Lecture 03

Performance Characteristics for

Measurement and
Instrumentation System

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 1

3 classifications to define the performance
of measurement system: operational, static,
dynamic

Operational characteristic
Range
Span
Sensitivity
Resolution
Dead band/threshold
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 2
Range
- will give the minimum and maximum range

Span
- the difference between the maximum and
minimum range

Eg: A specification of a thermometer reads as

follows:
Range and subdivision oC - -0.5 to +40.5 0.1
Min is –0.50C and max is 40.50C
Span = 410C

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 3

Sensitivity
- ratio of a change in output to the change in
input which causes it at steady-states condition

Eg. : A galvanometer has a sensitivity of 17mm/A

for a 1A input display, a light spot moving
across the scale shows a movement of an
index of 17 mm

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 4

Resolution
The least incremental value of input or output
that can be detected

Dead band / Threshold

The largest range of values of a measured
variable to which the instrument does not
respond

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 5

Static characteristic:
Error
Accuracy
Precision
Repeatability
Linearity
Hysteresis
Calibration

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 6

Error
- Error is the difference between the true value Yn and
instrument reading Xn
e = Yn – Xn

- Types of errors: systematic error (bias error) and

random error (precision error)

Bias (systematic) error : consistent and repeatable

error
Bias error = average readings – true value

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 7

Random error : the lack of repeatability in the
output of the measuring system
Random error = reading – average reading

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 8

Accuracy
- Ability of the system to respond to a true value
- Limit of error of a measuring device under certain operating
conditions and can appear is several forms:

1. Measured variable: (error limit)

Ex.: If the accuracy is 0.20C, for a temperature reading of
30.10C the actual temperature lies between 29.90C and
30.30C

2. Percentage of full scale (FS),

Ex.: If the full scale is 10 A and the accuracy 1% f.s., the
accuracy is then 0.1 A

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 9

3. Percentage of instrument span,
Ex.: If the accuracy 3% span and the span for pressure
measurement is 20-50 psi, the accuracy is =0.03 (50-
20) = 0.9 psi

4. Given as percentage of actual reading,

Ex.: If the true value of the voltmeter is 2 V and the
voltmeter accuracy is 2%, the actual voltage lies
between 2.04 and 1.960C. The accuracy at this instance
is (2V 0.02) = 0.04 V

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 10

A temperature sensor has a span of 200C –2500C.
A measurement results in a value of 550C for
temperature. Specify the error if the accuracy is:
a) 0.5%FS
b) 0.75% of span
c) 0.8% of reading
What is the possible temperature in each case

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 11

 Full scale = 2500C
0.5% of full scale = [(0.5/100)](2500C)
= 1.250C

Therefore, for a temperature reading of 550C the

actual temperature lies between 53.750C and
56.250C

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 12

 Span= (250-20)0C = 2300C
0.75% of span= [(0.75/100)](2300C)
= 1.7250C

Therefore, for a temperature reading of 550C the

actual temperature lies between 53.2750C and
56.7250C

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 13

Read temperature = 550C
0.8% of reading = [(0.8/100)](550C)
= 0.440C

Therefore, for a temperature reading of 550C the

actual temperature lies between 54.560C and
55.440C

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 14

A temperature sensor has a transfer function of 5
mV/0C with an accuracy of 1%. Find the possible
range of the transfer function.

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 15

Transfer function error = [(1.0/100)](5 mV/0C)
=  0.05 mV/0C

Therefore, the possible range of the transfer

function is 4.95 mV/0C to 5.05 mV/0C

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 16

Suppose a reading of 27.5 mV results from the
sensor used in previous example (Example 1.9).
Find the temperature that could provide this
reading.

