Variable Inductance Type

Transducers

Dr. Deblina Biswas

Assistant Professor, I&C Engg
Working Principle of Variation of Self
Inductance
 In order to discuss the principles of these elements we
must first introduce the concept of a magnetic circuit. In
an electrical circuit an electromotive force (e.m.f.) drives
a current through an electrical resistance and the
magnitude of the current is given by

(a)
Cont.
 A simple magnetic circuit is shown in Figure:
it consists of a loop or core of ferromagnetic
material on which is wound a coil of n turns
carrying a current i. By analogy we can
regard the coil as a source of magnetomotive
force (m.m.f.) which drives a flux φ through
the magnetic circuit. The equation
corresponding to [a] for a magnetic circuit is:
 Cont.
 so that reluctance limits the flux in a magnetic circuit just as
resistance limits the current in an electrical circuit. In this
example m.m.f. = ni, so that the flux in the magnetic circuit is:

 This is the flux linked by a single turn of the coil; the total flux N
linked by the entire coil of n turns is:

 By definition the self-inductance L of the coil is the total flux per

unit current,
Cont.
 The above equation enables us to calculate the inductance of a
sensing element given the reluctance of the magnetic circuit.
The reluctance of a magnetic circuit is given by

where l is the total length of the flux path, µ is the relative permeability of the
circuit material, µ0 is the permeability of free space = 4π × 10−7 H m−1 and A is the
cross-sectional area of the flux path.
Cont.
 Figure shows the core separated into two parts by
an air gap of variable width.
 The total reluctance of the circuit is now the
reluctance of both parts of the core together with
the reluctance of the air gap.
 Since the relative permeability of air is close to
unity and that of the core material many
thousands, the presence of the air gap causes a
large increase in circuit reluctance and a
corresponding decrease in flux and inductance.
 Thus a small variation in air gap causes a
measurable change in inductance so that we have
the basis of an inductive displacement sensor.
 Cont.
 Figure shows a typical variable reluctance displacement sensor,
consisting of three elements: a ferromagnetic core in the shape
of a semitoroid (semicircular ring), a variable air gap and a
ferromagnetic plate or armature. The total reluctance of the
magnetic circuit is the sum of the individual reluctances, i.e.
Cont.
 The length of an average, i.e. central, path through the core is πR and
the cross sectional area is πr 2 , giving

 The total length of the flux path in air is twice the air gap, i.e. 2d; also if
there is little bending or fringing of the lines of flux in the air gap, then
the cross-sectional area of the flux path in air will be close to that of the
core. Assuming the relative permeability of air is unity,

The length of an average central flux path in the armature is 2R; the calculation
of the appropriate cross-sectional area is more difficult. A typical flux distribution
is shown in Figure and for simplicity we assume that most of the flux is
concentrated within an area 2rt, giving
 Cont.

i.e.

Where

where L0 = n2 /R0 = inductance at zero gap

Inductance of and α = k/R0. Equation is applicable to any
reluctance variable reluctance displacement sensor;
displacement the values of L0 and α depend on core
sensor geometry and permeability.
Transducer types

 The variable inductance type of transducers work,

generally upon one of the following three principles :
 Variation of self-inductance
 Variation of mutual inductance
 Production of eddy current
Inductive Transducers Working Principle
of Variation of Self inductance
 The self inductance of a coil

 where N=number of turns, and R=reluctance of the magnetic circuit

 The reluctance of the magnetic circuit is

(1)
 Inductance
 where µ-effective permeability of the medium in and around the coil,
 G =A/l= geometric form factor, A =area of cross-section of magnetic path ;
m2, and l =length of magnetic path ; m
Cont.
 Inductive transducers are mainly used for measurement of
displacement. The displacement to be measured is
arranged to cause variation of any of three variables in
Eqn. 1 and thus alter the self-inductance L by ∆L.
 The variation in inductance may be caused by change in
number of turns, variation in geometric configuration or
by change in permeability of magnetic material or
magnetic circuit.
 Let us consider the case of a general inductive transducer.
The inductive transducer has N turns and a reluctance R.
When a current i is passed through it, the flux is φ=Ni/R.
 Differentiating the expression for φ with respect to time,
we get
(2)
Cont.
 In practice we can generally arrange that one term of the right hand side in
the expression for dφ/dt predominates over the other. For example, if the
current varies very rapidly, perhaps a million times per second, the first term
on right hand side of Eqn. 2 becomes very large as compared with the second
term. The relationship thus reduces to: 0

