The Role of Sensors in Industry

Those looking for electrical supplies in Australia for their ongoing projects now have the option of buying them online. Some of the popular electrical parts & components include circuit breakers, contactors, electrical safety sockets, level sensors & transmitters, timers, wall sockets and many more.

A sensor is a popular device when it comes to electronic projects, especially industrial projects. There are many options when it comes to picking industrial sensors and controls online. They are the perfect fit for automating several important procedures. This article goes on to describe what a sensor is and its common industrial applications.

What is a Sensor?

A sensor is an electronic device that follows the progression of an electrical or physical circuit and provides the desired output of a signal as per the input received. Sensors are very useful for automation. Industrial automation is big all over the world. It allows one to detect, analyze and also take measurements to be useful for further processing.

These sensors are very important in predicting and automating processes based on reading received via the sensor. Some of the popular types of sensors are temperature sensors, pressure sensors, MEMS sensors, torque sensors.

Temperature sensors are often used in complex industrial applications while pressure sensors are useful when the quantity of pressure is measured and requires an automated process to be activated. MEMS sensors (Micro-electro-mechanical systems) are those which convert mechanical signals into electrical signals and are useful for industrial automation.

Sensor Market Statistics

• The industrial sensor market was approximately 16 Billion USD in 2018.
• It is likely to reach 21.6 Billion USD by 2023.
• The growth rate in the sensor market is likely to be at a CAGR of 6.16% in the period between 2018 and 2023.
• Global sensor market in 2017 was estimated at $13 Billion USD.
• The market is likely to reach $28.7 Billion USD by 2025.
• Sensors have found a way into a wide range of products; ranging from the consumer electronic products, automotive, IT, Telcom, Smartphones and more.
• There is a steady rise of sensors (especially smart sensors in smart cities).

Common Applications of Industrial Sensors

Any industrial sensors and controls system will consist of sensors that act as the eyes and ears of the system. There are many applications of a sensor from common applications in our day to day life to many industrial applications to help automate important processes. It is used in common applications like that of your television remote as an IR sensor. Several automated door systems also implement sensors especially in places like office buildings and malls. Sensors are also important to automate lighting systems.

Some of the common applications include:

• Oil & Gas wellhead monitoring.

• Factory gas flow and metering applications.

• Machine condition monitoring.

• Inventory management in gas & air tanks.

• Fuel and water storage tanks liquid level monitoring.

• Speed sensors are useful for many different types of motors.

• This includes the speedometer in any vehicle, motor systems in an industry, especially those controlled remotely.

• A temperature sensor also has several industrial applications like industrial thermostats.

• PIR Sensors (Passive Infrared Sensor) are useful for the purpose of automated door operations.

• The Ultrasonic sensor is those that make use of the sound waves (beyond human hearing) and have application as humidity, gas, pressure rain and tilt sensor.

The number of people has now realized the advantages of buying their electrical supplies online in Australia. Thus, sensors are very important and besides having many industrial applications it is also several applications in day to day purposes. Industrial sensors and controls are also available online, for example, the float switch fluid level controller.