D T

IN EN
IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
SI ER TTE
ER E A
C
Capacitive
ii T Transducers
d
IV IN H
N G C
U N A
R L E AV
PU A ITM
AV I A
C
D TR
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 1
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitive Transducers

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
Capacitive transducers operate on the principle of variation

AT R
O E E
of capacitance with the variation of the physical variable

, K G D JE
LK PA
under measurement.

TY IN R
SI ER TTE
Parallel
e Platee Capacitors
C p c o s

ER E A
IV IN H
For parallel plate capacitors, employing rectangular plates,
N G C
εA
capacitance is given by C  . Here, change in capacitance is
U N A d
R L E AV
caused by:
PU A ITM

 change in overlapping area A,

AV I A

 change in the distance between the plates d,

C
D TR

 change in dielectric constant.

JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 2
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using Change in

D T
Overlapping Area

IN EN
IA
A , TM
Measurement of Linear Displacement

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
Capacitors employing rectangular plates

TY IN R
SI ER TTE
top plate

ER E A
IV IN H
dielectirc

N G C
U N A
w
bottom plate
R L E AV
PU A ITM
AV I A

d
C
D TR
JA EC

I overlapping area 'A'

EL

Amitava Chatterjee 3
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using
g Change
g in

D T
IN EN
Overlapping Area (contd…)

IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
Capacitors employing rectangular plates

, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
εA εlw

SI ER TTE
w = width of the overlapping part of the plates,
C  l = length of the overlapping part of the plates.
d d plates

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
U N A
R L E AV
PU A IT

ΔC εw
M

Sensitivity of the transducer, S  

AV I A

.
Δl d
C
D TR
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 4
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using
g Change
g in

D T
IN EN
Overlapping Area (contd…)

IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
Capacitors employing cylindrical electrodes

, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
SI ER TTE
fixed metal
block

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
U N A
R L E AV
D2 D1
PU A IT

displacement
M
AV I A

g
moving
tube
C
D TR

output
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 5
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using
g Change
g in

D T
IN EN
Overlapping Area (contd…)

IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
Capacitors employing cylindrical electrodes

, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
2πεl l = length of the overlapping part of the cylinders,

SI ER TTE
C
 D2  D2 = inner

ER E A
i di
diameter off the
h outer cylindrical
li d i l electrode,
l d
loge  

IV IN H
N G C
 D1  D1 = outer diameter of the inner cylindrical electrode.
U N A
R L E AV
PU A ITM
AV I A

Sensitivity of the transducer, S 

C 2πε

C

.
l  D2 
D TR

logge  
JA EC

 D1 
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 6
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using
g Change
g in

D T
IN EN
Overlapping Area (contd…)

IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
Measurement of Angular Displacement

, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
fixed

SI ER TTE
plate

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
U N A 
R L E AV
PU A ITM
AV I A

r
C
D TR

movable
plate
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 7
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using
g Change
g in

D T
IN EN
Overlapping Area (contd…)

IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
Measurement of Angular Displacement

, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
 = angular displacement of the movable plate

SI ER TTE
εr 2

C θ (in radian),

ER E A
r = radius of the smaller plate,

IV IN H
2d
N G C
d = distance between the plates.
U N A
R L E AV
PU A ITM
AV I A

Sensitivity of the transducer, S 

C εr 2


C

.
D TR

θ 2d
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 8
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using Change in

D T
Distance between the Plates

IN EN
IA
A , TM
Measurement by moving one of the parallel plates

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
d
moving

TY IN R
SI ER TTE
plate

ER E A
IV IN H
c

N G C
displacement
U N A
R L E AV
d
PU A ITM

fixed plate
AV I A

C εA
C

εA
C S  2
D TR

d d d
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 9
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using Change in
Distance
D stance between the Plates
lates (contd…)

D T
IN EN
IA
Measurement by differential arrangement

A , TM
AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
εA

TY IN R
C1 

SI ER TTE
fixed
C1,E1

dx
plate P1
d

ER E A
IV IN H
E

N G C
x movable
U N A plate M
εA
R L E AV
displacement d

C2 
PU A IT

dx
C2,E2
M
AV I A

fixed
plate P2
C

x ΔE E
D TR

ΔE  E 2  E1  E S 
JA EC

d x d
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 10
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Transducers using Variation of
Dielectric
D electr c constant

D T
IN EN
IA
Measurement of Displacement

A , TM
AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
SI ER TTE
w
Initial Capce.

