20_4-20mA电流环路系统废能利用.pdf

Analog Applications JournalHigh-Performance Analog Products /aaj 4Q 2012 Texas Instruments Incorporated 10 Harnessing wasted energy in 4- to 20-mA current-loop systems A 4- to 20-mA current-loop signal is frequently used in industrial environments to transmit measurements across long distances, such as the temperature of a process or the pressure in a tank. This type of signaling is preferred because of its simplicity, noise immunity, safety, and ability to traverse great lengths without data corruption. These current loops are also low-power systems, since relatively low currents transmit the data. Previously, whatever power was not used or lost in the signal transmission was merely dissipated in the transmitter; but now, with modern inte- grated circuits, even this small amount of power can be harnessed to support necessary functions in these systems. The basics of 4- to 20-mA current-loop systems Figure 1 shows a typical 4- to 20-mA current-loop system. A semiregulated 24-VDC source provides power to the current loop and to the transmitter element. The transmit- ter measures the signal of interest (such as temperature, pressure, and many others) and outputs a 4- to 20-mA current that is proportional to that signal. This current passes through the wiring to a receiver system. There, the current develops a voltage across a resistor that is read by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and then further proc essed. The loop is completed with a connection back to the voltage source that powers the loop. These current loops provide several benefits in indus- trial applications: ? The current loops are simple circuits requiring only a crude power supply; a transmitter to make the mea- surement and source the current; a wire; and a receiver circuit. The power supply needs to provide only enough voltage to overcome the various voltage drops in the system; any excess loop voltage is just dropped across the transmitter. Due to the low current, this