Sensors are used in a wide variety of factory and process automation applications, and are designed to take accurate and reliable measurements that are critical to the safe and optimized operation of a machine or process. This handy selection guide provides an overview of the selection criteria for different types of sensors – inductive, ultrasonic, and photoelectric. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local AWC office for additional assistance in determining the best-suited sensors for your applications.
The ideal sensor for an application is determined by the sensor’s own features (type of sensing element, packaging and form factor, installation and mounting) as well as environmental factors and the type of material/ or fluid that the sensor must detect. Below are three common types of sensors (inductive, photoelectric, and ultrasonic) and applications and industries in which these sensors can be found.
Inductive Sensor Applications
Inductive sensors are often used in applications requiring close-distance, non-contact detection of metallic objects, and are well suited in most environments (clean, dirty, and both hazardous and non-hazardous).
- Applications
- Chain gear
- Motor speed
- Conveyor speed
- Identifying broken belt or chain
- Industries
- Petrochemical
- Oil & Gas
- Aggregate
- Manufacturing
Photoelectric Sensor Applications
Photoelectric sensors send out a beam of light that is used to detect the presence or absence of an object or piece of equipment, or changes in surface conditions. When the light beam is broken by or detects an object, the change in light pattern is measured by a receiver and identifies the presence of the targeted object or surface condition.
Diffuse Type
- Applications
- Packaging
- Counting
- Presence detection
- Industries
- Manufacturing
- Aggregate
Retro-Reflective Type
- Applications
- Palletizing
- Doorways
- Industries
- Manufacturing
Through-Beam Type
- Applications
- Equipment monitoring
- Doorways
- Industries
- Manufacturing
Ultrasonic Sensor Applications
Unlike photoelectric sensors, which use light, ultrasonic sensors use sound waves to detect the presence of objects or surfaces. Sound waves make ultrasonic sensors ideal for detection in less traditional applications such as uneven surfaces, dirty objects, or objects in motion.
Monitor tank level and height
- Applications
- Tank level measurement
- Industries
- Petrochemical
- Oil & gas
- Aggregate
- Manufacturing
Monitor material placement and size
- Applications
- Conveyors
- Web controls
- Automatic doors
- Industries
- Petrochemical
- Manufacturing
- Aggregate
- Printing
- Packaging
Monitor position to avoid collisions
- Applications
- Automated guide vehicles
- Overhead cranes
- Industries
- Petrochemical
- Manufacturing
- Storage and retrieval
