LVDT

Example No1
A linear variable differential transformer has a stroke length of ±150mm and
produces a resolution of 40mV/mm when moved. Determine:
a) The LVDT’s maximum output voltage.
b) The output voltage when the core is moved 120mm from its null position.
c) The core position from center when the output voltage is 3.75 volts.
d) The change in output voltage when the core is moved from +80mm to -
80mm displacement.
Therefore:
a). The maximum output voltage, VOUT
If 1mm of movement produces 40mV, then 150mm of movement produces:
VOUT = 40mV x 150mm = 0.04 x 150 = ±6 Volts
b). VOUT with 120mm of core displacement
If a core displacement of 150mm produces an output of 6 volts, then a
movement of 120mm produces:
c). Core position when VOUT = 3.75 volts

d). Voltage change from +80mm to -80mm displacement

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Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 2 mV/mm and a core displacement of 5 mm. Calculate the output
voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 2 mV/mm × 5 mm
Output Voltage = 10 mV

1.c. Solved Examples on LVDT

1. An AC LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) is characterized by the following parameters:

 Find the output voltage when the core is positioned at -0.25 inches from the center.

Given that a 0.5-inch core displacement results in an output voltage of 3.2 V, a 0.45-inch core movement
can be calculated as (0.45 * 3.2) / 0.5 = 2.88 V. Similarly, for a -0.30-inch core movement, the output
voltage is determined as (-0.30 * -3.2) / (-0.5) = -1.92 V.

To find the output voltage for a -0.25-inch core movement, the calculation is (-0.25 * -3.2) / (-0.5) = -1.6
V.

1. Question: The primary voltage of an LVDT is 10 V. If the secondary voltage is 3 V, calculate the
core displacement.

Solution:
Core Displacement = (Secondary Voltage / Primary Voltage) × Range
Core Displacement = (3 V / 10 V) × Range
Core Displacement = 0.3 × Range (where Range is the full-scale displacement)

2. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 1.5 mV/mm. If the core displacement is 8 mm, calculate
the output voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 1.5 mV/mm × 8 mm
Output Voltage = 12 mV

3. Question: The primary voltage of an LVDT is 12 V. If the output voltage is 6 mV, calculate the
core displacement.

Solution:
Core Displacement = (Output Voltage / primary voltage)
Core Displacement = 6 mV / Sensitivity (where Sensitivity is in mV/mm)

These questions and solutions provide practice in calculating LVDT output voltages and core
displacements based on given sensitivities and displacements.

1. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 2.2 mV/mm. If the core displacement is 6.5 mm, calculate
the output voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 2.2 mV/mm × 6.5 mm
Output Voltage = 14.3 mV

2. Question: The primary voltage of an LVDT is 15 V. If the output voltage is 7.5 mV, calculate the
core displacement.
Solution:
Core Displacement = (Output Voltage / Sensitivity)
Core Displacement = 7.5 mV / 2.2 mV/mm
Core Displacement ≈ 3.41 mm

3. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 1.5 mV/mm. If the output voltage is 9 mV, calculate the
core displacement.

Solution:
Core Displacement = (Output Voltage / Sensitivity)
Core Displacement = 9 mV / 1.5 mV/mm
Core Displacement = 6 mm

4. Question: The primary voltage of an LVDT is 20 V. If the core displacement is 8 mm, calculate
the output voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 1.5 mV/mm × 8 mm
Output Voltage = 12 mV

5. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 2.8 mV/mm. If the output voltage is 16.8 mV, calculate
the core displacement.

Solution:
Core Displacement = (Output Voltage / Sensitivity)
Core Displacement = 16.8 mV / 2.8 mV/mm
Core Displacement = 6 mm

1. Describe the construction of an LVDT.

2. How does an LVDT differ from a rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT)?

Solutions:

1. An LVDT consists of a primary coil and two secondary coils wound on a hollow cylindrical
former. Inside the former is a movable core that can move linearly along the axis of the former.
When an AC voltage is applied to the primary coil, it induces voltages in the two secondary coils.
The output voltage of the LVDT is the difference between the voltages induced in the two
secondary coils, which is proportional to the core displacement.

2. The main advantages of using an LVDT are its high accuracy, reliability, and durability. LVDTs can
provide accurate measurements over a wide range of temperatures and are not subject to wear
or friction since they are non-contact devices.

