SCANNER TEST

Pressure scanners have to go through 2 processes for calibration. First is Calibration Test and the
second one is Check Calibration. Before starting these tests we need to know the connections to be
made.

 Equipments to be used in the test

1. Pressure Scanner.

2. Control Box.

3. Data Acquisition System.

4. Computer.

5. Projection Manometer/ U Tube manometer.

6. Nitrogen Cylinder.

 Pressure Scanners have following inputs.

1. CAL I/P

2. REF

3. PxA

4. PxB

5. Cal

CALIBRATION MODE

PROJECTION
MANOMETER

PxA Ref
SCANNER BLOW PRESSURE
PxB
CAL I/P
Cal

POWER SUPPLY

T JOINT
CAL
B CONTROL BOX
DAQ
A
COMPUTER
PROCEDURE:

1. CALIBRATION TEST: In this process, we need to calculate the slope of the scanner which is a
relation between voltage and mm of H2O.

 The connections to be made are as follows.

1. Input from the Projection Manometer/ U Tube Manometer is to be connected to CAL I/P of
scanner through a T joint.

2. PxA, PxB, Cal of scanner to be connected to A, B, C tubes coming from Control box.

3. Ref port of the scanner to be kept open.

4. Scanner connector should be connected to Control box connector.

5. 65 psi from Nitrogen Cylinder is to be given to Control box.

After all these connections, open the Labview program named ‘esp scanner’ and keep it in run mode
for about 1 hour for warm up.

In the Labview program there are 2 modes namely Operation mode and Calibration mode. During
Calibration test we use Calibration mode.

 After warm up, first take the bias value by clicking on calibration button and then click the
start button. All 64 ports of the scanner will start reading the values.
 In case of using Projection manometer (which is rather more accurate and suitable
compared to U tube manometer), adjust the level of the manometer to 10 mm with the help
of turning knob attached to the projector. Then again click on calibration button and blow 10
mm into one of the port of the T joint which connects Projection manometer/U tube
manometer to the scanner. Hold the pressure at that level (with the help of your thumb),
click on start button and wait till all 64 ports read the values.
 Repeat the same procedure and blow pressure ranging from 10 mm to 200 mm. (NOTE:
Make sure there is no leakage in the Tubes or joints. Else the readings will carry error which
in turn reads wrong pressure during experiments).
 After blowing the pressure into the scanner from 10mm to 200 mm, take one more bias.
 Open Matlab & run the calibration.m program which you should copy into the folder which
contains all the labview files (.lvm). You will get a graph similar to the figure shown below.

2. CHECK CALIBRATION: In order to assess the calibration carried out as above, some known values
of pressure should be given and checked for accuracy of the results obtained.

 Create another folder inside the calibration folder and copy the check_calibration.m
program and slope.xls file created by calibration.m program.
 Mention this folder name in labview and take the bias.
 Next give some arbitrary pressure through the T joint and carry out the experiment similar
to Calibration test and in the end again take the bias.
 Run the check_calibration.m program and you will get a graph of pressure in mm of H2O (Y
axis) and port number(X axis).
 Check for several values in the same manner with pressure ranging from lower to higher
value.

NOTE: The error band should not be more than 0.2 mm of H2O.

Check calibration can also be done by giving input to any one of the port instead of CAL I/P. Then
only that port will read the value, other ports reading 0.
 OPERATION OF SCANNER IN WIND TUNNEL
During Wind tunnel operation, there will be few functional changes to be done before running the
tunnel. The connections from scanner to control box remains the same but in this case we don’t use
Projection/U tube manometer. Instead, the ports of the scanner should be connected to the body
which is of interest. The connections are as mentioned below.

1. The ports of the scanner should be connected to the tubes which will be tapped from the body to
be experimented.

2. The Tunnel Total and Static tubes should be connected to the 2 ports of the scanner. Note that the
ports coloured in red colour is read first in the scanner(1 to 64) and the ports coloured black is read
second(65 to 128). So if readings to be taken for more than 64 ports then connect Tunnel’s Total and
Static ports in parallel to both red colour ports and black colour ports.

3. The Tunnel’s Static port should be connected in parallel with Ref port of the scanner and CAL I/P
will be open to atmosphere.

4. PxA, PxB, Cal of scanner to be connected to A, B, C of Control box.

5. Scanner connector should be connected to Control box connector.

6. 65 psi from Nitrogen Cylinder is to be given to Control box.

After all these connections, open the Labview program named ‘esp scanner’ and keep it in run mode
for about 1 hour for warm up.

In the Labview program there are 2 modes namely Operation mode and Calibration mode. During
Operation we should use Operate mode.

 After warm up, first take the bias value by clicking on operate button and then start button.
All 64(or 128) ports of the scanner will start reading the values.
 Start running the tunnel after taking bias value and wait till the required speed is achieved.
 When the required speed is achieved, click on the start button in Operation mode and take 3
samples one after the other. If the tests are to be done for different speeds then takes 3
samples for each speed and stop the tunnel.
 Take another bias in the end and run the check_calibartion.m program to read the pressure
values of each port.

NOTE: Do not forget to change the port no in labview as well as matlab program from 64 to 128(or
as required) before processing.

The schematic diagram of connections is given below.

 OPERATION MODE

Tunnel pitot-
static probe
Body to be studied

(n+1) port
n ports Static
(n+2) port port
Total port
PxA
Ref
PxB SCANNER T JOINT
CAL I/P
Cal T JOINT
U Tube
Manometer
POWER SUPPLY

CAL
B CONTROL BOX
DAQ
A
COMPUTER