UNDERSTANDING THE USE OF VIBRATION, CAPACITIVE, ULTRASONIC, AND PHOTOELECTRIC SENSORS Devices (such as sensors) are for detecting and measuring physical quantities in industrial systems or automated processes. They are used to monitor and control devices, systems and processes. The four most common sensors used in industrial environments are vibration, capacitive, ultrasonic, and photoelectric sensors. We will examine how today's industry uses these sensors and their differences, their advantages and disadvantages. VIBRATION SENSORS Vibration sensors are used to detect and measure vibrations in industrial machinery. They’re often used to detect faults in machines, such as misalignment, unbalance, and bearing wear. There is generally a transducer in vibration sensors that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy (and a signal regulator in vibration sensors that convert electrical energy into readable signals). Following the transmission of the signal, the controller interprets the signal and initiates the appropriate action. Vibration sensors are typically used in machineries such as pumps, fans, compressors, and motors. They’re also used in industrial processes such as welding, cutting, and grinding. The advantages of vibration sensors include their ability to detect faults in machinery quickly and accurately, their reliability, and their low cost. The disadvantages include their sensitivity to the environment and the need for periodic calibration. Capacitive sensors are used to detect and measure changes in capacitance, which is the measure of the ability of a material to store electrical charge. They're used in different applications, such as position sensing, level sensing, and proximity sensing. Capacitive sensors are typically made up of a sensing plate, a reference plate, and a signal conditioner. The sensing plate is often made of metal, while the reference plate is typically made of insulating material. When a change in capacitance occurs, the signal conditioner converts the change into a readable signal. Capacitive sensors are typically used in industrial processes such as filling, weighing, and sorting. The advantages of capacitive sensors include their accuracy, their ability to detect small changes in capacitance, and their low cost. The disadvantages include their sensitivity to the environment and the need for periodic calibration. CAPACITIVE SENSORS ULTRASONIC SENSORS Ultrasonic sensors are used to detect and measure changes in sound waves. They’re used in different applications, such as position sensing, level sensing, and proximity sensing. Transducers, which convert sound waves into electrical signals, and signal modulators, which convert those electrical signals into readable signals, are the components of ultrasonic sensors. Following the transmission of the signal, it is interpreted by the controller, which then takes the appropriate actions. Ultrasonic sensors are typically used in industrial processes such as filling, weighing, and sorting. The advantages of ultrasonic sensors include their accuracy, ability to detect small changes in sound waves, and low cost. The disadvantages include their sensitivity to the environment and the need for periodic calibration. Photoelectric sensors are used to detect and measure changes in light intensity. They’re used in a variety of applications, such as position sensing, level sensing, and proximity sensing. Photoelectric sensors are typically made up of a light source, a light detector, and a signal conditioner. The light source emits a beam of light, and the light detector detects changes in the light intensity. The signal conditioner then converts the changes into a readable signal. Photoelectric sensors are typically used in industrial processes such as filling, weighing, and sorting. The advantages of photoelectric sensors include their accuracy, their ability to detect small changes in light intensity, and their low cost. The disadvantages include their sensitivity to the environment and the need for periodic calibration. PHOTOELECTRIC SENSORS It is important to note that vibration detection, capacitive detection, ultrasonic detection, and photoelectric detection are the four most commonly used types of sensors in industrial settings. In spite of having their own advantages and disadvantages, each of these sensors has one common goal: to detect and measure physical quantities. Understanding how each of these sensors functions and how they differ will assist you in better understanding how to use them in your industrial processes. If you want to learn more about how to use vibration, capacitive, ultrasonic, and photoelectric sensors in your industrial setting, contact us at Pepperl+Fuchs today for more information.