The CA202 Piezoelectric Accelerometer is a high-performance industrial-grade vibration sensor from the VM product line. Designed specifically for harsh industrial environments, it integrates high sensitivity, wide frequency response, exceptional environmental tolerance, and multiple international explosion-proof certifications. Its core utilizes a symmetrical shear-mode polycrystalline piezoelectric sensing element, housed within a fully welded austenitic stainless steel casing and equipped with an integral armored cable, forming a highly reliable, sealed, and leak-proof measurement unit.
The CA202 is primarily used for continuous online vibration monitoring and fault diagnosis of rotating machinery (such as turbines, compressors, pumps, fans, etc.), serving as a critical front-end sensing device for industrial predictive maintenance and asset health management systems. The product is available in standard versions and "Ex"-certified versions suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, meeting the specific safety requirements of high-risk industries including oil & gas, chemicals, power generation, and mining.
2. Functional Principle
The operational principle of the CA202 piezoelectric accelerometer is based on the direct piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric materials. Its core sensing element is a specially polarized polycrystalline piezoelectric ceramic, assembled in a symmetrical shear-mode configuration. When the sensor is subjected to external mechanical vibration, an internal seismic mass applies a shear force to the piezoelectric crystal. This mechanical stress causes a displacement of charge centers within the piezoelectric material, generating a proportional electrical charge on the crystal's electrode surfaces relative to the applied force (and thus the acceleration).
This charge signal is high-impedance. The CA202 transmits this charge signal via its internally insulated design and low-noise integral cable to an external charge converter (or charge amplifier, such as the IPC70x series). The primary function of the charge converter is to transform the high-impedance charge signal into a low-impedance voltage signal, amplifying and normalizing it for easy reading and analysis by subsequent data acquisition systems, PLCs, or vibration monitors.
The "shear" design offers significant advantages: it decouples the piezoelectric element from base strain and thermal disturbances. Consequently, the CA202 is highly insensitive to environmental interference such as base bending, thermal transients, and acoustic noise, enabling it to output exceptionally "clean" vibration acceleration signals. Combined with its fully sealed welded construction, this principle ensures long-term measurement stability and accuracy in demanding industrial environments.
3. Application Areas
The CA202 is widely used in industrial sectors with stringent requirements for equipment reliability and safety, include:
Energy & Power Generation: Vibration protection and monitoring for gas turbines, steam turbines, hydro turbines, generators, large pumps, and fan sets.
Oil & Gas: Reciprocating and centrifugal compressors, transfer pumps, gas turbine-driven equipment on offshore platforms and onshore plants, suitable for Zone 0, 1, 2 hazardous areas.
Chemical & Petrochemical: Vibration monitoring for various reactors, agitators, large compressors, and pumps, resistant to corrosive atmospheres.
Mining & Metallurgy: Condition monitoring of mine ventilation fans, crushers, grinding mills, and rolling mills in dusty, high-vibration environments.
Marine & Offshore: Monitoring of main propulsion turbines, gearboxes, and generator sets in high-temperature, high-humidity, salt-spray conditions.
General Industrial Manufacturing: Providing predictive maintenance solutions for large, critical rotating machinery to prevent unplanned downtime.
4. Product Advantages
Exceptional Long-Term Stability: The symmetrical shear-mode design effectively isolates the effects of thermal transients and base strain, ensuring minimal output signal drift and long maintenance intervals.
Superior Environmental Tolerance: Fully sealed stainless steel welded construction (sensor and cable welded as one unit), providing IP68-level protection against water, steam, oil, corrosive chemicals, and 100% humidity.
Wide Operating Temperature Range: Sensor body operational range from -55°C to +260°C, meeting the demands of most high-temperature industrial applications.
Comprehensive Safety Certifications: Available in explosion-proof models certified by ATEX, IECEx, UKEX, cCSAus, KGS, EASC, supporting safe use in the highest classification of hazardous areas (Gas Zone 0).
Excellent Signal Quality: High sensitivity (100 pC/g), wide frequency response (0.5-6000 Hz), and low transverse sensitivity (≤3%), enabling precise capture of complex vibration signatures from low to high frequencies.
Robust and Reliable Mechanical Construction: Heavy-duty stainless steel housing, capable of withstanding shocks up to 1000g, suitable for high-vibration scenarios.
Convenient Installation & Integration: Integral cable design eliminates connector failure points; standardized charge output is compatible with various brands of signal conditioners.
