SME 3242

Instrumentation
Associate
Associate Prof.
Prof. Dr.
Dr. Intan
Intan Zaurah
Zaurah Mat
Mat Darus
Darus
Assoc. Prof. Dr Intan Zaurah
Mat Darus
C23-226, Ext. 34693
intan@fkm.utm.my
intanmd@yahoo.co.uk
016 7616716
 Lecture 1

Introduction to measurement
and instrumentation
What is measurement?
 Measurement Standards and
Units
Measuring system are composed of different
elements and condition therefore it needs
norms and standards

3 unit systems widely used-International System

(SI), CGS System, English System

Basic units - length, time, mass, temperature

Derived units area, volume, acceleration, force
 International System of Units (SI)
The SI is founded on seven SI base units for seven base quantities assumed to
be mutually independent, as given in Table 1.

SI base unit

Base quantity Name Symbol

length meter m

mass kilogram kg

time second s

electric current ampere A

thermodynamic temperature kelvin K

amount of substance mole mol

luminous intensity candela cd

Derived Units
- defined in terms of the seven base quantities via a system of quantity
equations. Examples are:
SI base unit

Name Derived units Symbol

area square meter m2

volume cubic meter m3

velocity meter per second m/s

Meter per second
acceleration m/s-2
squared
force mkgs-2 N

pressure m-1kgs-2 Pa

work m2kgs-2 Joule

What is instrumentation?
Automotive Sensors

Accelerometer Oxygen
Sensor

Airflow
Sensor

Oil
CO Sensor Pressure Water
Temperature
The need for measurement and instrumentation

In industrial application, it is important for:

1) monitoring and control of a process
2) improving the quality of the product and
efficiency of production
3) Safety purposes
Laser Sensor
Laser sensor
 Typical Instrumentation System

Signal A/D
Transducer Display
conditioner Converter

Transducer - converts the measured value

into another useful value (a sensor)
Signal conditioner- conditions the signal
from the sensor
A/D Converter - changes the signal into a
digital format
Computer - processes, displays, and
records the signal
Sensor
Thermocouple
input output
Thermocouple
temperature e.m.f

Resistance thermometer
input output
Resistance
temperature thermometer Resistance
change
Signal conditioner
Amplifier
input output
Amplifier
Small Larger
e.m.f voltage

Wheatstone bridge
input
Wheatstone Amplifier
bridge Voltage Larger
Resistance change voltage
change
change
Display
Scale
input output
scale
movement
current
of pointer
change

Computer
input output
DAS VDU
analog digital readings
signal signal
Temperature Control

Furnace
Desired Control Temperature
and
Temperature System Sensor
Material

The Control System sets the current

supplied to the heating elements in the
furnace to keep the material temperature
at the desired (setpoint) value.
 h

Water level system

Assignment

Identify the elements for the pressure

measurement system i.e. : transducer,
signal conditioner, display

POINTER

SCALE