(2)

Emf induced

Also self-inductance

The output from an inductive transducer can be had in the form of

either a change in voltage or a change in inductance.
 Change in self inductance based on
number of tums.
 The output may be caused by
change in number of turns.
 Figure shows the transducers used
for measurement of linear and
angular displacements respectively.
Fig. (a) shows an air cored coil for
measurement of linear
displacement while Fig (b) an iron
cored coil used for measurement of
angular displacement.
 The output if it is in the form of
inductance is :
 L 𝜶 N2, 𝜶 (displacement)2 in case
the windings are uniformly wound.
Change in self-inductance with change
in geometric Configuration
 Figure show inductive transducers which are used for measurement of
linear and angular displacements respectively and which work on the
principle of variation of inductance with geometric Configuration
(i.e., Variation of G=A/l). It should be noted that 'd' is the
displacement.
Change in self-inductance with change
in permeability.
 An inductive transducer which works on
the principle of variation of permeability
to cause change of self inductance is
shown in Figure
 The iron core is surrounded by a winding
If the iron core is inside the winding its
inductance is high but when the iron
core is moved out of the winding, the
permeability of the flux path decreases
resulting in reduction of self-inductance
of the coil.
 This transducer can conveniently be
used for measurement of displacement.
Variable Reluctance Type Transducers
 A variable reluctance type of transducer
consists of a coil which is wound on a
ferromagnetic core.
 The displacement, which is the measurand, is
applied to a ferromagnetic target as shown in
Figure. The target does not make a physical
contact with a core on which the coil is
mounted.
 The core and the target are separated by an
air gap
 The inductance of the coil depends upon the
reluctance of the magnetic circuit.
Inductance of the coil is given by

Rt reluctance of iron parts Rg reluctance of air gap.

Cont.
 By approximation

 Reluctance of air part of magnetic circuit

length of air gap

air of flux path through air

Thus

Therefore self inductance of the coil is inversely

proportional to the length of air gap.
 Differential output
 The differential arrangement consists of a coil which is divided into two parts
(inductive transducers using self-inductance as a variable use one coil while those
using mutual inductance as variable use multiple coils).
 In response to a physical signal, which is normally a displacement, the inductance
of one part increases from L to L+∆ L while the other part decrease from L to L-
∆L. The change is measured as the difference of two resulting in an output 2∆L
instead ∆L when only a single winding is used.
 This increases the sensitivity and also eliminates errors.
 Inductive Transducer Working Principle
of Variation of Mutual inductance
 Inductive transducers working on the principle of
variation of mutual inductance use multiple coils. ·
 The mutual inductance between the coils can be
varied by variation of self-inductance or the co-
efficient of coupling.
 However, the mutual inductance can be converted
into a self-inductance by connecting the coils in
series.
 The self-inductance of such an arrangement varies
between L1+L2-2M to L1+L2+2M
 There are two air cored coils.
 One coil is fixed and the other is made to rotate by
the input angular displacement.
 The self-inductance of the coils is constant but the
mutual inductance between the two coils varies on
account of variation of angle 𝜃.
 The co-efficient of coupling is proportional to cos 𝜃,
Inductive Transducers Working on the
Principle of Production of Eddy Currents
 These inductive transducers work on the principle that if a
conducting plate is placed near a coil carrying alternative
current, eddy currents are produced in the conducting plate.
The conducting plate acts as a short circuited secondary of a
transformer.
 The eddy currents flowing in the plate produce a magnetic
field of their own which acts against the magnetic field
produced by the coil.
 This results in reduction of flux and thus the inductance of
the coil is reduced.
 The nearer is the plate to the coil, the higher are the eddy
currents and thus higher is the reduction in the inductance
of the coil. Thus the inductance of the coil alters with
variation of distance between the plate and the coil.
 A number of arrangements are possible. The plate may be at
right angle to the axis of the as shown in Figure. The
displacement of the plate causes a change in the inductance
of the coil..
Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)
 The most widely used inductive transducer that translate the
linear motion into electrical signal is the linear variable
differential transformer (LVDT).
 The basic construction of the LVDT h given in Figure.
 The transformer consists of a single. primary winding P1 and
two secondary windings S1 and S2 wound on a cylindrical
former.
 The secondary windings have equal number of turns and are
identically placed on either side of the primary windings.
 The primary winding is connected to an alternating current
source. A movable soft iron pore is placed 'inside the former.
 The displacement to be measured is applied to an arm
attached to the soft iron core.
 In practice the core is made of nickel iron alloy which is
slotted longitudinally to reduce eddy current losses.
 When the core is in its normal (NULL) position equal voltages
are induced in two secondary windings. The frequency of a.c.
applied to primary windings may be between 50 Hz to 20 kHz.
Cont.
 The output voltage of secondary, s1, is E01 and that of
secondary, S2, is E02. In order to convert the outputs from
S1, and S2 into a single voltage signal, the two
secondaries S1 and S2 are connected series opposition as
shown in Figure. Thus the output voltage of the
transducer is the difference of the two voltages.
 Differential output voltage E0 = Es1-Es2
 Cont.

