DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the staff :Sri N.Khaja meeran
Designation :Lecturer
Branch :AEIE
Institute :S.G.P.R Govt polytechnic,Kurnool
Year/Semester :III Semester
Subject :Process Instrumentation-I
Subject code :AEI-305
Topic :Displacement and position measurement
Sub-Topic :Principle of operation of photo electric
transducer
Duration :50 Min
Teaching Aids :PPT, Animations, Photographs.
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 Objective

Upon the completion of this topic you will be able

to know about

• Principle and operation of Photo Electric Tachometer .

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 Principle

• It converts speed of rotation into an electrical signal.

• This is used to determine angular speed of a

rotating device.

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Photo Electric Tachometer

Fig 1

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 Construction
• It consists of an opaque disc mounted on a rotating
shaft.

• The disc has a number of equidistant holes on its

circumference.

• At one side of the disc a light source is fixed

• At another side of the disc a light sensor is placed on

line with the light source.

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 Operation

• When the opaque portion of the disc is between the

light source and light sensor ,

• The light sensor is unilluminated and produces no

output.

• But when a hole appears between the light source and

the light sensor , the light falls upon the sensor and
produces an output pulse.

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• The frequency of output pulses depends upon the
number of holes in the disc and its speed of rotation.

• Since the number of holes is fixed then the pulse rate

is a function of speed rotation.

• The pulse rate can be measured by an electronic

counter which can be directly calibrated in the terms of
speed in rpm.

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 Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages :-
• Digital output , requires no ADC
• Simple electronic circuitry

Disadvantages :-
• Light source must be replaced from time to time

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• The principle and operation of photo electric

tachometer

• Advantages and disadvantages

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 Quiz

1.Photo electric transducers are used for measurement of

(A) Linear velocity

(B) Angular velocity

(C) Linear displacement

(D) Angular displacement

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2.Photo electric transducers converts

(A) Rotation into electrical signal

(B) Displacement into electrical signal

(C) Temperature into electrical signal

(D) Pressure into electrical signal

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3.Angular velocity measurement is carried out by using a

(A) Photo electric transducer

(B) Moving coil type transducer

(C) Moving iron type transducer

(D) Piezo electric transducer

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the principle of Photo electric tachometer

2. Explain the operation of Photo electric tachometer with

neat diagram.

3. List the Advantages and disadvantages.

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