Evaluation of the Properties of Eddy Current Sensors Based on Their Equivalent Parameters

Abstract

This paper presents a practical way of using the method of evaluating the metrological properties of eddy current sensors. The idea of the proposed approach consists of employing a mathematical model of an ideal filamentary coil to determine equivalent parameters of the sensor and sensitivity coefficients of tested physical quantities. These parameters were determined on the basis of the measured value of the real sensor’s impedance. The measurements were carried out with an air-core sensor and an I-core sensor while they were positioned at different distances from the surface of tested copper and bronze plates. An analysis of the influence of the coil’s position in relation to the I core on the equivalent parameters was also carried out, and the interpretation of the results obtained for various sensor configurations was presented in a graphical form. When equivalent parameters and sensitivity coefficients of examined physical quantities are known, it is possible to compare even very different sensors with the employment of one measure. The proposed approach makes it possible to make a significant simplification of the mechanisms of calibration of conductometers and defectoscopes, computer simulation of eddy current tests, creating the scale of a measuring device, and designing sensors.