Tech Blog
Most analog output sensors have general specifications such as linearity (or non-linearity), repeatability, and resolution, as well as environmental specifications like operating temperature or shock and vibration, and dynamic specifications like response or bandwidth. All of these specifications represent limits of error or sources of uncertainty related to the sensor's output compared to its input. Many of these terms are fairly easy to understand by their wording alone, but linearity error or non-linearity is not in that category.
Alliance Sensors Group’s PG Series LVDTs Prove Their Durability Once Again
The PG series of heavy duty LVDT position sensors from Alliance Sensors Group have become the defacto standard of the power gen industry for measuring steam valve position on power plant turbines, having demonstrated outstanding performance, reliability, and durability over many years of operation.
These LVDTs ’ robust construction is clearly illustrated by the following pictures from a power plant in which the failure of the anti-rotation mechanism on the shaft of the hydraulic actuator operating a modulating steam valve while the turbine was operating resulted in extreme misalignment of the LVDTs’ extension rods, as shown in Figure 1 below.
Linear position sensors are essential in a variety of industries. These are the applications for linear position sensors in factory automation.
Industrial automation equipment involves hardware with many moving parts. It is vital to make sure all these moving parts are working together, so measurements and data are collected from every element, and position sensors are the devices that collect the data. In factory automation equipment, linear position sensors determine the position or straight line movement of a machine component or workpiece.
Nuclear power plants use large hydraulically-operated valves to control steam flow to the power turbine. These valves require rugged and reliable electromechanical position sensors, usually LVDTs or LVRTs (inductive half-bridges), to give valve position feedback to the turbine's computer control system.
Our Linear Position Sensors (LVITs) are designed to survive in tough applications. But they still are vulnerable.
When it comes to destroying linear position sensors we have seen and heard a lot over the years. Here is some practical advice based upon tales from the field.