Revision Questions 12
Tutor’s notes 14
Answers 20
Over to you:
Build the circuit shown opposite.
Slowly move the ferrite core first in one direction and then in the other.
Watch what happens to meter reading as you do so.
Further investigation:
Connect a dual-trace oscilloscope to investigate the voltages induced in the two coils as the
core is moved.
To do so, connect the common terminal of the oscilloscope to point Q (or R). and the two
channels to points P and S respectively.
So what?
The behaviour of the system should be like that shown in
the graph opposite.
w1d
Suggest how the LVDT could be used in a position control system. What additional
components and devices would be needed?
Over to you:
Build the circuit shown
opposite. The variable
capacitor represents a
capacitive sensor, such as
w2b
a fuel-level sensor.
It is connected in an AC
bridge circuit. The output is
rectified, and used to
maintain a voltage across a
capacitor. The 500k ‘bleed’ resistor discharges the 1F capacitor slowly.
Connect the input to a signal generator, set to give an output of between 20V peak-to-peak
at a frequency of 2kHz.
Set the meter to the 2V DC range.
Slowly adjust the variable capacitor.
Further investigation:
Connect an oscilloscope to investigate the voltages in the two ’halves’ of the bridge as the
variable capacitor is adjusted.
To do so, connect the oscilloscope across the AC inputs to the bridge rectifier.
Swap the 5.6k resistor for a 10k resistor, and repeat the investigation.
So what?
Bridge circuits:
The input can be either a DC or an AC power supply. The devices A to D can be resistors,
capacitors, inductors or combinations of these.
When the input is AC, and inductors or capacitors are involved, phase as well as magnitude
must be taken into account. When magnitudes alone ‘balance’ there may still be a residual
voltage across the null detection device.
Does the bridge produce a linear output and if so, over what range is it linear?
How could the AC bridge be improved? What would make it more sensitive?
Suggest how the capacitive sensor could be used in a fuel indicating system. What
additional components and devices would be needed?
Interpret the signals seen on the oscilloscope as the variable capacitor is adjusted.
Optional investigation:
The circuit built earlier turned capacitance changes into a voltage change.
Another approach uses a change in capacitance to change the frequency at which a circuit
oscillates. This is the approach used in this optional investigation
Over to you:
Build a relaxation oscillator, based on an op-amp. The circuit is shown below.
w2e
Observe the effect this has on the frequency of oscillation, displayed on the oscilloscope.
Further investigation:
The output can be rectified, using either a half-wave diode pump arrangement, like that
shown on page 3, or a full-wave bridge rectifier, like that shown on page 5. The output can
then be monitored on a DC voltmeter.
Over to you:
Build the circuit shown
opposite.
Set the ’pot’ to produce an output of 0V. (The motor should not be running.)
Vary the setting of the ‘pot’, first in one direction and then in the other and notice the effect
on the motor and the two LED indicators.
So what?
The op-amp is set up as an inverting amplifier, with a voltage gain of 100x. Its input
impedance s around 1k - i.e. relatively small, and so it affects the voltage taken from the
sensing unit, the ‘pot’.
Transistors T1 and T2 form a push-pull follower, investigated in an earlier module. They copy
the input voltage to the output and are capable of delivering sufficient current to drive the
motor.
The power supply is set up to create, ostensibly, a +6V / 0V / -6V split power supply. The op
-amp and output stage are referred to 0V. The output of the transistors can swing above and
below this system reference voltage.
There is no feedback loop to inform the system just how fast the motor is turning, or if it is
turning at all, or even if there is a motor attached! This limitation will be addressed in the
next worksheet.
This kind of controller is not energy-efficient, for two reasons. The ‘pot’ and balancing 1k
resistors have current flowing through them at all times, and so dissipate energy. The
transistors ‘follow’ the input voltage. When the output of T 1 is +2V, the rest of the +6V
supply, i.e. 4V, is dropped across the transistor. The transistor can be delivering substantial
current to the motor, and so is dissipating significant energy itself.
Over to you:
Build the circuit shown opposite.
Again, use two DC power
supplies, set to 6V, plugged into
the dual-rail carrier, to supply the
+6V / 0V / -6V power rails.
w4b
Open-loop operation 100Ω load No load Closed-loop operation 100Ω load No load
Max. output voltage Max. output voltage
Min. output voltage Min. output voltage
So what?
The diagram shows the difference between open-loop and closed-loop control systems:
w4c
This difference can be illustrated by reference to the ‘cabin’ heating system inside a car.
In an open-loop control system, the driver turns the temperature control to a likely position,
and waits. If the cabin is too hot, the driver turns the temperature control down. If too cold, the
driver, turns it up. The actual temperature inside the car depends on the outside temperature,
and on the temperature of the water circulating in the heater. It is up to the driver to make
appropriate adjustment to take account of these.
