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Thermosensitive Sensors Part - 1 PDF
Thermosensitive Sensors Part - 1 PDF
• Thermistor
Thermometry
Thermometry is the process of measuring temperature. Temperature is basically a measure of the amount of
kinetic energy, particles possess. Today, temperature measurements also touch other areas, such as humidity
and the field of thermophysical quantities.
Temperature measurement may span a large range, from ultra-cold temperatures of –273 °C up to
temperatures of several thousands of °C. A precise and accurate knowledge of temperature is important in
science, technology and industry where precision and pushed limits are targeted.
Primary thermometry, including precise instrumentation and standards, the establishment of an internationally
common temperature scale and its realization, represent an important basis for all applications, and for science
and innovation. Temperature measurements are important for a vast range of areas and applications in industry
(metallurgy, chemistry and biochemistry, quantum computing), the health sector (e.g. medical ablation
techniques in human tissue by thermal heating) and environment (by monitoring and prevision of climate and
climate changes in air, soil and water).
Selective Radiation
RTD
Solids Liquids Gas (Resistance Temperature Detector)
Thermistor
Bi-metals
This heat basically increases the resistance of the RTD over and
above the applied heat due to which erroneous readings are
obtained. To avoid this error, every RTD has a self heat
dissipation constant and it is expressed as mW/°C. This shows
the order of rise in self heat temperature due to heat
dissipation in RTD. The coefficient typically has a value from
20-100 mW/°C where in it is minimum in still air where as this
coefficient in moving air. Consider the example to understand
the concept. At the end it shows that for every 0.56 mW power
dissipated through heat the erroneous rise in temperature is
0.011 °C.
Advantages
• Very high accuracy
• Excellent stability and reproducibility
• Interchangeability
• Ability to be matched to close tolerances for temperature difference measurements.
• Ability to measure narrow spans
• Suitability for remote measurement
Disadvantages
• Susceptibility to mechanical damage
• Need for lead wire resistance compensation
• Sometimes expensive
• Susceptibility to self-heating error
• Susceptibility to signal noise
• Unsuitability for bare use in electrically conducting substance
• Generally not repairable
• Need for power supply
Thermistor
A thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance is dependent on temperature, more so than in standard resistors. The
word is a combination of thermal and resistor. Thermistors are widely used as inrush current limiters,
temperature sensors (negative temperature coefficient or NTC type typically), self-resetting overcurrent protectors, and
self-regulating heating elements (positive temperature coefficient or PTC type typically).
Thermistors differ from resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) in that the material
used in a thermistor is generally a ceramic or polymer, while RTDs use pure metals.
The temperature response is also different; RTDs are useful over larger temperature
ranges, while thermistors typically achieve a greater precision within a limited
temperature range, typically −90 °C to 130 °C.
NTC stands for Negative Temperature coefficient. The NTC thermistor provides variable resistance based on temperature. As
temperature increases, the resistance drops from high to low and allows current to pass through. NTC thermistors are the most
commonly used thermistor. They fit a wide range of applications including: automotive, military, industrial, and emissions
controls.Various items around your home contain NTC thermistors including your oven, air conditioning, and fire detector.
PTC stands for Positive Temperature Coefficient. The PTC thermistor also provides variable resistance based on temperature. As
temperature rises, resistance increases from low to high and blocks the spike in current. Typically, NTC-based limiting is used for most
applications. However, there are certain scenarios that require a PTC thermistor over an NTC thermistor. These include equipment with
a near-zero reset time, extreme temperature conditions, and systems that experience frequent shorts. Threshold temperature is the
temperature at which the PTC type thermistor configured as protective device gives actuating signal for the system to be disconnected
from supply.
Thermistor Linearization Circuit
Disadvantages
• The thermistor need of shielding power lines.
• The excitation current should be low to avoid self heating.
• It is not suitable for large temperature range.
• The resistance temperature characteristics are non linear so a linearizing
circuit is must.
REFERENCES
Web References Book References
1. www.en.wikipedia.org 1. A. K. Sawhney, A Course in Electrical
2. www.wikilectures.eu Measurement and Measuring Instruments,
3. www.bipm.org Dhanpat Rai & Sons, New Delhi.
4. www.sciencedirect.com 2. E. W. Golding and F. C. Widdis, Electrical &
5. www.rdfcorp.com Electronic Measurements & Instrumentation,
6. www.instrumentationtools.com Reem Publications Pvt. Ltd.
7. www.jms-se.com 3. B. G. Liptak, Instrument Engineer's Handbook
8. www.instrumentationtoday.com Vol-2, CRC Press.
9. www.edn.com 4. A. D. Helfrick and W. D. Cooper, Modern
10. www.ametherm.com Electronic Instrumentation and Measurement
11. www.elprocus.com Techniques.
12. www.controlandinstrumentation.com 5. E.O. Doeblin, Measurement Systems: Application
13. www.electrical4u.com & Design, McGraw-Hill Professional.
14. www.thermosensors.com 6. D. Patranabis, Principles of Industrial
15. www.polytechnichub.com Instrumentation, Tata McGraw Hill.
16. www. test-and-measurement-world.com