EEE5202(F) Page 1 of 8

INTI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING (HONS) IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

EEE5202: INSTRUMENTATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM
FINAL EXAMINATION: AUGUST 2013 SESSION

Instructions: This paper consists of TWO (2) sections. Answer THREE (3) questions in
SECTION A and any ONE (1) question in SECTION B. All questions carry equal marks.

SECTION A: Answer THREE (3) Questions

Question 1

(a) A transducer can be represented with a generalized model equation. The test results in
Table Q1(a) were obtained when a pressure transducer was tested in a laboratory under
the following conditions.
I Ambient temperature 20C, supply voltage 10 V (standard)
II Ambient temperature 20C, supply voltage 15 V
III Ambient temperature 25C, supply voltage 10 V

Input (barg) 0 2 4 6 8 10
Output I (mA) 4 8 12 16 20 24
Output II (mA) 4 9 4 19 24 29
Output III (mA) 7.5 11.5 15.5 19.5 23.5 27.5
Table Q1(a)

(i) Derive the generalised model equation of the transducer.

(8 marks)

(ii) Compute the output of the transducer when the input is 6 barg, Vs is 12.5 V and
ambient temperature is 25C.
(4 marks)
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(b) A variable dielectric capacitive displacement sensor consists of two square metal plates,
with sides of 8 cm, separated by a gap of 2mm. A sheet of dielectric material 2mm thick
with the same area as the plates can be positioned between them as shown in Figure
Q1(b). The dielectric constant of air is 1, and that of the dielectric material is 4. The
permittivity of free space is 8.85 pF/m.

 0 r A
(i) Given for a general capacitor the capacitance is given as C  . Prove that
d
 0l
the capacitance of this sensor is C  4l  3x.
d
(4 marks)

(ii) Compute the capacitance of the sensor when the input displacement is x = 0 cm,
and 5 cm respectively.
(3 marks)

(iii) If the sensor is employed in a measurement system, will it provide a measurable

linear output? If yes, discuss your answer in detail. If not, give a solution such
that an overall linear output can be obtained when using this sensor.
(6 marks)

x
ε1 ε2

Figure Q1(b)
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Question 2

(a) Consider the feedback system in Figure Q2(a). The forward gain is given as
20( s  1)
G(s)  , and the feedback gain is given as H(s) = 1.
s( s 2  2s  10)
(i) Compute the steady-state error for a unit step input, and a unit ramp input.
(8 marks)

(ii) Compute the required value of the feedback gain H(s) if the steady-state error for
a unit ramp input it to be reduced by 80%.
(4 marks)

(iii) If the steady-state error for a unit ramp input is required to be zero, discuss what
changes must be made to the feedback gain H(s) (ie, should H(s) be a P, I, or D?).
(6 marks)
+
G(s)

H(s)

Figure Q2(a)

(b) Figure Q2(b) shows the asymptotic magnitude bode plot of a particular second order
system. Derive the transfer function of the system.
(7 marks)

Q2(b)
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Question 3

(a) The block diagram of a multiple-loop feedback control system is shown in Figure Q3(a).
(i) Draw the equivalent signal flow graph for this block diagram.
(3 marks)

(ii) Determine the system transfer function Y(s)/R(s) using Mason’s Gain formula.
(10 marks)

Figure Q3(a)

(b) An elevator position control system is shown in Figure Q3(b). The respective forward
1
and feedback gains are given as G1(s) = K + 1, G2(s) = , and H(s) = 1.
s( s  3s  3)
2

(i) Determine the closed-loop transfer function Y(s)/R(s) of the system.

(3 marks)

(ii) Given that the system characteristic equation is s 3  3s 2  3s  K  1 , using the

Routh-Hurwitz method, determine the range of values for K for the system to be
stable. Analyze the stability of the system.
(9 marks)

+
R(s) G1(s) G2(s) Y(s)
–

H(s)

Figure Q3(b)
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SECTION B: Answer any ONE (1) Question

Question 4

(a) The resistance RT of a platinum resistance thermometer varies with temperature T

according to the equation RT  R0 (1  T ) . The thermometer has a resistance of 100 at
0C , and a temperature coefficient of resistance of 4  10 3C 1 . The thermometer is
employed in a bridge to measure an input range of 0 to 100C .

(i) Compute the resistance RT of the platinum resistance thermometer at the

maximum point of the input range.
(2 marks)

 1 1 
(ii) The general bridge equation is given as Eth  VS    . Given
 1  R4 / RI 1  R3 / R2 
a power supply of 15V, design the deflection bridge to provides an output range
of 0 to 100mV for the input range of 0 to 100C .
(10 marks)

(b) Log and antilog amplifiers are sometimes employed when remote measurement signals
are send over a long-distance and non-linear compression is required. Figures Q4(b)(i)
and Q4(b)(ii) respectively show a log amplifier and an antilog amplifier. The forward
 I 
bias voltage of the transistors in both amplifiers are given as VBE = 0.025 ln  C  .
 I EBO 
(i) Prove that the output of the log amplifier in Figure Q4(b)(i) is Vout = – (0.025V)
 V 
ln  in  .
 I EBO R1 
(3 marks)

 Vin 
 
 0.025V 
(ii) Given that for the antilog amplifier in Figure Q4(b)(ii), Vout = – RF IEBO e ,
determine the output voltage for the amplifier if IEBO = 60nA, and Vin is 0.225V.
(2 marks)

(iii) Describe the conditions for a log amplifier to be successfully coupled with an
antilog amplifier.
(8 marks)
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R1
Vin
47kΩ

Vout

Figure Q4(b)(i)

Rf
Vin
100 k

Vout

Figure Q4(b)(ii)
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Question 5

(a) The resistance R  of a thermistor varies with temperature  K according to the

following equation:

R  0.06 exp 3200 
 
The thermistor is to be incorporated into a deflection bridge to provide a linear voltage
output. The required specifications of the bridge are listed below:
Input range 0 to 100ºC
Output range 0 to 1.0 V
 1 1 
The general bridge equation is given as Eth  VS    .
 1  R4 / R I 1  R3 / R 2 

(i) Compute the resistance R  of the thermistor at the min, mid, and max point of
the range. Recall that  K = TC + 273.
(4 marks)

(ii) Design the deflection bridge.

(10 marks)

(iii) Based on your bridge design in Question Q5(a)(ii), compute the required value of
VS.
(2 marks)

(b) Figure Q5(b) shows an instrumentation amplifier that is used to amplify small signals that
are riding on large common-mode voltages. For the condition of R3 = R4 = R5 = R6, the
transfer function of the instrumentation amplifier is given as
 R  R  R  R
Vout = 1  2 Vin, 2 – 2 Vin,1 – 1  1 Vin,1 + 1 Vin, 2
 RG  RG  RG  RG

(i) Calculate the respective voltage gain of op-amp 1 and op-amp 2.

(2 marks)

Vout
(ii) Derive the overall loop gain of A =
Vin, 2  Vin,1
(4 marks)

(iii) If an overall gain of 2000 is required of the instrumentation amplifier, compute

the required values of R1 and R2.
(3 marks)
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Vin,1

Vout

Vin,2

Figure Q5(b)

- THE END -
EEE5202(F)AUGUST 2013/THIO TZER HWAI GILBERT /131013