Drawing Number: 21067
Revision: A
PIEZOELECTRIC CHARGE MODE PRESSURE SENSOR GENERAL OPERATION MANUAL
1
1.0
INTRODUCTION
Quartz charge mode pressure sensors offer high
performance for precise pressure measurements over a
wide range of near-static and dynamic pressures. The
sensors use the piezoelectric properties of quartz to
convert an applied pressure into an analogous electrical
charge.
The internal design of a sensor incorporates a quartz
sensing element that provides high sensitivity over a
wide range of pressures. As pressure is applied to the
diaphragm of the sensor, a charge is generated in the
quartz crystals. The high-impedance electrostatic charge
is then conditioned externally by either a laboratory-
style charge amplifier or in-line charge converter prior to
being sent to a readout or recording device.
Charge mode sensors are ideally suited for applications
where wide dynamic range, high frequency response,
and/or high shock phenomena are a consideration. Such
applications include compressors, engines, blast,
ballistic, pneumatic, hydraulic, and fluid pressures.
Enclosed is a Specification Sheet that lists the complete
performance characteristics of the sensor purchased.
In addition to the standard features offered with the
sensor, a variety of options are also available on some
sensor models. When listed before the model number,
the following prefix letters indicate that the sensor is
supplied with optional features:
A option
Ablative thermal barrier
E option
Emralon coating
H option
Hermetic seal
J option
Electrical isolation (mounting adaptor
required)
M option
Metric thread
P option
Positive polarity output (for use with
non-inverting amplifiers)
V option
Special attached cable (length/type)
W option
Waterproof cable connection
Other prefix letters, such as K, KR, GK, GKR, KL and
GKL indicate that the sensor is ordered in kit form,
which includes cabling, power supplies and accessory
mounting hardware. See the enclosed Prefix Sheet for
additional details.
2.0
DESCRIPTION
2.1
Series 111A General Purpose
Miniature Sensor
The Series 111A General Purpose Miniature Sensor is a
high-precision, charge mode pressure sensor used for
dynamic measurement of compression, combustion,
explosion, pulsation, cavitation, blast, pneumatic,
hydraulic, fluid and other similar types of dynamic
pressure. The series consists of the Models 111A,
111A02, and 111A03 (along with special versions),
having pressure ranges of 3 000, 100, and 10 000 psi
(20684, 689, and 68947 kPa), respectively. See Figure
2.1.
This rugged instrument measures transient or repetitive
phenomena, relative to the initial or average level, over a
wide amplitude and frequency range. It comfortably
tolerates adverse environmental conditions. The sensor
follows transient events up to a few percent of the
system time constant, which, depending on the system,
may be sufficient for static calibration by conventional
methods. The sensor’s internal design consists of a rigid,
multi-plate, compression mode quartz element.