ( / t ) for angular motion.
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2) VARIABLE INDUCTANCE TRANSDUCER :-

In this type of transducer variation of inductance is achieved as a function of

displacement either by variation in mutual inductance or self inductance. Liner Variable

Differential transformer is most widely known device in this criterion.

LINEAR VARIABLE DIFFERENTIAL TRANSFORMER (LVDT)

Linear variable differential transformer type of transducers find a number of appli-

cations in both measurement and control system. The extremely fine resolution, high

accuracy, and good stability make the device particularly suitable as a short-stroke,

position-measuring device .Since a number of physical quantities ,such as pressure,

load,and acceleration can be measured in tems of mechanical deflection, LVDT forms

the basic sensing element in all such measurement .The LVDT device is widely used as

the basic element in extensometers,electronic comparators,thickness-measuring

units,and level indicators. Some of the other important applications are in numerically-

controlled machines and creep-testing machines.

CONSTRUCTION & WORKING :-

The basic construction of the differential transformer, is as shown in figure.

PRIMARY SECONDARY
WINDING WINDING

S1 VS
LINEAR
VP P RANGE

S2

100 0 100

CORE

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The linear variable differential transformer consists of a primary coil & two identical

secondary coils,axially-spaced and wound on a cylindrical-coil former,with a rod shaped

magnetic core positioned centrally inside the coil assembly providing a preferred path for

the magnetic flux linking the coils.

The displacement to be measured is transferred to the magnetic core through suitable

linkages.

When the primary coil is energized with an ac carrier wave signal,voltages are induced in

each secondary section, the exact value depending upon the position of the magnetic

core with respect to the centre of the coil assembly. If the core is symmetrically placed

(electrically) with respect to the two secondary coil equal voltages are induced in the two

coils. When these two output are connected in phase opposition,the magnitude of the

resultant voltage tends to a zero value.Such a balnce point is termed the null position.

In practice, a small residual voltage is always present at a null position due to the pres-

ence of the harmonics in the excitation signal and stray capacitance coupling between

the primary and secondary winding.

When the core is now displaced from the null position the induced voltage in the

secondary towards which the core has moved increases while that in other secondary

decreases. This results in a differential voltage output from the transformer.

The signal output eo in relation to the other characteristics of the coil is given by ,

3
eo = 16. . . p.np.ns 2bx ( 1 - x2/2b2 )
101010/109 ln(ro/ri) 3w

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Where f = excitation signal frequency,

ip = primary current,
np = number of turns in primary,
ns = number of turns in secondary,
ns = width of primary coil,
b = width of primary coil,
w = width of the secondaty coil,
x = core displacenent,
ro = outer radius of the coil,and
ri = inner radius of the coil

. With proper design of coils, the magnitude of the output signal is made to vary
linearly with mechanical displacement of the core on both sides with respect to the
null position. While the magnitude of the output voltages are ideally the same for the
equal core displacaments on either side of the null, the phase differece between the
output and input voltages changes by 1800 when the core moves through the null
position. In actual measurement, this phase changeover is measured with a
phase-sensitive detector.

The sensitivity is proportional to the frequency f and the primary current Ip, and for
best linearity x < b. However, larger Ip produces core saturation and an increase in
the temparature of the coil, & hence results in larger harmonics at null position,
making adijustment difficult. An increase in frequency produces a greater effect of
the stray capacitance, and in turn a large null voltage. In practice, the design is
optimized for the lowest null voltage, highest linearity, and apropriate size.

The coils are wound on phenolic or ceramic formers to improve the dimensional
stability. The coil former material should be strong and mechaniclly stable to guard
agaist temperature effects and should be able to withstand elevated temperature
and thermal shock. The coils are wound with an enamelled copper wire possessing an
insulation suitable for the ambient temperature specified. The transformer is then en-

closed in ferromagnetic cases, providing full electrostatic and electromagnetic shielding.

The moving core is made of ferromagnetic material of high permeability, selected for

optimum performance in general use and heat treated to provide the best magnetic

properties.