ER E A
wl1 wl 2

IV IN H
C 0  ε0  ε0 ε r
N G C d d
x
d
U N A
R L E AV
w
displacement

 ε0 l1  εr l 2 
PU A ITM

I2
d
I1
AV I A

dielectric (relative permittivity r)

C

wx
wx εr  1
D TR

New
C  C 0  ΔC  C 0  ε0 ε r  1  ΔC  ε0
d
JA EC

C
Capce. d
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 11
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitive Level Gauge

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
to
measuring

TY IN R
circuit

SI ER TTE
insulated
metal
electrodes

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
U N A tank
R L E AV
air or gas
dielectic
PU A IT

liquid
M
AV I A

 Works on the principle of variation of capacitance with the variation of

C

dielectric constant, caused by a corresponding change in liquid level.

D TR

 The capacitance can be measured by a suitable capacitive Wheatstone

JA EC

bridge.
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 12
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitive Level Gauge (contd…)

D T
IN EN
Features

IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
 For non-conducting liquids,

, K G D JE
LK PA
liquids a bare probe arrangement may be

TY IN R
satisfactory.

SI ER TTE
 For

ER E A
F conducting
d ti liquids,
li id probe
b plates
l t are insulated.
i l t d

IV IN H
N G C
U N A
R L E AV
 Capacitive
C iti llevell gauges are popular
l because
b th
they are relatively
l ti l
PU A IT

inexpensive, versatile, reliable, and require minimum maintenance.

M
AV I A

 Can be used for measuring levels from a few cm. to more than 100 m.
C
D TR
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 13
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitive Transducer with Solid Dielectric and
Variable Air Gap between Parallel Plates

D T
IN EN
IA
moving plate

A , TM
AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
area (A)
d1

TY IN R
SI ER TTE
air (1 = 1)
d2 solid

ER E A
IV IN H
dielectric (2)
N G C
U N A
R L E AV
A
fixed plate
PU A IT

1
M

Capacitance C with parallel plates, each of an area d1

AV I A

A and n la
A, layers
ers of various
ario s dielectric materials: d2 2
ε0 A 3
C

d3
C
D TR

 d1 d 2 dn 
ε  ε  ε 
JA EC

A
 1 2 n  (n = 3)
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 14
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitive Transducer with Solid Dielectric and
Variable Air Gap between Parallel Plates (contd…)

D T
IN EN
moving
i plate
l t

IA
A , TM
Here d1 is variable,
but d2 is constant

AT R
O E E
area (A)

, K G D JE
LK PA
d1

TY IN R
air (1 = 1) ε0 A
C

SI ER TTE
d2 solid  d2 
 d1  

ER E A
dielectric (2)  ε2 

IV IN H
N G C
U N A
ε0 A
R L E AV
fixed plate
If the air gap is decreased by x, new capce.: C  C 
 d2 
PU A IT

d 1  x   ε 
M

d2  2 
1
AV I A

d1  d 2 d1 ΔC x
C

N1    N1
D TR

d2 d2
d1  1 C d1  d 2
JA EC

ε2 d1 ε 2
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 15
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitive Transducer with Solid Dielectric and
Variable Air Gap between Parallel Plates (contd…)

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
 2 = 10
10

AT R
factor of

O E E
sensitivity 8

, K G D JE
LK PA
andd
non-linearity

TY IN R
N1 6
2 = 5

SI ER TTE
4
2 = 2

ER E A
IV IN H
2
2 = 1

N G C
1
0
U N A 0.1 0.2 0.5 1.0 2 5 10 20 50 100
R L E AV
d 
Gap ratio  2 
PU A IT

 d1 
M

d2
AV I A

1
N1 : both sensitivity and d1  d 2 d1
C

non-linearity factor N1  
d2 d2
D TR

d1  1
JA EC

ε2 d1 ε 2
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 16
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
Capacitive Transducer with Solid Dielectric of
Variable Permittivity or Thickness and Air Gap

D T
IN EN
between Parallel Plates

IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
SI ER TTE
area (A)
( )

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
a d U N A air
R L E AV
PU A IT

dielectric ()
M
AV I A
C
D TR
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 17
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
Case I: Solid Dielectric with Variable Permittivity

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
area (A)

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
Here d is constant,

TY IN R
a d air but  is variable

SI ER TTE
dielectric ()