In a closed-loop control system, the driver sets the desired temperature. A temperature sensor
in the cabin feeds back information on the current temperature to the heating system. When
the actual temperature is below the set temperature, the heating system warms up the cabin.
When the temperature is above the set value, the heating system turns off, or even cools
down the cabin . The only intervention by the driver is to set the desired temperature.
1. What type of excitation is used with a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) ?
(a) alternating current (AC)
(b) direct current (DC)
(c) no excitation is required.
(b) transformer
(c) potentiometer.
(c) potentiometer.
9. If the electrical connections to the feedback generator in a control system are reversed, the:
(a) motor would run in the wrong direction
(b) input signal to the amplifier would be reduced
(c) the system would become unstable.
Aim
The workbook aims to introduce students to the basic underpinning principles and concepts of aircraft
electrical and electronic equipment. It also provides a useful introduction to electrical measurements
and the use of ammeters, voltmeters and oscilloscopes.
Prior Knowledge
Students should have previously studied (or should be concurrently studying) EASA Module 3
(Electrical Fundamentals) or should have equivalent knowledge at Level 3.
Learning Objectives
On successful completion of this course the student will have learned:
the structure and operating principles of a typical linear variable differential voltage transformer
(LVDT);
how a LVDT can be used to sense linear position;
how capacitive transducers are used to sense fuel levels;
how sensors and transducers are connected in an AC bridge configuration;
the advantages of using bridge networks;
how the linearity of a transducer is affected by physical constraints;
how open and closed-loop servo control systems operate and the essential differences between
them;
how negative feedback can be used to improve the performance of a servo control system;
how operational amplifiers can be used as an error forming device;
how push-pull transistors can be used to increase load current in a servo system.
This pack is designed to work with the Locktronics Aircraft Maintenance Kit. The electrical / electronic
parts required for this workbook are listed on the next page.
Students will also need:
either two multimeters, such as the LK1110, capable of measuring currents in the range 0 to 200mA,
and voltages in the range 0 to 200V;
or equivalent ammeters and voltmeters.
Power sources:
Students will need to make use of an adjustable low-voltage DC supply.
The output voltage from the supplied DC power unit can be adjusted to
provide outputs of either 3 V, 4.5 V, 6 V, 7.5 V, 9 V or 13.5V, with
currents typically up to 1 A. The voltage is changed by turning the
selector dial just above the earth pin until the arrow points to the
p28a
required voltage.
In the example opposite, the DC power supply has been adjusted to provide
an output of 13.5V DC. p28b
It is expected that the worksheets are printed / photocopied, preferably in colour, for the
students’ use. Students should retain their own copy of the entire workbook.
This format encourages self-study, with students working at a rate that suits their ability. It is
for the tutor to monitor that students’ understanding is keeping pace with their progress
through the worksheets and to provide additional work that will challenge brighter learners.
One way to do this is to ‘sign off’ each worksheet, as a student completes it, and in the
process have a brief chat with each learner to assess their grasp of the ideas involved in the
exercises that it contains.
Finally, a set of examination ’Revision Questions’ has been provided to conclude the work on
each topic. These questions are of mixed difficulty and are typical of those that students will
face when they sit their Module 4 CAA examinations. It is recommended that students should
attempt these questions under examination conditions and without the use of notes or
calculators.
Time:
It will take most students between eight and ten hours to complete the full set of worksheets. It
is expected that a similar length of time will be needed to support the learning in a class,
tutorial or self-study environment.
2 Having met the LVDT, this worksheet introduces students to another type
45 - 60
of transducer, the variable capacitance transducer. Capacitive
minutes
transducers are widely used for fuel level sensing and the signals that
they provide are essential to the aircraft’s fuel management system.
Students will investigate the principle of operation of a capacitive sensor
connected in a simple AC bridge circuit.
Students will once again require a waveform generator that produces a
sinusoidal output of around 20V peak-peak and with an output impedance
of 50Ω, or less. In addition, they will require a voltmeter capable of
reading 2V full-scale.
Students should find that the linear range of the bridge is quite small and
for very low values of capacitance may also be affected by stray
capacitance associated with the wiring.
However, it should be stressed that absolute linearity is not essential as
fuel level is also affected by tank dimensions and calibration will be
necessary to correct for this.
At the end of the worksheet, there is an introduction to bridge circuits.
These are normally ‘balanced’ so that the output is zero initially. The one
investigated here is different, in that it is always imbalanced. The ‘Further
Investigation’ allows the students to examine a balanced bridge. It may be
necessary to disconnect the bridge rectifier arrangement to ‘unload’ the
capacitance bridge.
1. (a)
2. (a)
3 (b)
4 (a)
5. (a)
6. (b)
7. (c)
8. (a)
9. (c)
10. (b)
11. (c)
12. (b)
13. (a)
14. (a)
15. (a)