INTRODUCTION to Measurement

and Instrumentation

JCB40104 – CHEMICAL AND BIOPROCESS INSTRUMENTATION

Measurement

 We make measurement everyday ; buying

products, sports activities, and cookings
 In chemical measurement are often used in
calculation to obtain other related
quantities .
 measures length or scale - metersticks , ruler
 measures volume - buret, pipet, cylinder, volumetric
flask
 temperature - thermometer
 mass and weight - analytical balance
Measurement

 Measurement of a given quantity is essentially an act or

result of comparison between the quantity and
predetermined standards
 International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)
accepted internationally for naming of chemical
compounds, the used of units and symbols in chemistry,
and the used of chemical terminology
 Systeme International Units ( SI units ) are internationally
accepted system of metric units.
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Basic requirements for a meaningful measurement:
 The standard used for comparison purposes must be accurately defined

and should be commonly accepted.

 The apparatus used and the method adopted must be provable (verifiable).

Measurement can be divided into two main group

Qualitative - measurement involves description of words such as heavy, hot,

cold, name of chemical, etc.

Quantitative - measurement involves numbers (quantities)

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 Instrumentation Characteristics

 Shows the performance of instruments to be used.

 Divided into two categories:

Instrumentation Characteristics

Static Dynamic

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 Instrumentation Characteristics

 Static characteristics
Measurement of quantity that are either constant or
varies slowly with time is known as static.
…Refer to the comparison between steady output
and ideal output when the input is constant….

 Dynamic characteristics
….Refer to the comparison between instrument
output and ideal output when the input changes….

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Static Characteristic measurement
systems

1. Accuracy 1. Range of span

2. Precision 2. Dead Space
3. Static Error 3. Linearity
4. Tolerance 4. Resolution
5. Sensitivity 5. Zero drift
6. Threshold 6. Hysteresis Effect

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Assignment:
 Recall the definition of each static
measurement system.
 Participate in the forum discussion (elearn)

entitled to each person.

 The participation will be counted in your

assessment.
 Duedate: 8 Feb 2017, 11.59pm
Static Characteristics
ACCURACY
 Accuracy is the ability of an
instrument to show the exact
reading.
 Always related to the extent of the
wrong reading/non accuracy.
 Normally shown in percentage of
error which of the full scale
reading percentage.

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Static Characteristics
STATIC ERROR: It is defined as the
difference between the measured value
and true value of the quantity

Example:

A pressure gauge with a range

between 0-1 bar with an accuracy of ±
5% fs (full-scale) has a maximum error
of;

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 Static Characteristics
Example:
A pressure gauge with a range between
0-1 bar with an accuracy of ± 5% fs
(full-scale) has a maximum error of;
5 x 1 bar = ± 0.05 bar
100

 Notes: It is essential to choose an

equipment which has a suitable
operating range.

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Static Characteristics
TOLERANCE
 Closely related to accuracy of an
equipment where the accuracy of
an equipment is sometimes
referred to in the form of
tolerance limit.
 Defined as the maximum error
expected in an instrument.
 Explains the maximum deviation
of an output component at a
certain value.

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Static Characteristics
SENSITIVITY
Sensitivity of measurement is a measure of a
change in instrument output that occurs when the
quantity being measured change by a given amount
 Defined as the ratio of change in output towards

the change in input in steady state.

Sensitivity (K) = Δθο

Δθi
Where;
Δθο : change in output
Δθi : change in input

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The resistance value of a Platinum Resistance
Thermometer changes when the temperature
increases. Therefore, the unit of sensitivity for
this equipment is Ohm/°C.

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Static Characteristics
Example:

Pressure sensor A with a value of 2

bar caused a deviation of 10
degrees. Therefore, the sensitivity of
the equipment is 5 degrees/bar.