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
U N A ε0 A
R L E AV
C
 d
 
PU A IT

Initial capacitance:
a - d 
 ε 
M
AV I A

If the permittivity C  C  ε0 A
C

increases by ,  d 
 
D TR

 a - d  
new capacitance:
p
  ε  Δε  
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 18
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Case I: Solid Dielectric with Variable Permittivity
(
(contd…))

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
area (A)

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
Here d is constant,

TY IN R
a d air but  is variable

SI ER TTE
dielectric ()

ER E A
IV IN H
C 
N G C
1
U N A  .N 2 .
ε0 A ε0 A C    
R L E AV
 1   N3
 d   d   
a - d    
PU A IT

 a - d 
C  ε  Δε   ε 
M

1
 N2 
AV I A

C ε0 A ad 
1   
 d  d 
 
C

 a - d 
ε  ΔC Δε
D TR

1
 N2 N3 
1 d 
C ε
JA EC

1  
ad 
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 19
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Case I: Solid Dielectric with Variable Permittivity
(
(contd…))

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
AT R
O E E
1.0
1.0
=1

, K G D JE
LK PA
0.8
0.8 2  = 10

TY IN R
N2 N3

SI ER TTE
3 5
0.6 4 0.6 4
5 3
10 2
0.4

ER E A
04
0.4
1

IV IN H
0.2

N G C
0.2

0
U N A 0
R L E AV
01
0.1 02
0.2 05
0.5 10
1.0 2 5 10 20 50 100 00 1
00.1 02
0.2 05
0.5 10
1.0 2 5 10 20 50 100
PU A IT

 d   d 
Gap ratio   Gap ratio  
ad  ad 
M
AV I A

N2 : sensitivity factor N3 : non

non-linearity
linearity factor
1
C

N2 
1 N3 
1 d 
D TR

ad  1  
1    ad 
JA EC

 d 
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 20
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Case II: Solid Dielectric with Variable Thickness

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
area (A)

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
Here d is variable,

TY IN R
a d air but  is constant

SI ER TTE
dielectric ()

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
U N A ε0 A
R L E AV
C
 d
 
PU A IT

Initial capacitance:
a - d 
 ε 
M
AV I A

If the dielectric thickness ε0 A

C  C 
C

increases by x, new capacitance:  d  x

D TR

 a - d - x   
 ε 
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 21
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Case II: Solid Dielectric with Variable Thickness
(contd…)

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
AT R
area (A)

O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
Here d is variable,

TY IN R
a d air but  is constant

SI ER TTE
ER E A
di l t i (())
dielectric

IV IN H
N G C
U N A C x 1
ε0 A ε0 A   N4 
R L E AV
 C d x

  d  x 
  d 1   N4
PU A IT

a - d - x  a - d  d 
C  ε   ε 
M


AV I A

C ε0 A ε 1
N4 
 d ad 
C

 a - d   1  ε 
ε 
D TR

ΔC x  d 
 N4
JA EC

C d
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 22
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
Case II: Solid Dielectric with Variable Thickness
(contd…)

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
10
 = 10

AT R
O E E
8

, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
N4 6

SI ER TTE
=5
4 =4

ER E A
 =3

IV IN H
2 =2

N G C
0
U N A
R L E AV
0.1 0.2 0.5 1.0 2 5 10 20 50 100
PU A IT

=1
 d 
M

Gap ratio  
ad 
AV I A

ε 1
C

N4 : both sensitivity and N4 

ad 
D TR

non-linearityy factor 1  ε 
 d 
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 23
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitor Microphones:
an application
pp of a displacement
p transducer using
g

D T
IN EN
change in distance between the plates

IA
A , TM
Basic Theoryy

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
dC εA

TY IN R
S  2

SI ER TTE
x = distance between the two plates.
dx x

ER E A
IV IN H
N G C
U N A
R L E AV
For small displacements
PU A IT

piecewise
about neutral position:
M

linear
AV I A

variation
c dC C dC dx
  or 
C

dx x C x
D TR

x
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 24
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Capacitor Microphones (contd…)

D T
IN EN
The Arrangement

IA
A , TM
K

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
e0
 j 

TY IN R
variable
xi

SI ER TTE
capacitor e0
R

ER E A


IV IN H
x
+90o

N G C
Eb
e0
U N A  j  frequency range
xi for accurate
R L E AV
measurement
plate area = A
PU A IT

xxi xxx0x 
00
M

i 0 
AV I A

 For stationary capacitor plates with separation x0, eo = 0.

