What is Load Cell- Working And Application Of Load Cell

What is Load Cell- Working And Application Of Load Cell

A load cell is a device that is used to convert a force into electrical signal. Strain gauge load cells are the most common types of load cells.

Strain Gauge
Strain gauge is one of the most popular types of transducer. It has got a wide range of applications. It can be used for measurement of force, torque, pressure, acceleration and many other parameters. The basic principle of operation of a strain gauge is simple: when strain is applied to a thin metallic wire, its dimension changes, thus changing the resistance of the wire.

actual load cell Diagram
actual load cell Diagram

There are other types of load cells such as

  • hydraulic (or hydrostatic),
  • Pneumatic Load Cells,
  • Piezoelectric load cells,
  • Capacitive load cells,
  • Piezo resistive load cells..etc.

Load cells are used for quick and precise measurements. Compared with other sensors, load cells are relatively more affordable and have a longer life span.

How Strain Gauge load cell works
The principle of operation of the Strain Gauge load cell is based on the fact that the resistance of the electrical conductor changes when its length changes due to stress. Cu Ni alloy is commonly used in strain gauge construction as the resistance change of the foil is virtually proportional to the applied strain.

LoadCelll working principle
LoadCelll working principle

The change in resistance of the strain gauge can be utilized to measure strain accurately when connected to an appropriate measuring circuit. A load cell usually consists of four strain gauges in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. The electrical signal output is typically very small in the order of a few millivolts. It is amplified by an instrumentation amplifier before sending it to the measurement system. The output can be Digital or Analog (0-5V) depending on the application.

Load Cell Wiring :

Load cell Wiring-Wheatstone Bridge
Load cell Wiring-Wheatstone Bridgem

How Capacitive Load Cell Works
Capacitive load cells is based on the principle where the capacitance of a capacitor changes as the load presses the two plates of a capacitor closer together. The construction of a capacitive sensor is simpler than a resistive load cell.
Capacitive techniques can be used to measure proximity, humidity, tilt, force, torque, fluid quality, acceleration and many other physical parameters. It is a very versatile parameter that offers tremendous sensitivities in a small package. The capacitive technology is more rugged than strain gauge designs and can therefore be used in a wider variety of engineering applications.

How Hydraulic Load Cell works
Hydraulic load cells are force-balance devices, measuring weight as a change in pressure of the internal filling fluid. In hydraulic load cell, a load or force acting on a loading head is transferred to a piston that in turn compresses a filling fluid confined within an elastomeric diaphragm chamber. As the force increases, the pressure of the hydraulic fluid increases. This pressure can be locally indicated or transmitted for remote indication or control. This sensor has no electric components and immune to transient voltages so it is ideal for use in hazardous areas. The advantages of Hydraulic load cells are it is expensive and very complex.

How Pneumatic load cell works
Pneumatic load cells operate on the force-balance principle. These devices use multiple dampener chambers to provide higher accuracy than can a hydraulic device. Pneumatic load cells are often used to measure relatively small weights in industries where cleanliness and safety are of prime concern.

Advantages of Load cell

  • Rugged and compact construction
  • No moving parts
  • Can be used for static and dynamic loading
  • Highly Accurate
  • Wide range of measurement
  • Can be used for static and dynamic loading

Disadvantages of Load cell

  • Mounting is difficult
  • Calibration is a tedious procedure
  • How to select a load cell

Below are some of the important parameters that need to be considered while selecting the load cell.

  • Size
  • Accuracy
  • Weight range
  • Operating temperature
  • Duration of measurements
  • Mounting
  • Output type
  • Cost
  • Direction of loading
  • Type of load cell

Sachin Thorat

Sachin is a B-TECH graduate in Mechanical Engineering from a reputed Engineering college. Currently, he is working in the sheet metal industry as a designer. Additionally, he has interested in Product Design, Animation, and Project design. He also likes to write articles related to the mechanical engineering field and tries to motivate other mechanical engineering students by his innovative project ideas, design, models and videos.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts