LAB NO 04

TITLE:
Introduction to LVDT transducer and plot the characteristics curve between water
level (cm) and output reading of LVDT.

OBJECTIVES:
• To understand the working of LVDT as the level transducer.
• To plot the characteristics curve between water level (cm) and output reading of
LVDT.

APPARATUS USED:
1. Liquid-level process module
2. Digital multimeter.
3. Set of leads.

Figure 1: Liquid-level process module

(Note: add the picture of the Liquid-level process module and neatly label its
different components using annotation tools i.e paint, MS Word, etc. or label it using
a pencil after printing).
 APPARATUS DESCRIPTION:

1. LVDT: LVDT consists of a metal rod that moves inside an electrical coil. A force
applied to the rod results in a displacement that affects the inductance of the coil.

2. Gear Pump: It is used to pump water into the graduated water tank.

3. Solenoid Valve: A solenoid valve is an electrically controlled valve. The valve

features a solenoid, which is an electric coil with a movable ferromagnetic core
(plunger) in its center. In the rest position, the plunger closes off a small orifice. An
electric current through the coil creates a magnetic field. The magnetic field exerts
an upwards force on the plunger opening the orifice. This is the basic principle that
is used to open and close solenoid valves

4. Needle valve: A needle valve is a type of valve with a small port and a
threaded, needle-shaped plunger. It allows precise regulation of flow, although
it is generally only capable of relatively low flow rates.
5. Float level sensors: Float level sensors are continuous level sensors featuring a
magnetic float that rises and falls as liquid levels change.
6. Control Valve: A control valve is a valve used to control fluid flow by varying the size of the
flow passage as directed by a signal from a controller.

7. Water Tank: It is used to store the water.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND:
What is LVDT?
Linear Variable Differential Transformer, LVDT is the most used inductive transducer
for converting translating linear motion into electrical signal. This transducer converts
a mechanical displacement proportionally into electrical signal.
Construction:
LVDT is a transformer consisting of one primary winding P and two secondary winding
S1 & S2 mounted on a cylindrical former. The two secondary winding have equal
number of turns and placed identically on either side of the primary winding as shown in
figure below.
 A movable soft iron core is placed inside the former. Actually the movable core is
made of nickel iron with hydrogen annealed. Hydrogen annealing is done to eliminate
harmonics, residual voltage of core and thus provides high sensitivity. The movable
core also is laminated in order to reduce eddy current loss. The assembly of laminated
core is placed in a cylindrical steel housing and end lids are provided for
electromagnetic and electrostatic shielding. The displacement to be measured is
attached to this movable soft iron core.
Working Principle:
Since the primary winding of Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) is supplied
with AC supply, it produces an alternating magnetic flux in the core which in turn link with
the secondary winding S1 and S2 to produce EMF due to transformer action. The
electrical equivalent circuit of LVDT is shown below.

Let us assume that the EMF produced in secondary winding S1 is Es1 and that in S2 is
Es2. The magnitude of Es1 and Es2 will depend upon the magnitude of rate of change of
flux (dØ / dt) as per the Faraday’s Law. The lower the value of ‘dt’, the more will be the
EMF induced. But lower value of ‘dt’ means that core is moving faster. Thus we can say
that the faster the movement of core, the greater will be the magnitude of EMF induced
in secondary windings.
To get a single output voltage from the Linear Variable Differential Transformer
(LVDT), both the secondary winding are connected in series but in phase opposition
as shown in figure below.
 s

Due to this connection, the net output voltage E0 of the LVDT is given as below.

E0 = Es1
– Es2

Since the secondary windings of LVDT are identical and placed symmetrically on either
side of core, therefore under normal position the flux linkage of both the secondary
winding S1 & S2 will be same. This means Es1 = Es2 and hence net output voltage E0
of LVDT = 0. This position of soft iron core is called NULL position. Thus NULL position
of Linear Variable Differential Transformer is the normal position of movable core where
the net output voltage is zero.

PROCEDURE:
I. Connect the multi-meter at the output of kit.
2. Set the range to a maximum value of 10 mm.
3. More the gauge from zero to maximum of 20mm.
4. Value and note the corresponding values of voltages in the multi-meter.
5. Plot the graph between displacement and voltages on the graph paper.

CIRCUIT:
 Figure 2:

OBSERVATIONS AND CALCULATIONS:

(Note: Add your experimental readings in this section.).

Table 1: Water Level (cm) vs Output Voltage (v) for filling of tank

FILLING OF TANK
S.No Water Level (cm) Output Voltage (v)
1 6 2.93
2 9 5.14
3 12 7.07

Table 2:

EMPTYING OF TANK
S.No Water Level (cm) Output Voltage (v)
1 12 7.845
2 9 5.6
3 6 3.115

GRAPHS:
Filling Of Tank:
 NAME: MUHAMMAD SAAD SALEEM
SECTION: ME12-B
ID: 336893

Emptying Of Tank:

9
7.854
8

7 5.6
Water Level (cm)

3.115
3

1 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Voltages (V)

CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION:

Firstly determine relation between voltage and water level so it could be used later on for
controlling the water level just by adjusting the voltage and they are directly related to each
other and their relation is also linear. In the real life we are going to alter the voltage and it
would set certain level for the water in the water tank.
In the second experiment we wanted to achieve certain water level at all times this is done
by comparing singals of the given input value and singal of the water level in tank, but
definitely including the hysteresis so that it doesn’t change with minor singal disturbances
that can occur due to the surrounding magnetic fields and etc. If set point is 10 cm and there
is hysteresis of 2cm then water motor will pump if water drops 8cm and this also goes same
for the other way motor will stop pumping if water level is more than 12cm. This ensure the
smooth working of the system.

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