0

 For small relative displacement xi, e0 s   sKτ ; K  E b , τ 

C

εAR
D TR

x i s  1  sτ x0 x0
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 25
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Bridge Circuits employed in connection

D T
with Capacitive Transducers

IN EN
IA
A , TM
Null Method

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
C1

TY IN R
C2

SI ER TTE
At balance,

R4

ER E A
D

IV IN H
C1  C 2
N G C
U N A
R3
R3 R4
R L E AV
PU A ITM
AV I A
C
D TR

 The balance can be achieved byy varying

y g either R4 or R3.
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 26
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Bridge Circuits employed in connection
with Capacitive Transducers (contd…)

D T
IN EN
IA
Direct Readout Method

A , TM
AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
TY IN R
C1
C2

SI ER TTE
ER E A
IV IN H
R3 R4

N G C
U N A display
R L E AV
ac amplifier demodulator
unit
(instrumentation
PU A IT

amplifier)
M
AV I A

ac carrier
C

frequency
oscillator
D TR

 The unbalanced voltage measured can be used as a measure of the

JA EC

variable, unknown capacitance.

EL

Amitava Chatterjee 27
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Measurement of Capacitance by

D T
Transformer Ratio Bridges

IN EN
IA
A , TM
Why Transformer Ratio Bridge?

AT R
O E E
 It is a popular alternative to conventional a.c.

, K G D JE
LK PA
a c bridges,
bridges because of the
versatility and accuracy that the ratio transformers can offer.

TY IN R
SI ER TTE
ER E A
F an ideal
For id l auto
t ttransformer,
f

IV IN H
N 1 and E  E  N 2
N1 turns

N G C
E1

U N A E1  E 
N
N 2
N
R L E AV
(total turns)
E
PU A IT

where
M

E  4 K f φm fN
N2 turns
AV I A

E2
C
D TR

sliding contact
JA EC

tapped auto transformer

EL

Amitava Chatterjee 28
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 Measurement of Capacitance by

D T
Transformer Ratio Bridges (contd…)
(contd )

IN EN
IA
A , TM
Ratio transformers, when employed in ratio bridges, are very similar in

AT R
O E E
, K G D JE
LK PA
operation
ti tto conventional
ti l a.c. b
bridges.
id

TY IN R
SI ER TTE
unknown capacitor

ER E A
R
C

IV IN H
N1 (resistance
representing

N G C
D
loss) At balance:
E U N A N2
R L E AV
Rs C  Cs
N1
PU A IT

N2 standard standard
capacitance resistance
M

Cs
AV I A

and
C

measurement of capacitance N1
R  Rs
D TR

using ratio transformer

N2
JA EC
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 29
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
Transformer Double Ratio Bridges

D T
IN EN
IA
A , TM
1000 I1
Z

AT R
O E E
N1 n1

, K G D JE
LK PA
unknown
impedance

TY IN R
SI ER TTE
E1 D

ER E A
100

IV IN H
N G C
10
U N A
ideal voltage transformer
9
R L E AV
8
h i a secondary
having d off 7 I2 n2
N1 turns and tapped at 6
PU A IT

N2 turns 5 Zs
4 current
M

3
2 standard comparator
AV I A

1
0 impedance
E2
C
D TR
JA EC

basic circuit for a double ratio transformer

bridge
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 30
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
Transformer Double Ratio Bridges (contd…)

D T
IN EN
IA
I1

A , TM
1000
Z
N1 n1

AT R
O E E
unknown

, K G D JE
impedance

LK PA
TY IN R
E1 D

SI ER TTE
100

ER E A
10

IV IN H
9
ideal voltage transformer 8

N G C
having a secondary of 7 I2 n2
N1 turns and tapped at 6
N2 turns
U N A
5
4
3
Zs
current At balance:
comparator
R L E AV
I1n1 = I2n2
2 standard
1
0 impedance
E2
PU A IT

N 1 n1 N 2 n2
M

 
AV I A

basic circuit for a double ratio transformer

bridge
Z Zs
C

N 2 n2 N 1 n1
D TR

C  Cs or Z  Z s
JA EC

N 1 n1 N 2 n2
EL

Amitava Chatterjee 31
Department of Electrical Engg., Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
 EL
JA EC
D TR
AV I A
C
PU A ITM
R L E AV
U N A
N G C
IV IN H
ER E A
SI ER TTE
TY IN R
, K G D JE
O E E
LK PA
AT R
A , TM
IN EN
D T
IA
32