 When the core is at its normal

(NULL) position, the flux linking
with both the secondary windings is
equal emfs are induced in them.
 Thus at null position Es1 =Es2.
 Since the output voltage of the
transducer is the difference of the
two voltages, the output voltage Eo
is zero at null positions
 Cont.
 Now if the core is moved to the left of the NULL
position, more flux links with winding S1 and 'less
with winding S2.
 Accordingly output voltage Ei. of the secondary
winding Si is more than E2, the output voltage of
secondary winding S2.
 The magnitude of output voltage is, thus Es1- Es2
and the output voltage is in phase with Es1 i.e. the
output voltage of secondary winding s1.
 Similarly, if the core is moved to the right of the
null position, the flux linking with winding s2
becomes larger than that linking with winding S1.
 This results in Es2 becoming larger than Es1, The
output voltage in this case is Eo= Es2-Es1 and is in
phase with Es2 ie. the output voltage of secondary
winding S2.
Cont.

 The amount of voltage change in either secondary winding

is proportional to the amount of movement of the core ..
 Hence, we have an indication of amount of linear motion.
By noting which output voltage is increasing or
decreasing, we can determine the direction of motion.
 Cont.
 As the core is moved in one direction from
the null position, the-differential voltage
i.e., the difference of the two secondary
voltages, will increase .
 while maintaining an in-phase relationship
with the voltage from the input source in the
other direction from the null position, the
differential voltage will also increase, but
will be 180° out of phase with the voltage
from the source.
 The output voltage of an LVDT is a linear
function of core displacement within a
limited range of motion, say, about 5 mm
from the null position. Figure shows the
variation of output voltage against
displacement for various positions of core.
The curve is practically linear for small
displacements (upto about 5 mm as
mentioned above).
 Beyond this range of displacement, the curve
starts to deviate from a straight line.
 Cont.
 In Figure, the core is at 0 which is the central zero
or a null position. Therefore Es1 =Es2 and hence
the output Eo=O.
 When the core is moved to the left as in Fig.(a)
and is at A, Es1 is more than Es2 and therefore Eo
is +When the core is moved to the left as in Fig (a)
and is at A, E11 is more than E12 and therefore Eo
is +When the core is moved to the left as in Fig.
25'40 (a) and is at A, Es1 is more than Es2 and
therefore Eo is +Ve
 By convention, this movement represents a
positive value of Eo and therefore the phase angle
𝜙= O.
 When the core is moved to the right towards B as
shown in Fig (c), Es2 is greater than Es1 and E0 = -
Ve. Therefore, the output voltage is 180' out of the
phase with the voltage which is obtained when the
core is moved to the left. Thus 𝜙= 180°.
 The characteristics are linear up to 0- A and 0-B
but after that they become non-linear and flatten
out as shown in Figure.
 Cont.
 Ideally the output voltage at the null position
should be equal to zero. However, in actual
practice there exist:' a small voltage at the null
position.
 This may be on account of presence of harmonics
in input supply voltage and also due to harmonics
produced in the output voltage on account of use
iron core.
 There may be either an incomplete magnetic or
electrical balance or both which result in a finite
output voltage at the null position.
 This finite residual voltage is generally less than
1% of the maximum output voltage in the linear
range.
 Other causes of residual voltage are stray
magnetic fields and temperature effects. The
residual voltage is shown in Figure.