Sensitivity of the whole system is (k)

=
k1 x k2 x k3 x .. x kn

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 Static Characteristics
Example:

Consider a measuring system

consisting of a transducer, amplifier
and a recorder, with sensitivity for
each equipment given below:
Transducer sensitivity 0.2 mV/°C
Amplifier gain 2.0 V/mV
Recorder sensitivity 5.0 mm/V

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Static Characteristics
THRESHOLD

 When the reading of an input is

increased from zero, the input reading
will reach a certain value before change
occurs in the output.
 The minimum level of the input reading
is known as ‘threshold’ of the
instrument

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 Static Characteristics
RANGE OF SPAN

 Defined as the range of reading

between minimum value and
maximum value for the
measurement of an instrument.
 Has a positive value e.g.:

The range of span of an instrument

which has a reading range of –100°C
to 100 °C is 200 °C.

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Static Characteristics
DEAD SPACE / DEAD BAND

 Defined as the range of input reading

when there is no change in output
(unresponsive system).

Output Readings

Measured Variables

Dead Space

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Static Characteristics
LINEARITY
 Maximum deviation from linear relation between
input and output.
 The output of an instrument has to be linearly
proportionate to the measured quantity.
 Normally shown in the form of full scale percentage
(%fs).
 The graph shows the output reading of an
instrument when a few input readings are entered.
 Linearity = maximum deviation from the reading of
x and the straight line.

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Static Characteristics
LINEARITY

Output Readings

Measured Quantity

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 Static Characteristics

RESOLUTION
 The smallest change in input reading
that can be traced accurately.
 Given in the form ‘% of full scale (% fs)’.
 Available in digital instrumentation.

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 Static Characteristics

BIAS @ ZERO DRIFT

 Constant error which occurs during
the measurement of an instrument.
 This error is usually rectified or
corrected through calibration.

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 Static Characteristics
Example:

A weighing scale always gives a bias

reading. This equipment always gives a
reading of 1 kg even without any load
applied. Therefore, if A with a weight of
70 kg weighs himself, the given reading
would be 71 kg. This would indicate
that there is a constant bias of 1 kg to
be corrected.

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 Dynamic Characteristics

Dynamic Characteristic explains the behavior system of

instruments system when the input signal is changed.

Dynamic characteristic of instruments

1. Zero order instrument
2. First order instrument
3. Second order instrument

 Depends on a few standard input signals such as;

1. Step input
2. Ramp input
3. Sine-wave input

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 - Any instrument that
Zero order instrument
behaves according to equation below is said
to be zero order type.
Eg; potentiometer which measures motion is
a good example of zero order instrument.
Where output change instantaneously as the
slider is displaced along the potentiometer
track.

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First order instrument – Any instrument behaves according
to equation below is known as first order instrument .Eg ; the
liquid-in-glass thermometer is a good example of a first order
instrument . When thermometer is plunged into boiling water,
the output does not rise instantaneoulsy to a level indicationg
100c , but instead approaches a reading indicating in 100c in a
manner similar to the figure showed below

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Second Order Instrument – Accelerometer is
a good example of second order instrument.
Accelerometer are generally designed to have a
damping ratio somewhere in ratio 0.6- 0.8

Response from a 2nd order instrument:

1. Rise Time ( tr )
 Time taken for the output to rise from 10% to 90

% of the steady state value.

2. Settling time (ts)

 Time taken for output to reach a steady state
value.

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Example ofDynamic
Dynamic Characteristics
Characteristics
Output

Time

Response from a 2nd order instrument

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 Dynamic
Characteristics
1. STEP INPUT

 Sudden change in input signal from

steady state.
 The output signal for this kind of input
isInput
known as ‘transient response’.

Time

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 Dynamic
Characteristics
2. RAMP INPUT

 The signal changes linearly.

 The output signal for ramp input is
‘ramp response’.
Input

Time

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 Dynamic
Characteristics
3. SINE-WAVE INPUT

 The signal is harmonic.

 The output signal is ‘frequency
response’.

Input

Time

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Conclusion
 Measurement and instrumentation
principles are to be known
 The instrumentation characteristics are
to be known in order to choose an
instrument that most suited to a
particular measurement application.

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Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
i. Fully understand about measurement,
instrumentation and calculation involved in
chemical and bioprocess
ii. Fully understand the instrumentation
characteristics to be used in chemical and
bioprocess processes.
iii. Differentiate between static and dynamic
characteristics.

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