DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL

EDUCATION
ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : A. Vinay Kumar
Designation : HEIE
Branch : AEIE
Institution : Q.Q GPT, Hyderabad.
Subject : Process Instrumentation – II
Semester : IV
Code No : AEI-405
Major Topic : Pressure measurement
Duration : 100 Mins.
Sub Topic : Piezo electric pressure transducer
Teaching Aids : Photos, animations,
diagrams
AEI405.16TO17 1
 Recap

In last class we have learnt about the

• Force Balance pressure transducer

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 Objectives

Upon completion of this topic you will be able to

know about

Piezo electric pressure transducer

• Description
• Principle
• Operation

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 Introduction

• When pressure, force or acceleration is applied to a

quartz crystal, a charge is developed across the crystal

• The fundamental difference between these crystal

sensors and static-force devices such as strain gages is
that the electric signal generated by the crystal decays
rapidly

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 Piezo electric effect
• Some types of materials generates an electrostatic
charge or voltage when mechanical stress is applied
across them

• An opposite effect is also observed when an electrostatic

charge or voltage is applied to the crystal

• It results mechanical deformation of the device

• This is called piezo electric effect

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 Piezo electric effect

• It is used for the design of pressure transducer

• In this mechanical stress is generated by the diaphragm

subjected to pressure

• The stress distribution in the crystal will depend not only

on the load applied but also manner in which it is
applied, size and shape of the sensing element

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 Classification

• Depending upon phenomenon is used, the crystal

sensor can be classified as
• Electrostatic
• piezo resistive, or resonant

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 Principle

• When pressure is applied to a crystal It is elastically

deformed
• This deformation results in a flow of electric charge
(which lasts for a period of a few seconds).
• The resulting electric signal can be measured as an
indication of the pressure which was applied to the
crystal

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 Principle…
• The relation between output voltage and pressure is
given by
v =g t p
Where,
• V = output voltage
• g = voltage sensitivity of crystal
• t = thickness of crystal
• p = applied pressure

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Piezo electric pressure transducer

Fig,1

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 Construction and working
• It consists of a diaphragm by which pressure is
transmitted to the piezoelectric crystal y1.

• The crystal generates an electrical signal which is

amplified by a charge amplifier.

• A second piezoelectric y2 is included to compensate for

any acceleration of the device during use.

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 Construction and working…

• Signals from the compensating crystal are amplified by a

second charge amplifier.

• A differential amplifier is used which subtracts pressure

alone; all effects of acceleration are removed

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 Bimorph beam mode

Basic element

Cantilever Pinned end

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Piezo electric crystal

d
Normal

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 Bimorph disc mode

Pinned end

Pinned end Centrally supported

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 Piezoelectric Materials

Materials used are

• Quartz
• Rochelle salt
• Synthetic ceramic material like
a. Barium – Titanate
b. Lead - Ziconatelianum

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 Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages
• Need no external power (Self generating)
• Very good high frequency response.

Disadvantages
• Cannot measure static pressures
• Affected by changes in temperature

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 Applications

• Used to measure very high pressures that change very

rapidly.
• Used to measure the pressure inside the gasoline
engine.
• Used to measure the pressure in compressors, rocket
motors etc.

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 Applications…

• Rapidly varying pressure

• Shock pressure
• Frequency response
• In aeronautics
• Turbines
• Pumps
• Hydraulics
• Acoustics

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 Assembly of PEPT

P Diaphragm

PZT element

Backing piece

Lead

Main case Connector

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 Diagram

Electrical
connector
Shrink tubing
grooves
I.C amplifier

Element lead

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Cross section

Element head

Seal surface
Preload screw

Quartz crystal
Electrode
End piece
Diaphragm
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AEI405.16TO17 23
Acceleration-Compensated
Piezoelectric Sensor

Seal surface
Compensation crystal
Seismic mass
Seal surface
End piece
Diaphragm

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Piezo resistive pressure transducer

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Piezo resistive pressure transducer

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Piezo resistive pressure transducer

Printed circuit

Sensing element

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Specifications

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PEPT

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Application

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Circuit diagram

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Piezo electric pressure transducer

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Piezo electric pressure transducer

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Comparison of piezo-electric transducers

Strain Span to
Threshold
Principle Sensitivity threshold
[µ*]
[V/µ*] ratio

Piezoelectric 5.0 0.00001 100,000,000

Piezoresistive 0.0001 0.0001 2,500,000

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 Limitations

• Piezoelectric transducers are not capable of measuring

static pressures

• These sensors cannot detect static pressures

• Temperature range -200 Deg.C To +300 Deg.C

• 1 Hz -20 kHz

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 Summary

We have discussed about

Piezo electric pressure transducer

• Principle of operation
• Construction and working
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Limitations

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 Quiz

1. Piezo electric pressure transducers are used to

measure

a) Static pressure

b) Dynamic pressure

c) Both

d) None

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 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Explain the principle of operation of Peizo electric

pressure transducer.

3. Draw the diagram of Peizo electric pressure

transducer.

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