PDFs & Technicians Graduates Undergraduates Past Students
Vidhya Subramanian
2nd Year BSc. Mechanical Engineering
Supervisors
Dr. David S. Nobes
Description of Work Term (May - August 2012)
This work term has been an interesting, enjoyable and valuable experience. Through this work term, I have been able to develop many skills that are vital to a successful career, these include communication, programming and project management. Working with Dr. Nobes has shown me the value of pursuing graduate studies.
Temperature Calibration System
Pressure Calibration Plot
MATLAB real time plot of data
Objective
The goal of this work term was to establish the MEC E Test and Calibration Facility in order to automate the test and calibration process.
The components of this project are Temperature Calibration Systems and Pressure Calibration Systems
Procedure
MATLAB Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) were used to communicate with the devices listed below:
- Digital Polystat Temperature Controller Unit(Cole-Parmer, model 12107-20)
- Data Aquisition (DAQ) Devices (National Instruments, models NI 9219 and NI USB 6009)
- Pressure Automated Calibration Equipment (GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies, model PACE5000)
Learning Outcomes
Technical Skills
- A thorough understanding of the testing and calibration process and its importance in industry and research
- Solid Modeling of a Thermocouple / Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) holder using SolidWorks
- Practical understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)
- Fabrication of the Thermocouple / Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) holder using VersaLaser (Universal Laser Systems, model VLS3.50)
- Understanding the functions and applications of Thermocouples, RTDs and Pressure Transducers
- MATLAB GUI development for data gathering and display from the devices.
- Use of Data Aquisition Systems (DAQ systems) in MATLAB to collect data from the devices
- Problem solving - Continuous troubleshooting of MATLAB GUI to accomplish and intuitive user interface
- Project management - Scheduled interim goals to reach the final goal of establishing the MEC E Test and Calibration Facility
- Communication - Daily meetings with Dr.Nobes and fellow undergraduate students to discuss the progress of the project and the objective for the day
- Presentation - Several interim presentations regarding the temperature calibration system leading to the final presentation, "MEC E TEST AND CALIBRATION FACILITY: Calibrating Thermocouples", a tutorial for the graduate students on how to use the temperature calibration system
Temperature Calibration System
The temperature calibration system can be used to calibrate thermocouples (Two dissimilar metals joined together at one end and open at the other end that produce a voltage as a function of temperature) and Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs, temperature sensors that contain a resistor which changes resistance as a function of temperature) with a UKAS certified platimun resistance thermometer (Isotech, model 935-14-95H).
Pressure Calibration System
The pressure calibration system can be used to calibrate pressure transducers (A device that outputs voltage as a function of a pressure differential) and produce a calibration plot that can be used to convert the voltage output of the transducer to the corresponding pressure.