All thermal anemometers work by inferring air velocity from measurements of thermal impedance (Z) between a heated sensor and the encircling air:
Z = T / P (1)
The place P is the facility dissipated by the sensor and T is the temperature distinction between the sensor and ambient.
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There are two primary schemes for doing this.
- Maintain P fixed and measure the ensuing temperature distinction T
- Maintain T fixed and measure the facility P required to do it
An instance of the fixed energy sort may be present in “Nonlinearities of Darlington airflow sensor and VFC compensate one another”…
…and examples of the fixed temperature sort may be present in “Linearized transportable anemometer with thermostated Darlington pair”…
…and in Determine 1.
Determine 1’s anemometer is uncommon as a result of it melds the sensor transistor right into a direct PFC (Energy to Frequency Converter) loop.
Determine 1 Fixed-temperature anemometer with direct power-to-frequency conversion.
To know how the Determine 1 circuit works, think about the case of zero airflow. You utilize ZERO trimmer R2 to set the quiescent base-bias currents for Q1 and ambient reference Q2. With the right adjustment, Q1’s temperature rise (~50°C) in nonetheless air, attributable to collector energy dissipation, reduces Q1’s VBE (by ~2 mV/°C) to equal or barely beneath Q2’s. The noninverting enter of comparator U1a is then barely much less constructive than the inverting enter. The output due to this fact switches low, holding C1 discharged and resetting multivibrator U1b, whose output goes excessive.
This situation does two issues: It forces Fout = 0 and holds Q3 off.
Now let’s blow some air at Q1. The ensuing enhance in cooling tends to scale back Q1’s temperature, inflicting its Vbe to extend relative to that of Q2. This makes the comparability between U1a’s inputs reverse, releasing the reset on C1. C1 then expenses via R9 and activates Q3, driving a t = 700-µsec pulse to Q1’s base via CALIBRATE trimmer R3.
The resultant pulse of collector present compelled in Q1 may be seen in Equation 2 (the place hFE = Q1 present acquire and Rcal = R3 + R4):
IC = hFEIB = hFEV/(Rcal), (2)
This deposits a quantum of warmth on Q1’s junction:
t P = t ICV = t IB hFEV = t (V/Rcal)hFEV = t hFEV2/Rcal (3)
which tends to return Q1 ‘s temperature to a price heat sufficient to revive the unique zero-flow voltage stability with ambient-sensor Q2. Till Q1 achieves that temperature, U1 continues to oscillate, cycle Q3 on, and pump warmth into Q1.
Thus, a suggestions loop is established that acts to keep up a relentless temperature differential between Q1 and Q2. The common frequency showing at U1b’s output is due to this fact proportional to the additional energy required to warmth Q1. The utmost output frequency for the circuit values in Determine 1 is 1 kHz. Acceptable adjustment of R3 establishes nearly any desired full-scale movement. Temperature monitoring between the Q1 and Q2 Vbe voltages supplies good compensation for modifications in ambient temperature.
The direct connection of Q1 to the facility rail leads to good effectivity (>90%) energy utilization, so whereas energy draw is (by definition!) depending on airflow, as proven in Determine 2, it’s usually modest: 200 to 350 mW.
Determine 2 Q1 energy draw versus air movement is usually a modest 200 to 350 mW.
Actually, energy consumption is low sufficient that transportable battery operation, with an inexpensive multimeter for frequency readout, appeared engaging. An affordable stack of 4 AA alkaline batteries promised tens of hours of steady operation which may equate to a whole bunch of air velocity readings. Nonetheless, as proven in Determine 3, direct battery energy of Determine 1 wouldn’t work very nicely, because of the ±20 % roll-off of battery voltage throughout discharge.
Determine 3 Typical AA cell discharge droop curves with an undesirable ±20 % roll-off of battery voltage throughout discharge, leading to a degradation of anemometer calibration accuracy.
The ensuing degradation of anemometer calibration accuracy could be excessive, particularly contemplating Equation 4:
t P = t ICV = t IB hFEV = t (V/Rcal)hFEV = t hFEV2/Rcal (4)
that reveals the square-law dependence of Q1 heating on provide voltage!
In the meantime, the seemingly apparent treatment of provide voltage regulation wouldn’t be very engaging both, because of the ensuing impression on complexity, effectivity, and value. Happily, Determine 4 reveals another easy, low cost, and environment friendly resolution: base bias compensation.
Determine 4 Determine 1’s anemometer modified with U2, A1, and R11 – 14 to servo Q1 and Q2 bias currents to (principally) null the consequences of battery voltage droop.
Determine 5 reveals the ensuing compensated energy curve (black) versus what would end result with out it (pink): higher than an order of magnitude enchancment!
Determine 5 Nulled (black) and uncompensated (pink) Q1 heating versus battery voltage droop (5 ±1 volts).
Nonetheless not good, however arguably adequate.
Stephen Woodward’s relationship with EDN’s DI column goes again fairly a great distance. Over 100 submissions have been accepted since his first contribution again in 1974.
Associated Content material
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- Self-heated Darlington transistor pair includes new air movement sensor
- Flip damaging regulator “upside-down” to create bipolar provide from single supply
- Transistor linearly digitizes airflow
- Transistor and FVCs make linear anemometer
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