When it comes to accelerometers, one size does not fit all. There are many different types of accelerometers from which to choose. While there are a number of things to consider in order to pick the best one for a particular application, here are five of the top ones:
- Type of measurement
- Vibration – Defined as the oscillating motion about a position of equilibrium. Examples for vibration measurement include electric motors, resonance detection, turbine and/or bearing monitoring, and overall machine condition monitoring.
- Motion – Defined as slow changes in position or velocity. Examples of motion measurement include sustained accelerations such as rocket launches, movement of a robotic arm, and automotive suspension.
- Shock – Defined as a sudden change in acceleration that generally excites a structure’s resonance. Examples of shock measurement include an explosion, damping/shock absorber testing, and automotive crash testing.
- Seismic – Refers to slow motion or low-frequency vibration. Measurement of this type typically requires low-noise, high-resolution accelerometers. Examples for seismic measurement include the movement of bridges, floors, and earthquakes.
- Type of acceleration forces
- Static – forces constantly being applied to an object like gravity and/or friction.
- Dynamic – “moving” forces applied to an object at various rates. For example, when a car is acted upon by a powerful dynamic force, the accelerometer senses and rapid deceleration, sends an electronic signal to the embedded computer, which in turn, deploys the airbags.
- Measurement range
- When it comes to monitoring industrial rotating equipment, 100 mV/g sensors are the most commonly used. However, there are exceptions:
- 10 mV/g sensors – used for high-frequency applications such as high-speed turbines or monitoring second and third harmonics of gear mesh frequencies.
- 500 mV/g sensors – used for low-frequency applications such as monitoring wind turbine blades or slow-moving machinery in cooling towers.
- Dynamic Range – The +/- maximum amplitude that the accelerometer can measure before distorting or clipping the output signal. Things to consider:
- What are the minimum and maximum frequencies being measured?
- What is the approximat4e vibration amplitude level to be measured?
- What is the minimum and maximum vibration amplitude level expected?
- Temperature
- The typical range for industrial accelerometers with built-in electronics is -50 to 120 C.
- Some specialty sensors like High-Temperature accelerometers can reach 260 C or higher.
Choosing the right accelerometer for your specific application is critical for obtaining accurate measurements and preventing catastrophic machine failure. Need assistance in accelerometer selection? We can help – contact us.