1

Basic Concepts
Of
Measuring system and their

performances
2
Block diagram of a generalized
instrumentation system
Dr. Bahauddin Karagozuglu 3
The Bourdon
Gauge
Dr. Bahauddin Karagozuglu 4
Block diagram of the
pressure gauge based
on Bourdon tube
Physical variable
to be measured
Pressure
Detector transducer stage
Bourdon tube
Pressure to mechanical
displacement
Intermediate stage
Gearing arrangement that
amplifies the displacement
signal
Pressure
(input)
Pressure
(calibration)
Displacement
( transduced signal)
Amplified displacement
signal
Calibration signal from
a source with known
pressure values
Final stage
Pointer and dial
arrangement
5
Characteristics of measurement systems
The system characteristics are to be known, to choose an
instrument that most suited to a particular measurement
application.
The performance characteristics may be broadly divided into
two groups, namely static and dynamic characteristics.
Static characteristics
the performance criteria for the measurement of quantities that
remain constant, or vary only quite slowly.
Dynamic characteristics
the relationship between the system input and output when the
measured quantity (measurand) is varying rapidly.
6
Static Performance of Instrument
The static characteristics of instruments are related
with steady state response.
The relationship between the output and the input
when the input does not change, or the input is
changing at a slow rate.
Range & Span
Linearity & Sensitivity
Environmental effects
Hysteresis
Resolution
Repeatability
Death space
7
Generalized Static Characteristics
Accuracy
Precision
Resolution
Tolerance
Static sensitivity
Span / Range

Sensitivity drift
Linearity
Repeatability
Dead space /
Threshold
Zero drift

8
Accuracy
Data points with
low accuracy
high accuracy
value true
value measured value true
accuracy

Accuracy: closeness with which an

instrument reading approaches the
true or accepted value of the variable
(quantity) being measured. It is
considered to be an indicator of the
total error in the measurement without
looking into the sources of errors.
Accuracy is often expressed in percentage
9
Precision
Data points with
low precision
high precision
1. A measure of the reproducibility
of the measurements; i.e., given a
fixed value of a variable,
precision is a measure of the
degree to which successive
measurements differ from one
another.
10
Resolution
The smallest change in measured value to
which the instrument will respond.
11
Tolerance
Maximum deviation allowed from the conventional true
value.
It is not possible to built a perfect system or make an
exact measurement. All devices deviate from their ideal
(design) characteristics and all measurements include
uncertainties (doubts).
Hence, all devices include tolerances in their
specifications. If the instrument is used for high-
precision applications, the design tolerances must be
small.
However, if a low degree of accuracy is acceptable, it is
not economical to use expensive sensors and precise
sensing components
12
Static sensitivity
Sensor
signal
Measurand
Sensor
signal
Measurand
A low-sensitivity sensor has low
gain
A high sensitivity sensor has
high gain
13
Zero and sensitivity drifts
Range & Span
14
Defined as the range of reading between
minimum value and maximum value for
the measurement of an instrument.
Has a positive value e.g..:
The range of span of an instrument which
has a reading range of 100C to 100 C
is 200 C.
15
Linearity
Output
Input
Output
Input
A linear system fits the
equation y = mx + b.
A nonlinear system does not fit
a straight line
Repeatability
16
Repeatability:a measure of how well the output
returns to a given value when the same precise input
is applied several times.


Or the ability of an instrument to reproduce a certain
set of reading within a given accuracy.

Death Space : Threshold : Dead space is defined as the
range of different input values over which there is no
change in output value.
17