Study of common Sensors, Transmitters,

Controllers, Actuators, Recorders,

Switches
IN STR UMENTATION & PRO C ES S CO NTROL

LECTURER: SOHAIL NAWAB

s o h a i l . n a w a b @ f a c u l t y. m u e t . e d u . p k

I N S T I T U T E O F P E T R O L E U M & N AT U R A L G A S
M E H R A N U N I V E RS I T Y O F E N G I N E E R I N G & T EC H N O LO G Y, JA M S H O R O
Sensors
Devices that can detect physical variables.
A device that detects or measures a physical property and records,
indicates.

Physical Property or physical environment means is any property

that is measurable.
Analog Sensors
Analog sensors provide a signal that is continuous in both its
magnitude and its temporal (time) or spatial (space) content.
The defining word for analog is continuous. If a sensor provides a
continuous output signal that is directly proportional to the input
signal, then it is analog.
Examples of analog sensors
Pressure
Temperature
Load Cells
acceleration
Speed
light
Intensity etc..
Digital sensors
Digital (Discrete) sensors have a fixed or countable number of
different output values.
Digital sensors provide a signal that is a direct digital representation
of the measure
And Digital sensors are basically binary (on or off ) devices.
 Pump on/off

4.5
V vs time
4

3.5

2.5
PUMP
2

1.5

0.5

0
1 2 3 4
Examples of Digital sensors
On/off
Controlled /Uncontrolled
Open / Close
Transmitter
A device used to generate and transmit messages or signals.
Devices that amplify and format signals, so that they are suitable
for transmission over long distances with zero or minimal loss of
information.
 Transducers
Transducers are devices that can change one form of energy into
another

Sensor Transducer Transmits Controller

Controller
are devices that monitor signals from transducers and keep the
process within specified limits by activating
and controlling the necessary actuators, according to a predefined
program.
Controllers are devices for operation of machine to control any
variable ( Level, Pressure, Temperature)
Actuators
are devices that control an input variable in response to a signal
from a controller.
An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for
moving or controlling a mechanism or system. An actuator requires
a control signal and a source of energy.
The control signal is relatively low energy and may be electric
voltage or current, pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, or even human
power.
Classification of Actuators
The actuators may be classified as:
Electrical actuators
Switching devices
Solenoid type devices
Mechanical actuators
Mechanism based actuators
Hydraulic actuators
Pneumatic actuators
Recorder
A device to record data.

Examples :
Orifice meter reading on chart
Drilling recorder