Industrial Process Sensors

Book excerpt: As manufacturing processes become increasingly complex, industry must rely on advanced sensor technology and process control to improve efficiency and product quality. Processes now need a variety of on-line measurements, such as film thickness, particle size, solids concentrations, and contamination detection. Industrial Process Sensors provides a coherent review of the physical principles, design, and implementation of a wide variety of in-process sensors used to control manufacturing operations. Real data from commercial installations illustrates the operation and limitations of these devices. The book begins with a review of the basic physics of sound, light, electricity, and radiation, with a focus on their role in sensor devices. The author introduces the generic sensor model and discusses the propagation of measurement errors. He goes on to describe conventional process sensors that measure temperature, pressure, level, and flow. The second half of the book focuses on more advanced topics, such as particle size measurement in slurries and emulsions, tomography and process imaging of manufacturing operations, on-line measurement of film thickness, identification of polymer type for recycling, and characterization of reinforced polymers and composites. By exploring both theory and final implementation of sensors used to control industrial manufacturing processes, Industrial Process Sensors provides the information you need to develop solutions to a wide range of industrial measurement needs.