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SIGNAL PROCESSING CIRCUIT -

LVDT device is excited by a ac (sine) carrier wave. The output contains the information

which is in the form of amplitude as well as phase.Hence phase detection circuit is to be

used to process the output signal of LVDT.

Phase sensitive detector consist of a analog switch whose inputs are-

1. The amplitude output of the tranducer signal to be measured &

2. A reference sinusoid used to control analog switch.

The output of the analog switch is filtered and fed to digital indicator.

The Advantages of the LVDT type of displacement transducer-

(|) Mechanical-

1. Simplicity of design & ease of fabrication and installation.

2. Wide range of displacement.

3. Frictionless movement of core and hence infinite resolution.

4. Rugged construction.

5. Negligible operating force.

6. Ability to operate even at higher temperatures.

( || ) Electrical-

1. Output voltage is a linear and continous function of mechanical displacement.

2. High sensitivity.

3. Low output impedance.

4. Ablity to operate over a wide range of carrier frequencies, infinite resolution in

output and very low cross sensitivity.

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PROCEDURE :

( A ) study of LVDT

1) Switch on power to the unit.

(Ferite core is coupled to the screw of micrometer.)
Connect LVDT coil to the signal conditioning circuit as under.
Connect P1& P2 of coil at AC excitation points P1 &P2.
(points A1& A2 of coil are internally shorted.)
Connect B1 & B2 of coil to B1 & B2 points of signal conditioning circuit
2) Connect CRO at AC excitation & check proper sine wave voltage across primary
of LVDT. Connect the output of secondary to Y1 channel & primary to Y2 channel
of dual trace CRO.
Vary the micrometer screw from extreme left to right slowly in proper steps &
observe the wave form of secondary output.
Secondary output goes on reducing as we move micrometer screw to right.
Note the micrometer reading for secondary output when it is minimum.
This is the centre or Null position. Slowly move right and observe the change in
secondary output.
Note carefully the phase of secondary voltage when core is displaced left to
centre & when core is displaced right to centre.
Trace the waveform on graph paper.
From previous observation Note the micrometer reading for,
V
Vp Primary voltage

Secondary voltage
Vs
( left from centre )

Vs Secondary voltage
( right from centre )

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1. Maximum secondary voltage (Left)..............Cm..................Voltage

2. Null or centre position..................................Cm..................Voltage

3. Maximum secondary voltage (Right).............Cm..................Voltage

(B) Study of output of phase sensitive detector.

Observe the wave form at output of Analog switch (Vout) on CRO.

Set core for Null position.

Move core from Null to extreme left and observe the waveform on CRO.

Bring core back to Null position & move from null to extreme right & observe the

wave form.

Volt
Vs

Vm+
0 Wave form at output of analog
switch (Vout) (Right to Null)

Wave form at output of analog

0
switch (Vout) (Left to Null)
Vm-

Vo Filtered DC O/P at output of A3

0 (V0)

( C ) Study of DC filtered output.

Observe the filtered output at output of A3 Amplifier. (V0)

Output of A3 is connected intemally to DPM.

(Output at A3 is fully filtered & it contains only DC component).

Set the core for null position.

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Adjust Zero adjust pot for zero reading on DPM for null position of core.

Set core form 10 mm position (left) and adjust gain adjust pot for -10.0 reading on DPM.

Move the core in proper steps to either right or left & Note the DPM reading.

(Take readings for one rotation of micrometer screw. 1 rotation = 2mm )

Tabulate the results.

S.No. Core Displacement (mm) Output Voltage ( Volt)

1 -10
2 -8
3 -6
4 -4
5 -2
6 0
7 +2
8 +4
9 +6
10 +8
11 +10

Plot the graph of output voltage against core displacement.

From the graph note the Linear range of LVDT.

output
voltage
( Volt)

-10 0 +10
displacement (mm)

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DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT - LVDT

AC AT T E N UATO R
EXCITATION q
DISPLACEMENT q
q

q
FILT E R
PHASE AND
AMPLIFIER SENSITIVE Vout
OUTPUT
S

DETECTOR AMPLIFIER
q

ZERO GAIN
LVDT

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