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Abstract
A rigorous method used to model linear variable differential transformers (l.v.d.t.s) is applied to a variable-in-
ductance displacement transducer. This method known as 'field modelling' uses a knowledge of the magnetic flux
distribution within the transducer. This flux distribution is obtained from the solution of Maxwell's equation, with
boundary conditions deriving from the geometry and material properties of the transducer. The field equations are
expressed in terms of the magnetic vector potential and, with the use of axial symmetry, reduced to an elliptic
boundary value problem. This problem is approximated by finite-difference equations and solved, numerically, by
the method of successive overtaxation (s.o.r.). A transducer design is modelled, using this method, and the
model is used in the synthesis of a displacement-measuring system. The sensitivity of the synthesised system is
.compared with experimental results obtained from a system with the same design specifications. The sensitivities of
the two systems agree to within 2%. The design of the system is then altered, to improve sensitivity, and the sensi-
tivities of the synthesised and experimental systems are again compared.
List of principal symbols L.V.D.T.S and v.i.d.t.s have been used extensively in industry since
L = self inductance the 1930s. Despite this long period of acceptance, early attempts to
M mutual inductance model these devices rested heavily on simplifying assumptions and
R = resistance lacked rigour.1
B = magnetic flux density vector Recently, however, Abdullah,2'3 using numerical techniques,
H = magnetic field intensity modelled the magnetic flux distribution in a l.v.d.t. He used this flux
E = electric field intensity distribution to accurately determine the sensitivity and linearity of
/ = current density vector the transducer. This technique, known as 'field modelling', is in-
o conductivity herently more accurate than previous modelling techniques as it
/i = relative permeability invokes no unjustified assumptions. Also, since field modelling uses
4> = magnetic flux the magnetic flux distribution of axially symmetric configurations, it
A - magnetic vector potential can also be applied to v.i.d.t.s which have axial symmetry.
/ = current
h = node spacing
X = flux linkage
N = number of windings on a coil
n = total number of nodes within a coil
(R = residual in the method of s.o.r.
(r, 0,z) = cylindrical co-ordinates transducer with
movable core
6 = unit vector in the 6 direction
V = voltage amplifier meter
Bn = component of B normal to a boundary
Ht = component of H tangential to a boundary Fig. 1
a = acceleration factor in s.o.r. Schematic diagram of system
k = iteration number in s.o.r.
transducer coils
1 Introduction
Displacement transducers which operate through the dis-
placement of a mechanical element changing the magnetic flux linkage
of a coil, or system or coils, can be divided into two classes. One class
consists of transducers which rely on the displacement of a mechanical
Fig. 2
element changing the linkage between primary and secondary trans-
former coils. Transducers belonging to this class are commonly called Longitudinal section of gauge head
linear variable differential transformers or l.v.d.t.s. The other class
consists of transducers which rely on the displacement of a mechanical
element changing the flux linkage of a coil or, more often, two coils
connected in a 'push-pull' configuration. Transducers in this class are 2 Description of displacement measuring system
called variously, variable inductance, variable reluctance, or variable The system from which design specifications and experi-
permeance transducers. In this paper members of the second class are mental data are obtained consists of a TESA electronic linear measur-
referred to as variable inductance displacement transducers (vi.d.t.s). ing instrument, series GNM and a TESA model GT10 gauge head. This
system is shown schematically in Fig. 1.
Paper 8100C, first received 21st November 1977 and in revised form 7th The secondary winding of the transformer is centre-tapped to form
February 1978
Mr. Hugill is with the Department of Systems Science, The City University,
the reference arms of the a.c. bridge circuit. The variable arms of the
St. John Street, London EC1 V 4PB, England bridge are the transducer coils in the gauge head (Fig. 2).
dz br
i
Abdullah2 shows that by the use of the magnetic vector potential A dt
the problem can be expressed in terms of the magnetic flux <(>, z)
passing through a circle of radius r and centre (0,z). The vector
potential A is defined by
Ll (19)
curl A = B (8) ~A = h
div/1 = 0 (9) M 12 is calculated from the same flux distribution, using X 2 , the sum
of the flux linkages of coil 2.
With the use of Stokes' theorem it can be shown that
To obtain L2, coil 2 is energised, the field equations are solved and
*(/-, z) = 2irrA0(r, z) (10) a new value of X2 found. The core is moved to all positions in the
range being considered, and Lx, L2 and Mn are calculated at each
Writing eqn. 8 in component form, and using the relationship defined point. The values of the inductances as a function of core displace-
in eqn. 10, eqn. 7 becomes ment are used in the synthesis of the measuring system.
