MESB333

ENGINEERING MEASUREMENT AND LAB

LABORATORY REPORT
Semester II [2019/2020]

[Temperature Measurement]

STUDENT NAME : Nimmal A/L Gunasekaran

STUDENT ID : ME099467

SECTION : 01A

GROUP : 1A5

SUBMISSION DATE : 25th November 2019

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Table of Contents

Contents Page No.

Abstract/Summary 3
Objectives 3
Theory 4-5
Equipment 5
Procedure 6
Data, Observation and Results 7-11
Discussion 11
Conclusion 11

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Abstract/Summary

This experiment was carried out as part of an assesment for the subject Measurement Lab,
MESB333. Based on the objectives given, we students had to conjure up our own procudere
with the guidance of instructor. Different type of temperature measuring devices were used
throughout this experiment. All the required data were obtained and analyzed.

Objectives

1. To study the relationship between temperature and resistance.

2. To compare the time constant of different types of temperature measuring devices by
setting a mercury filled thermometer as a reference.
3. To understand the working principles of resistance thermometer and thermistor.

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Theory

In general, temperature can be described as a measure of hotness. Along with the

measurement of thermal mass, temperature also gives a measure of the amount of
thermodynamics energy that a particular body contains. Temperature is measured using either
degree celcius or Kelvin. For this experiment, resisantance thermometer and thermistor will
be used. Few of the types of thermometer will be explained below:

A) Liquid filled thermometer

The principle behind this type of thermometer is the expansion of liquid due to an increase in
temprature. Commonly used thermometer is the mercury in glass thermometer. The level of
mercury rises and drops according to the temperature. Thus, the level of the mercury is
observed on the scale of the thermometer. However it has to be handeled very cautiosuly as
the thermometer is very fragile. Alcohol can be used to replace the mercury if the
thermometer was to be used in lower temperature as mercury has a higher melting point
compared to mercury. To ensure that thermometer shows the accurate reading, the
thermometer has to be dipped slowly and parallax error has to be avioded as well.

B) The Vapor Pressure Manometer

This thermometer is mainly used for industrial applications as it is much more suitable
compared to liquid filled thermometer. For this type of thermometer, the glass is subsituted
with a metal container. It consists of a metal bulb which is partially filled with liquid which is
then fixed towards the sensing element of a Bourdon Gauge. This thermometer is more suited
for short range of temperatures as it has low sensitivity at low temperature readings. The
range should always be set before using this thermometer. Moreover, with this type of
thermometer we can carry out remote reading as well. The orientation of the bulbe and gauge
always has to be checked to ensure the accuracy of results obtained.

C) The Bi-Metal Thermometer

In theory, the expansion of solids can be used to measure temperature. However, it is not
possible in terms of practicality. To solve this two thin metal strips witch different
coefficients of linear expansion are used. Both the metal strips are fastened together
mechanically. Thus, the strip actually bends when it receives heat. The combined metal strips
is called as Bi-strip. This particular thermometer is very robust and can be applied across
various industry applications.

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D) Resistance Thermometer

As we all know, when temperature changes, resistance changes as well. Thus, the resistance
value can actually be used to calculate temperature. Platinum is utilized for high accuracy
results while Nickel is used for monitoring and general operation purpose. Copper too can be
used; but only at a range of 250 degree celcius.

Equipment

Figure 1: The setup for the experiment

The components of the setup are listed as below:

1. Water Cooker
2. Mercury Filled Thermometer
3. Liquid Filled Thermometer
4. Thermistor
5. PT-100 Resistance Thermometer
6. Type-K Thermocouple
7. Bi-Metallic Thermometer
8. Vapor pressure manometer
9. Stopwatch

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Procedure

1. The cooker was filled with until half with tap water and the lid was then closed.
2. Sensors for measuring temperature, thermistor, Bi-metallic thermometer, PT-100
resistance thermometer and vapor pressure manometer were all then inserted to their
respective mountings.
3. The spirit filled and mercury filled thermometer was then inserted into the opening
part of the cooker lid.
4. Initial readings were observed and recorded.
5. The cooker was switched on and the stopwatch was turned on.
6. Readings were obtained for every 120 seconds.
7. Step number six was repeated until a value of 100 degree celcius was obtained from
any of the measuring device used.
8. All the equipments were then switched off before cleaning it carefully.

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Data, Observation and Results

Tim Bi-Metallic Vapor Spirit Filled Mercury PT-100 Type

esec Thermomet Pressure Thermometer Filled Resistance K
er Manometer Thermometer Thermometer Therm
ocoupl
e
0 22 27 25 24 24.8 22.3
120 23 28 28 28 28.4 28.8
240 24 31 34 34 34.7 36.5
360 28 36 39 40 42.3 45.1
480 34 42 48 48 49.8 51.3
600 40 50 55 57 57.7 59.2
720 47 58 64 64 66.1 67.5
840 56 66 72 73 73.3 74.8
960 64 75 80 80 81.5 78.6
1080 73 82 88 86 88.3 88.3
1200 81 90 95 95 95.2 92.7
1320 92 98 102 100 99.8 96.7
1440 - - - - - -

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Graphs for the Data Obtained:

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Table below shows the value of time constant obtained via the graphs for each device.

Device used Time constant

Bi-Metallic Thermometer 990
Vapor Pressure Manometer 920
Mercury Filled Thermometer 825
Spirit Filled Thermometer 870
Type-K Thermocouple 750
PT-100 Resistance Thermometer 820

Analysis and Discussion

By observing all the data obtained and the graphs which was plotted using the data, it can be
seen that the spirit filled thermometer has the highest temperature reading at 102 degree
celcius. The lowest was the Bi-Metallic Thermometer. By calculating the time constant for
each device based on the graph; it was observed that the type-K thermocouple has the
shortest time constant value. The time constant is actually based on temperature and
calculated by matching the graph. From this, we can assume that the spirit-filled thermometer
has the highest sensitivity as it can display temperature faster compared to all the other
devices. Sensitivity is important as it saves us time while measuring temperature. We also
observed that the spirit filled thermometer managed to achieve a value of 100 degree celcius
way faster than mercury filled thermometer despite having a slower response time. This
might have caused by errors such as defects or inconsistent distribution of temperature across
the water.

Conclusion

Overall we managed to achieve all the objectives for this experiment. We got to know the
definition of response time and also the working principles for each device. The faster the
response time, the faster the device responds to a change in temperature. However there are
certain improvements that can be made for this experiment such as placing all devices at a
same location to ensure more accurate results.

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