Feel free to ask if you need more questions or explanations!

Solution:
Since the output voltage is negative, it indicates that the core has moved in the opposite direction.
Core Displacement = -(Output Voltage / Sensitivity)
Core Displacement = -(-5 mV / 2.5 mV/mm)
Core Displacement = 2 mm (opposite direction)

2. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 1.8 mV/mm. If the output voltage is +7.2 mV, calculate
the core displacement.

Solution:
Core Displacement = (Output Voltage / Sensitivity)
Core Displacement = 7.2 mV / 1.8 mV/mm
Core Displacement = 4 mm (positive direction)

3. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 3.0 mV/mm. If the output voltage is 0 mV, what is the
core displacement?

Solution:
Since the output voltage is 0 mV, it indicates that the core is at the zero position.
Core Displacement = 0 mm

4. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 2.2 mV/mm. If the output voltage is -8.8 mV, calculate the
core displacement.

Solution:
Core Displacement = -(Output Voltage / Sensitivity)
Core Displacement = -(-8.8 mV / 2.2 mV/mm)
Core Displacement = 4 mm (opposite direction)

5. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 1.5 mV/mm. If the output voltage is +6 mV, calculate the
core displacement.

Solution:
Core Displacement = (Output Voltage / Sensitivity)
Core Displacement = 6 mV / 1.5 mV/mm
Core Displacement = 4 mm (positive direction)

1. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 2.0 mV/mm. If the core displacement is -4 mm, calculate
the output voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 2.0 mV/mm × (-4 mm)
Output Voltage = -8.0 mV

2. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 1.5 mV/mm. If the core displacement is +6 mm, calculate
the output voltage.
Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 1.5 mV/mm × 6 mm
Output Voltage = 9.0 mV

3. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 2.5 mV/mm. If the core displacement is 0 mm, calculate
the output voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 2.5 mV/mm × 0 mm
Output Voltage = 0 mV

4. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 1.8 mV/mm. If the core displacement is -3 mm, calculate
the output voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 1.8 mV/mm × (-3 mm)
Output Voltage = -5.4 mV

5. Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 3.0 mV/mm. If the core displacement is +5 mm, calculate
the output voltage.

Solution:
Output Voltage = Sensitivity × Displacement
Output Voltage = 3.0 mV/mm × 5 mm
Output Voltage = 15.0 mV

To calculate the displacement when Vout = +2.6 V, we can use the formula:

Displacement=Displacement Range×(Vout−Vout minVout max−Vout min)Displacement=Displacement R

Given:

 Vin = 6.3 V

 Vout = 5.2 V at max displacement

 Vout min = 0 V

 Vout max = 5.2 V

 Displacement range = +0.5 in

Let's calculate the displacement:

Displacement=0.5×(2.6−05.2−0)Displacement=0.5×(5.2−02.6−0)

Displacement=0.5×(2.65.2)Displacement=0.5×(5.22.6)
Displacement=0.5×0.5Displacement=0.5×0.5

Displacement=0.25Displacement=0.25

So, the displacement when Vout = +2.6 V is 0.25 inches.

Question: An LVDT has a sensitivity of 3.0 mV/mm. If the core displacement is -5 mm, calculate the
output voltage

To calculate the output voltage when the core displacement is -5 mm, we use the formula:

Output Voltage=Sensitivity×DisplacementOutput Voltage=Sensitivity×Displacement

Given:

 Sensitivity = 3.0 mV/mm

 Displacement = -5 mm

Output Voltage=3.0 mV/mm×(−5 mm)Output Voltage=3.0mV/mm×(−5mm)

Output Voltage=−15 mVOutput Voltage=−15mV

So, the output voltage when the core displacement is -5 mm is -15 mV.

An LVDT has an output of 10 mV across its terminals when the core moves through a distance of 4
mm. The output of this LVDT is connected to a 10 V voltmeter through an amplifier of gain 1000. If
the milli-voltmerer scale has 100 divisions and scale can read upto 1/5 of a divsion. Then the
resolution of the overall setup is ____ μm.

