FLOW SENSOR A flow sensor is a device for sensing the rate of fluid flow.

Typically a flow sensor is the sensing element used in a flow meter, or flow logger, to record the flow of fluids. As is true for all sensors, absolute accuracy of a measurement requires a functionality or calibration. There are various kinds of flow sensors and flow meters, including some that have a vane that is pushed by the fluid, and can drive a rotary potentiometer, or similar devices. Other flow sensors are based on sensors which measure the transfer of heat caused by the moving medium. This principle is common for micro sensors to measure flow. Flow meters are related to devices called velocimeters that measure velocity of fluids flowing through them. Laser-based interferometer is often used for air flow measurement, but for liquids, it is often easier to measure the flow. Another approach is Doppler-based methods for flow measurement. Hall effect sensors may also be used, on a flapper valve, or vane, to sense the position of the vane, as displaced by fluid flow. Optical flow meters use light to determine flow rate. Small particles which accompany natural and industrial gases pass through two laser beams focused a short distance apart in the flow path. in a pipe by illuminating optics. Laser light is scattered when a particle crosses the first beam. The detecting optics collects scattered light on a photo detector, which then generates a pulse signal. As the same particle crosses the second beam, the detecting optics collect scattered light on a second photo detector, which converts the incoming light into a second electrical pulse. By measuring the time interval between these pulses, the gas velocity is calculated as where is the distance between the laser beams and is the time interval.

Laser-based optical flow meters measure the actual speed of particles, a property which is not dependent on thermal conductivity of gases, variations in gas flow or composition of gases. The operating principle enables optical laser technology to deliver highly accurate flow data, even in challenging environments which may include high temperature, low flow rates, high pressure, high humidity, pipe vibration and acoustic noise.

Optical flow meters are very stable with no moving parts and deliver a highly repeatable measurement over the life of the product. Because distance between the two laser sheets does not change, optical flow meters do not require periodic calibration after their initial commissioning. Optical flow meters require only one installation point, instead of the two installation points typically required by other types of meters. A single installation point is simpler, requires less maintenance and is less prone to errors. Commercially available optical flow meters are capable of measuring flow from 0.1 m/s to faster than 100 m/s (1000:1 turn down ratio) and have been demonstrated to be effective for the measurement of flare gases from oil wells and refineries, a contributor to atmospheric pollution.

3.3.1.1 FEATURES i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. Calibrated directly in Celsius (Centigrade) Linear + 10.0 mV/C scale factor 0.5C accuracy guaranteed (at +25C) Rated for full55 to +150C range Suitable for remote applications Low cost due to wafer-level trimming Operates from 4 to 30 volts Less than 60A current drain Low self-heating, 0.08C in still air Nonlinearity only 1 4C typical

3.3.2HUMIDITY SENSOR

Fig 3.3 Humidity Sensor

According to the measurement units, humidity sensors are divided into two types: Relative humidity (RH) sensors and absolute humidity (moisture) sensors. Most humidity sensors are relative humidity sensors. As there no real physical standard for relative humidity calibration, humidity instruments are not specified properly. And it makes it really difficult for a user to compare the sensors from different manufacturers. This makes it mandatory for a user to go deeper into the specifications and attempt to verify the claims of the instrument manufacturer. Humidity is the presence of water in air. The amount of water vapor in air can affect human comfort as well as many manufacturing processes in industries. The presence of water vapor also influences various physical, chemical, and biological processes. Humidity measurement in industries is critical because it may affect the business cost of the product and the health and safety of the personnel. Hence, humidity sensing is very important, especially in the control systems for industrial processes and human comfort. Controlling or monitoring humidity is of principal importance in many industrial & domestic applications. In semiconductor industry, humidity or moisture levels needs to be properly controlled & monitored during wafer processing. In medical applications, humidity control is required for respiratory equipments, sterilizers, incubators, pharmaceutical processing, and biological products.

Humidity control is also necessary in chemical gas purification, dryers, ovens, film desiccation, paper and textile production, and food processing. In agriculture, measurement of humidity is important for plantation protection (dew prevention), soil moisture monitoring, etc. For domestic applications, humidity control is required for living environment in buildings, cooking control for microwave ovens, etc. In all such applications and many others, humidity sensors are employed to provide an indication of the moisture levels in the environment. The humidity sensor HH10D is used for sensing humidity. Relative humidity is a measure, in percentage of the vapour in the air compared to the total amount of vapour that could be held in

the air at a given temperature.HH10D gives the output in terms of frequency at a range of 5 kHz to 10 kHz from frequency out pin. 3.3.2.1 FEATURES i. Relative humidity sensor. ii. Two point calibrated with capacitor type sensor, excellent performance. iii. Frequency output type can be easily integrated with user application system. iv. Very low power consumption. v. No extra components needed.

3.3.2.2 SPECIFICATION:Range: Power: Response Time (time for 90% change in reading): In still air: With vigorous air movement: Resolution: Stored calibration: Slop: Intercept: Total accuracy (With saturated salt calibration): Total accuracy (With standard calibration): Operating Temperature Range: Temperature Effect on 0%RH voltage: 30.43% per Volt -25.81% 2% RH 10% RH 0 to 85C 0.007% RH/C(negligible) 60 minutes (typical) 40 seconds (typical) 0.04% RH 0% to 95% 0.0002 A @5Vdc

Temperature Effect on 50%RH voltage: Temperature Effect on 95%RH voltage:

0.11% RH/C 0.22% RH/C