Rotary variable differential transformer
A rotary variable differential transformer (RVDT) is a type of electrical transformer used for measuring angular displacement.
More precisely, a Rotary Variable Differential Transformer (RVDT) is an electromechanical transducer that provides a variable alternating current (AC) output voltage that is linearly proportional to the angular displacement of its input shaft. When energized with a fixed AC source, the output signal is linear within a specified range over the angular displacement.
RVDTs use brushless, non-contacting technology to ensure long life and reliable, repeatable position sensing with infinite resolution. Such reliable and repeatable performance assures accurate position sensing under the most extreme operating conditions.
Most RVDTs consist of a wound, laminated stator and a salient two-pole rotor. The stator, containing four slots, contains both the primary winding and the two secondary windings. Some secondary windings may also be connected together.
Operation of RVDTs
The two induced voltages of the secondary windings, 
and 
, vary linearly to the mechanical angle of the rotor, θ:
where 
is the gain or sensitivity. The second voltage can be reverse determined by:
The difference 
gives a proportional voltage:
and the sum of the voltages is a constant:
This constant gives the RVDT great stability of the angular information, independent of the input voltage or frequency or temperature, and enables it to also detect a malfunction.
Putting the above mathematical equations in some theoretical form, the working of RVDT can be explained as below.
Basic RVDT construction and operation is provided by rotating an iron-core bearing supported within a housed stator assembly. The housing is passivated stainless steel. The stator consists of a primary excitation coil and a pair of secondary output coils. A fixed alternating current excitation is applied to the primary stator coil that is electromagnetically coupled to the secondary coils. This coupling is proportional to the angle of the input shaft. The output pair is structured so that one coil is in-phase with the excitation coil, and the second is 180° out-of-phase with the excitation coil. When the rotor is in a position that directs the available flux equally in both the in-phase and out-of-phase coils, the output voltages cancel and result in a zero value signal. This is referred to as the electrical zero position or E.Z. When the rotor shaft is displaced from E.Z., the resulting output signals have a magnitude and phase relationship proportional to the direction of rotation. Because RVDTs perform essentially like a transformer, excitation voltages changes will cause directly proportional changes to the output (transformation ratio). However, the voltage out to excitation voltage ratio will remain constant. Since most RVDT signal conditioning systems measure signal as a function of the transformation ratio (TR), excitation voltage drift beyond 7.5% typically has no effect on sensor accuracy and strict voltage regulation is not typically necessary. Excitation frequency should be controlled within ±1% to maintain accuracy
Although the RVDT can theoretically operate between ±45°, accuracy decreases quickly after ±35°. Thus, its operational limits lie mostly within ±30°, but some up to ±40°. Certain types can operate up to ±60°.
The advantages of the RVDT are:
- low sensitivity to temperature, primary voltage & frequency variations
- sturdiness
- low cost
- simple control electronics
- small size
RVDT varieties
An RVDT can also be designed with two laminations, one containing the primary and the other, the secondaries. These types can operate on larger rotations.
A similar transformer is called the Rotary Variable Transformer and contains only one secondary winding giving only one voltage:
See also
- Rotary encoder
- Synchro
- Resolver
- LVDT, Linear-movement counterpart to the RVDT