LVDT – Construction and Working Principle
What is LVDT?
Linear Variable Differential Transformer, LVDT is the most used inductive transducer for
converting translating linear motion into electrical signal. This transducer converts a
mechanical displacement proportionally into electrical signal.
Construction:
LVDT is a transformer consisting of one primary winding P and two secondary
winding S1 & S2 mounted on a cylindrical former. The two secondary winding have equal
number of turns and placed identically on either side of the primary winding as shown in
figure below.
A movable soft iron core is placed inside the former. Actually the movable core is made
of nickel iron with hydrogen annealed. Hydrogen annealing is done to eliminate
harmonics, residual voltage of core and thus provides high sensitivity. The movable
core also is laminated in order to reduce eddy current loss. The assembly of laminated
core is placed in a cylindrical steel housing and end lids are provided for
electromagnetic and electrostatic shielding. The displacement to be measured is
attached to this movable soft iron core.
LVDT- Working Principle:
Since the primary winding of Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) is supplied
with AC supply, it produces an alternating magnetic flux in the core which in turn link
with the secondary winding S1 and S2 to produce emf due to transformer action. The
electrical equivalent circuit of LVDT is shown below.
Let us assume that the emf produced in secondary winding S 1 is Es1 and that in S2 is
Es2. The magnitude of Es1 and Es2 will depend upon the magnitude of rate of change of
flux (dØ / dt) as per the Faraday’s Law. The lower the value of ‘dt’, the more will be the
emf induced. But lower value of ‘dt’ means that core is moving faster. Thus we can say
that the faster the movement of core, the greater will be the magnitude of emf induced
in secondary windings.
To get a single output voltage from the Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT),
both the secondary winding are connected in series but in phase opposition as shown in
figure below.
Due to this connection, the net output voltage E0 of the LVDT is given as below.
E0 = Es1 – Es2
Since the secondary windings of LVDT are identical and placed symmetrically on either
side of core, therefore under normal position the flux linkage of both the secondary
winding S1 & S2 will be same. This means Es1 = Es2 and hence net output voltage E0 of
LVDT = 0. This position of soft iron core is called NULL position. Thus NULL position of
Linear Variable Differential Transformer is the normal position of movable core where
the net output voltage is zero.
Now, as the core can either be moved toward right or left to the null position. Let us now
consider such movement of core under two cases.
Case-1: Core is moved left to the NULL position
When core of LVDT is moved to the left of the NULL position ‘O’ as shown in figure
above, the flux linkage of secondary winding S1 will become more than that of winding
S2. This means the emf induced in winding S 1 will be more than S2. Hence Es1 > Es2 and
net output voltage E0 = (Es1 – Es2) = Positive. This means that the output voltage E0 will
be in phase with the primary voltage.
Case-2: Core is moved right to the NULL position
When the core of LVDT is moved toward right of NULL position ‘A’, you can guess what
will happen? Obviously the emf induced in secondary winding S 2 will be more than that
of S1. This means Es2 > Es1 and hence net output voltage E0 = (Es1 – Es2) = negative.
This means that the output voltage of LVDT will be in phase opposition (180 degree out
of phase) with the primary voltage.
From the above two cases, we can have the following conclusions:
1) The direction of movement of a physical quantity can be identified by the output
voltage of LVDT. If the output voltage E0 is positive, this means the physical quantity is
moving toward left.
2) If the output voltage E0 is negative, this will mean that the physical quantity is moving
in the right direction from the NULL position.
3) The amount / magnitude of displacement is proportional to the magnitude of output
voltage. The more the output voltage, the more will be displacement. But here is a clue.
You can’t take core out of the former; otherwise the output voltage will become zero.
4) In fact corresponding to both the cases i.e. whether core is moving left or right to the
NULL position, the output voltage will increase lineally up to a displacement of around 5
mm from the NULL position. After 5mm, output voltage E 0 becomes non-linear. The
graph of variation of E0 with displacement is shown below.
Carefully observe the above graph. It may be noted from the graph that even at NULL
position (i.e. when there is no displacement) there is some output voltage of LVDT. This
small output is due to the residual magnetism in the iron core.
Application:
LVDT is used in those applications where displacement ranging from fraction of a mm to
few cm. As a primary transducer, it converts the mechanical displacement into electrical
signal.
Acting as a secondary transducer, it is sued for measurement of force, pressure, weight
etc.