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 17

Note: output
transfer function =
input

output
i.e. input =
transfer function

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 18

Since the transfer function range is 4.95 mV/0C to
5.05 mV/0C, the possible input values range for an
output of 27.5 mV can be formulated as follows:

For transfer function = 4.95 mV/0C,

27.5 mV
input =
4.95 mV/0C

= 5.56 0C
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 19
For transfer function = 5.05 mV/0C,

27.5 mV
input =
5.05 mV/0C

= 5.45 0C

Therefore, for a output reading of 27.5 mV the input

lies between 5.450C and 5.560C
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 20
 System accuracy is the consideration of overall accuracy of
many elements in a process-control loop to represent a
process variable.

Consider, a system with two transfer function that act on

dynamic variable to produce an output voltage shown in the
Figure below:

C
K K G G V V

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 21

The output can be described as:

V V = (K K) (G G)C

or
V V = KGC  GCK  KCG  KGC

where,
V = output voltage
V = uncertainty in output voltage
K,G = nominal transfer functions
K, G = uncertainty in transfer functions
C = dynamic variable
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 22
Knowing that,
V = KGC
Therefore,
V =  GCK  KCG  KGC

In term of fractional uncertainties (error per output),

V GCK  KCG  KGC
=
V KGC
V GCK KCG KGC
V
=  KGC
 KGC
 KGC

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 23

 V GCK KCG KGC
V
=  KGC  KGC  KGC

The numerator of the last term, KG, is a product of two

small numbers and thus is really small. Therefore,

V K G
= 
V K G
Hence, the percentage of output error,

V K G
x100% =   x 100%
V K G
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 24
i.e.

V K G
x100% =  x100%  x 100%
V K G

or in general term,

System accuracy or percentage of output error is equals

to summation of all individual transfer function errors
(percentage)

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 25

The overall system accuracy as the root-mean-
square (rms):

 V   K  G
 2 2

 =±  +

  
 V  rms  K  G


Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 26

Find the system accuracy of a flow process if the
transducer transfer function is 10 mV/(m3/s)
±1.5% and the signal-conditioning system-
transfer function is 1mA/mV ±0.05%

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 27

Using the equation,
V K G
x100% =  x100%  x 100%
V K G

Total of system error = 1.5 % + 0.05 %

= 1.55 %
= 0.0155 mA

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 28

Using the rms equation,

 V   K  G
 2  2

 =±  +
 

 V  rms  K  G
 

= ( 0.015) 2 + (0.005) 2

= ±0.0158  1.6%

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 29

Precision

The degree of exactness of which an

instrument is designed or intended to
performed

Significant figures convey actual information

regarding the magnitude and the
measurement precision of a quantity

The more the significant the figure, the

greater the precision of measurement
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 30
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 31
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 32
Repeatability
- The ability of the system to display the same
output for a series of applications of the same
input signal, under the same operating
conditions

Linearity
- The output reading of the measurement is
linearly proportional to the quantity being
measured
- when linear relationship occurs, straight line
eq. is used cm = mc + c0
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 33
FIGURE 1.24 Comparison of an actual curve and its best-fit
straight line, where the maximum deviation is 5% f.s.

Copyright ©2006 by Pearson

Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] 07458
All rights reserved.
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 34
A sensor resistance changes linearly from 100 to
180  as temperature changes from 200 to 1200C.
Find a linear equation relating resistance and
temperature

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 35

Hysteresis

- different reading may be obtained if the

variable was increasing prior to taking the
reading and if the variable was decreasing

- causes: friction, mechanical flexure of

internal part, electrical capacitance

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 36

FIGURE 1.23 Hysteresis is a predictable error resulting from
differences in the transfer function as the input variable increases or
decreases.

Copyright ©2006 by Pearson

Education, Inc.
Curtis Johnson Upper Saddle River, New
Process Control Instrumentation Technology, 8e] Jersey 07458
All rights reserved.
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 37
Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 38
Calibration
- process of checking a measuring system
against a standard reading
- purposes:
To ensure readings from an instrument are
consistent with other measurements
To determine the accuracy of the instrument
readings
To establish the reliability of the instrument
i.e. that it can be trusted

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 39

Lecture03 SME3242 Instrumentation 40