The course aim is the examination of the experimental measurement techniques of ICE physical quantities and working operation parameters. These aspects are extremely important in the development of control techniques for ICE. Particular care is taken in analyzing sensors and measuring techniques.

The student should be able to critically analyze measuring chains, to underline their characteristics and to propose improvements in order to increase their performances.

Students must own ICE fundamentals, Fluid Machinery.

The measurement techniques for the following physical quantities are considered:
pressure (Bourdon pipe, pressure sensors: piezoelectric, piezoresistive, ceramic, magnetostritive, inductive); temperature (thermometers, thermocouples, thermoresistances, thermo-resistors, infrared thermometer) ; flow-rate (differential pressure flowmeters, variable area flowmeters, positive displacement flowmeters, turbine and vane flowmeters, Coriolis effect mass flowmeters, gravimetric flowmeters); linear and angular displacement; angular velocity, torque, power and gas composition,
The analogical signal transmissions and digital acquisition are accurately analyzed.

Practical activities are developed in the fluid machinery laboratory. The student will use electronic instruments (oscilloscopes, voltmeters, wave generators, digital acquisition systems), and will develop simple electronic devices for signal conditioning.

K. Annamalasi, I.K. Puri, Advanced Thermodynamics Engineering, CRC Press, London, 2001
J.P. Holman, Experimental Methods for Engineers, McGraw Hill, NY, 1994
G. Minelli, Misure Meccaniche, Patron, Bologna, 1974
J. G. Webster, Measurement, Instrumentation, and Sensors Handbook, CRCnetBase 1999

The student must pass an oral exam. The exam concerns a discussion of some theoretical questions analyzed during lessons.