DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRAPRADESH
Name : A.Vinay kumar
Branch : AEIE
Designation : H.O.D
Institute : QQGPT. Hyd
Subject : Process Instrumentation – II
Sem. :IVth
Code No : AEI-405
Major Topic : Pressure measurement
Duration : 50 Mins.
Sub Topic : Variable capacitance sensor
Teaching Aids : PPT, Animations, diagrams

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 Objectives

Upon completion of this topic you will be able to

know about

Variable capacitance sensor

• Construction
• Description
• Principle
• Operation

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 Recap

In last class we have learnt about the

• LVDT type pressure transducer

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AEI405.12 4
 Principle

• The operation of capacitive pressure transducer depends

upon ε0εr A
• C= d
where,
C = the capacitance of a capacitor in farads
A = area of each plate in m2
d = distance between the two plates
ε o = 8.854x10-12 f/m2
ε r = dielectric constant

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Diaphragm plate capacitance
pressure transducer

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Basic principle of capacitance
pressure transducer

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 Basic principle…

• The capacitance of a capacitor changes when

• The area ‘A’ of the plate changes
• The distance ‘d’ between two plate changes
• The dielectric constant ε r changes
• C α 1/d
• This is the basic of capacitor pressure transducer

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 Capacitor

C1 C2

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 Differential Pressure Transducer

Glass film

P1 P2

Membrane

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 Construction

• It consists of fixed plates and movable plates

• Diaphragm is used as movable plate
• The capacitor is placed in one of the arms of the
capacitive bridge
• The output voltmeter is calibrated in terms of the input
applied pressure

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 Working

• The pressure under measurement is applied at

the inlet

• Diaphragm expands

• The distance d changes

• Some output voltage will be developed

• It is proportional to the applied pressure

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Capacitive pressure transducer

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 Applications and Types

• Capacitance pressure transducers were originally

developed for use in low vacuum research
• Depending on the type of pressure the capacitive
transducer can be
• An absolute gauge
• Differential pressure transducer.

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 Materials

• Stainless steel is the most common diaphragm material

used

• For corrosive, high-nickel steel alloys, such as Inconel

or Hastelloy, give better performance.

• The diaphragm is usually metal or metal-coated quartz

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• Tantalum is also used for highly corrosive, high
temperature applications.

• silver diaphragms can be used to measure the

pressure of chlorine, fluorine, and other halogens in
their elemental state.

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Capacitance pressure transducer

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Diagram

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 Operation

• The deflection of the diaphragm causes a change in

capacitance
• That is detected by a bridge circuit
• This circuit can be operated in a
1. Balanced
2. Unbalanced mode

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 Operation

• In balanced mode the output voltage is fed to a null

detector
• The capacitor arms are varied to maintain the bridge at
null
• The null setting itself is a measure of process pressure

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 Operation…

• In unbalanced mode

• The process pressure measurement is related to the

ratio between the output voltage and the excitation
voltage

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 Operation…

• In a capacitance-type pressure sensor, a high-frequency,

high-voltage oscillator is used to charge the sensing
electrode elements

• In a two-plate capacitor sensor design, the movement of

the diaphragm between the plates is detected as an
indication of the changes in process pressure

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 Operation…

• The diaphragm deflects

• The capacitance change is proportional to the differential

pressure

• The changes in the two capacitances can be measured

using an A.C bridge

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 Equation

y =
p (R 2
− r2 )
4 T

Where,
y = Deflection at any point
p = Applied pressure = p2-p1
T = Tension in the diaphragm
R= radius of the diaphragm
r = radius at any point

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 Advantages

• Small size
• Good high frequency response
• Adaptability for higher temp. operation
• Good linearity
• High resolution

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 Advantages…

• Fast response
• Can withstand shock and vibration
• Extremely sensitive

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 Disadvantages

• Inherent temp. sensitivity

• Susceptibility to vibration and shock

• Performance is affected by dirt and other contaminations

• Errors can be caused by erratic and distorted signals

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 Applications and Range

Suitable for
• Very low pressure
• Fluctuating pressures
• Range
• ∆p = 1 m bar – 10 m bar
• Total pressure up to 400 bar
• For both static and dynamic changes

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 Summary

we have discussed about

variable capacitance type pressure transducer
• Operation
• Advantages
• Limitations

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 Quiz

1. The output of capacitance type pressure

transducer depends on

• Cross sectional area

• Distance between the plates
• Dielectric constant
• All the above

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 Frequently asked questions

1. Explain the operation of capacitive type pressure

transducer

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