The convergence criteria used involved finding the difference
(11) between the values of X (of the energised coil) for two successive
dz 2 br2 br iterations. The criterion is
The solution of eqn. 11 (with rJi.s. = 0 in regions with ho current),
with appropriate boundary conditions, gives the magnetic flux 3>(r, z) (20)
at all points in the transducer.
418 PROC. IEE, Vol. 125, No. 5, MAY 1978
where Xfe is the value of X for the kth iteration. 0 was chosen to be 6, Assumptions (a) and (b) were experimentally justified for the
which proved to be adequate as a relative change in X of 10"6 rep- transducer under consideration. Approximations (c) and (d) are justi-
resents a change in the output of the system of 0-015% at the central fied as the permeability of the ferrite is of the order of 1000Mo, and
core position and 0-003% at the maximum core displacement. the permeability of copper {1 (0-94 x 10"s)}/u0- The approxi-
The number of iterations required for convergence is critically mations made in assumption (g) altered geometric dimensions by less
dependent on the acceleration factor a. The optimum acceleration than 2%.
factor aopt was found by a trial and error method similar to that des-
cribed by Forsythe and Wasow (Reference 5, pp. 370-371). |Xfe + 1 -
Xfe I was found as a 'function' of the number of iterations k, as shown 4 Synthesis
in Fig. 4. For a ^ a o p , the function is rough and for a < a o p ( it is The system, shown in Fig. 1, was synthesised with values for
smooth. <xopt was found approximately by this method and the choice all fixed parameters obtained from measurements made on the TESA
further refined by varying it about the first approximation and unit. The fixed parameters include the resistances and fixed induct-
observing the convergence time of solutions. ances in the bridge circuit, the magnitude and frequency of the
A square mesh system was used with a spacing of 0-175 mm in voltage source and the characteristics of the amplifier, p.s.d. and
region 1 (Fig. 3) and a 0-350mm spacing in regions 2 and 3. The use meter. The values of L\, L2 and Mi2 as a function of core displace-
of a coarser mesh in regions 2 and 3 reduced the total number of ment were obtained from the field model. The synthesis process is
nodes from 6250 to 4050, which represents a considerable saving in shown schematically in Fig. 5.
solution time and storage. The loss of accuracy in using the coarser The uncertainty in the value of the bridge output, arising from
mesh is not considered to be significant as the flux density in regions uncertainties in the measurement of fixed parameters was approxi-
2 and 3 is relatively small. mately 1%. The uncertainties in the characteristics of the amplifier,
The number of iterations required for convergence was typically p.s.d. and meter were also around 1%. The total uncertainty in the
1000, taking 2000 s of ICL 1904 A computer time. This time would sensitivity of the system as synthesised, arising from all approxi-
be reduced by a factor of at least 10 if the program were run on a mations, other than those made in the field model, is estimated to
high-speed computer. be less than 3%.
Li.l-2.M12 found
with field nodel
Li.L 2 .M,2
substituted into
bridge equation
V6
core moved to
amplif cation
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 new position
number of iterations.k
Fig. 4
Method for finding the optimum acceleration factor in phase component
of signal rectified by
p.s.d.
meter i-eadinc
7 Acknowledgments
200
I would like to thank P.H. Sydenham for guidance through-
" / out this work and assistance in preparation of this paper. I would also
like to thank TESA S.A. (Switzerland) for diagrams used in the
preparation of this paper.
, working range
S core displacement.H m
1 i i i
6 Conclusions
This paper shows by modelling a transducer and testing the Fig. 7
model that field modelling can be used as a powerful tool in the General mesh mode
420 PROC. IEE, Vol. 125, No. 5, MAY 1978
Table 1
SUMMARY OF EXPRESSIONS
Mo-0
away from
Nl 3 , . boundary 1 1 0
-4 2r0
no current 2r0
2 T ,
Mo. Jfl away from
N2
3 , J.
boundary,
current fa ....,,
permeabUity
2
///\ current:
"(1 ~ 27>x
N3 VVVj J.:r>r0
0 :r<r0
2
" current: + _h_
N4 3
Y :r>r
A9y '
V//
2
adjacent
3 1 to$=0
N5 0 0
boundary,
*"^ no current
2
Mo > 0 on corner
3 1 of current
N6
carrying
region
4
2
Mo high M
1 boundary:
N7
M= : z<z 0
:
M= Mo ^ Z o
2 1
2r 0
0
-I 0
2///
/,.='*> highM
//y\ boundary
N8 M = : r>r 0 1 0 1 2 0
Mo M = Mo : r<r 0
4
/,M=CO/ typical
3 //y\ comer of h
N9 -6 1 2 0
highM 2r 0 2r 0
Mo boundary
4