Solution
The correct option is A 8

Sensitivity of LVDT (k1)

=Output voltageDisplacement=10 mV4 mm=2.5 mV/mm

Sensitivity of amplifier (k2)=1000

=2.5mV/mm×1000=2.5 V/mm

Minimum voltage that can be read by voltmeter

=10V×1100×15=20 mV

Resolution of overall instrument

=20 mV2.5 V/mm=8 μm

Question

An LVDT is used to measure displacement. The output of the LVDT is connected to a voltmeter
of range 0 to 5 V through amplifier having a gain of 250. For a displacement of 0.5 mm, the
output of the LVDT is 2 mV. The sensitivity of the instrument in V/mm would be:

Solution
The correct option is A 1
sensitivity of instrument

=sensitivity of LVDT×gain of op-amp

=(2mV0.5mm)×250=1V/mm

Question: A capacitive transducer is used to measure the liquid level in a tank. The transducer has a
plate area of 10 cm210cm2 and a separation distance of 1 mm between the plates. The dielectric
constant of the liquid is 2. Calculate the capacitance of the transducer when the tank is empty and when
it is filled to a height of 10 cm with the liquid.

C = εA/d
Question: A capacitive transducer is used to measure the liquid level in a tank. The transducer has a
plate area of 10 cm210cm2 and a separation distance of 1 mm between the plates. The dielectric
constant of the liquid is 2. Calculate the capacitance of the transducer when the tank is empty and when
it is filled to a height of 5 cm with the liquid.
Question: A capacitive transducer consists of two plates, each with an area of 10 cm210cm2. The
separation distance between the plates is 1 mm. When the tank is empty, the plates are completely
overlapped. Calculate the capacitance of the transducer when the tank is filled with a liquid to a height
of 5 cm, assuming the liquid has a dielectric constant of 22.

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1. Question: A capacitive displacement sensor has a sensitivity of 0.1 pF/µm. If the change in
capacitance is 0.5 pF, what is the corresponding displacement?

Solution:
Displacement = Change in Capacitance / Sensitivity
Displacement = 0.5 pF / 0.1 pF/µm
Displacement = 5 µm

2. Question: The sensitivity of a capacitive displacement sensor is 0.05 pF/µm. If the displacement
is 10 µm, what is the change in capacitance?

Solution:
Change in Capacitance = Sensitivity × Displacement
Change in Capacitance = 0.05 pF/µm × 10 µm
Change in Capacitance = 0.5 pF

3. Question: A capacitive displacement sensor has a sensitivity of 0.02 pF/µm. If the change in
capacitance is 1 pF, what is the corresponding displacement?

Solution:
Displacement = Change in Capacitance / Sensitivity
Displacement = 1 pF / 0.02 pF/µm
Displacement = 50 µm

4. Question: The sensitivity of a capacitive displacement sensor is 0.08 pF/µm. If the displacement
is 25 µm, what is the change in capacitance?

Solution:
Change in Capacitance = Sensitivity × Displacement
Change in Capacitance = 0.08 pF/µm × 25 µm
Change in Capacitance = 2 pF

5. Question: A capacitive displacement sensor has a sensitivity of 0.015 pF/µm. If the change in
capacitance is 0.3 pF, what is the corresponding displacement?

Solution:
Displacement = Change in Capacitance / Sensitivity
Displacement = 0.3 pF / 0.015 pF/µm
Displacement = 20 µm
 Question: A capacitive transducer consists of two plates, each with an area of 10 cm210cm2.
The separation distance between the plates is 1 mm. When the tank is empty, the plates are completely
overlapped. Calculate the capacitance of the transducer when the tank is filled with a liquid to a height
of 5 cm, assuming the liquid has a dielectric constant of 22.
Question: An inductive transducer is used to measure the liquid level in a tank. The transducer consists
of a core with a reluctance of 2000 A/Wb, an armature with a reluctance of 1000 A/Wb, and an air gap
with a reluctance of 5000 A/Wb. The total reluctance of the transducer is 8000 A/Wb when the tank is
empty. Calculate the liquid level in the tank if the total reluctance changes by 2000 A/Wb when the tank
is filled with liquid.

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 Question: An LVDT is used to measure the liquid level in a tank. The LVDT has a
primary coil with 1000 turns and a secondary coil with 2000 turns. The core has a length of 10
cm. When the tank is empty, the core is positioned at the center of the LVDT, resulting in equal
voltages induced in the two secondary coils. When the tank is filled with liquid, the core is
displaced by 2 cm towards one of the secondary coils. Calculate the voltage induced in each
secondary coil when the tank is empty and when it is filled with liquid.

Solution: