ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

Summary of Theory:

Design and function

After the software is launched either by double clicking the icon on the desktop or
clicking the shortcut in the start menu folder or double clicking the executable in the
Windows Explorer the following window will appear.

FluidLab®-PA icon for Compact Workstation/EduKit PA

Software setup

Click at the setup button in the startup window. The following window will appear.

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

Please note that this software in combination with the EasyPort DA is only for measuring
voltage signals from 0 to 10VDC.
Check all functions of each binary sensor and actuator.

Digital inputs/outputs in the setup window

Out 0 turns on Ball valve (turn on the air supply first!!!! 2-2.5 bar)
Out 1 energizes the heater (make sure the heater is submerged in water)
Out 2 turns on the pump with analog control (use slider to increase/decrease its action)
Out 3 turns on the pump binary mode
Out 4 enables the proportional valve (use slider to control the valve)
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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

Analog outputs in the setup window

These are the sliders for the proportional valve or the pump in analog mode.
Output channel 0 and 1 of the EasyPort DA are swapped according to the assignment of
the analog interface of the station (EduTrainer)!

Analog input channels

Analog inputs
Channel 0: = Ultrasonic level sensor
Channel 1: = Flow rate sensor
Channel 2: = Pressure sensor
Channel 3: = Temperature sensor

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

The analog signal of the sensor, normally 0...10V, has to be calculated, so the physical value can
be shown.
= measure value * factor + Offset

This conversion is based on a straight line equation:

Y = a*x + b
Example:
A flow sensor reads out a voltage signal within a range of 0 to 10 V for a measuring
range of 0.3 to 9.0 liters per minute.

(0, b) 0.3 = a*0 + b b = 0.3

(10, 9) 9 = a*10 + b 9 = a*10 + 0.3 a = (9 - 0.3)/10
a=0.87

Factor=0.87 Offset=0.3

Characteristic curves can be measured in this menu.

flow rate of the pump for the voltage 0 … 10V and 10V … 0V

pressure rate of the pump for the voltage 0 … 10V and 10V … 0V

coherence between flow rate and pressure for a specific voltage

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

1. Level and Flow Rate Sensors – FluidLab@PA

Procedure

Lab Setup
a) Open

FluidLab®-PA icon for Compact Workstation/EduKit PA

b) Make sure that the software recognizes EasyPort.

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

c) Go to Setup

d) Set the value of the pump to 0.5

e) Make sure all the valves are closed:

V101 ___ V107 ___

V102 ___ V108 ___
V103 ___ V109 ___
V104 ___ V110 ___
V105 ___ V111 ___
V106 ___ V112 ___

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

f) Set the timer of your phone for a 5 minute interval.

g) Open Valve V101

h) Activate Pump Control and Timer at the same time.

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

i) Stop Timer and Pump Control when the level indicator in the screen reaches the
number 3

Record the following Values:

Level in Time Calculated Measured Measured ∆Level ∆Flow
the Tank Flow Level (PC) Flow (PC) |Ltank- |Fcalc-
Lmeasured| Fmeasured|

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

Did you notice any leak in the upper tank? Is valve V108 closed?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

j) Empty the Upper tank and repeat steps d) through i) and fill pout the following
table:
Level in the Time Calculated Measured Measured ∆Level ∆Flow
Tank Flow Level (PC) Flow (PC) |Ltank- |Fcalc-
Lmeasured| Fmeasured|

Average

Calculate the error:

Level error=|Ltank-Lmeasured|/ Lmeasured
Flow error=|Fcalc-Fmeasured|/ Fmeasured

Which sensor needs recalibration? (error > 5%)

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ELE-158 Week 14 Fluid Lab Sensors PA Name:

2. Pressure Sensors – FluidLab@PA

The process pressure of a fluid inside a pressure tank shall be regulated.

The controlled pressure system used is a controlled system with self-regulation (PT1-
controlled system). Because the pressure tank is partly filled with gas (air) it is an
energy storage system.

Controlled pressure system – pressure tank B103 (1) with pressure sensor B103 (2)

k) Lower tank should be in 2 liters level. Close valve V101. Which valves should be
open to permit flow to go to the pressure tank and the upper tank?

Open Valve ___________

l) Record the value of pressure once the upper tank level begins to increase
through Valve V107

Pressure: _______________

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m) Open proportional valve to 0.5 and observe the value of the new pressure.

Pressure:________________________

n) Conclusion

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