Department of Chemical Engineering

Wah Engineering College

University of Wah

Course: CH. E-401-Industrial Instrumentation

Assignment 5 (10 Marks) Due Date: 31-12-2020

Name: Habib ullah Reg : uw-17-che-bsc-028

1. Consider a type J thermocouple shown below. Here we have three voltage-generating

junctions: J 1 of iron and constantan, J 2 of iron and copper, and J 3 of copper and
constantan. Explain how the presence of these multiple (more than two) dissimilar metal
junctions in thermocouples design effects the overall working using Law of Intermediate
Metals principle for thermo-electric circuits?

2. Explain the working & operational principle of “Micropipette” used in Biological research
process.

3. Explain Solid level Sensors.

General Guidelines:

This is an individual assignment and late submission is not allowed.

Be Precise and Focused Oriented.

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Table of Contents
Thermocouples Law of Intermediate Metals: ............................................................................ 3
Micropipettes ............................................................................................................................. 5
Working Principle: ...................................................................................................................... 5
To draw up liquid ........................................................................................................................ 6
To dispense liquid ........................................................................................................................ 6
Solid Level Sensors: ................................................................................................................... 6
Solid Level Detection Sensors and Measurements .................................................................. 7
Advantages ............................................................................................................................... 7
Different type of Solid Level Sensors are given below ........................................................... 8
Reference .................................................................................................................................... 9

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Thermocouples Law of Intermediate Metals:

❖ This is true regardless of the number of metals involved. In the last example, only two
metals were involved: iron and copper. This formed one iron-copper junction (J1) at the
measurement end and one iron-copper junction (J2) at the indicator end.

❖ Recall that the copper-copper junction J3 was of no consequence because its identical
metallic composition generates no thermal voltage:

❖ But what about more complex thermocouple circuits, involving more than two wire types?
How do we define what a “reference junction” is, or how it behaves, when we have more
than two dissimilar-metal junctions in the same circuit? Take for instance this example of
a type J thermocouple

❖ A principle of thermo-electric circuits called the Law of Intermediate Metals helps us see
this clearly.
❖ According to this law, intermediate metals in a series of junctions are of no consequence
to the overall (net) voltage so long as those intermediate junctions are all at the same
temperature.

❖ Representing this pictorially, the net effect of having four different metals (A, B, C, and D)
joined together in series is the same as just having the first and last metal in that series (A
and D) joined with one junction, if all intermediate junctions are at the same temperature:

❖ A simple proof of the Law of Intermediate Metals may be built upon the Law of Energy
Conservation, one of the most fundamental principles in all of physics.

❖ Consider what would happen if we were to join the series of dissimilar metal wires shown
above into a continuous loop:

❖ In this diagram we see that the wire made of metal “A” connects to a string of metal
junctions formed by metals “B”, “C”, and “D”.

❖ If all these dissimilar metal junctions are at the same temperature, there will be no
difference of temperature anywhere in the circuit to drive a current, and we would therefore
expect the current in this circuit to be zero.

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 ❖ This is in accordance with the Law of Energy Conservation, which forbids the passage of
electric current through resistive wire without some motive power source driving it. Thus,
based on the premise that energy must be conserved (i.e. that an electric current cannot
flow through any resistance without a power source), we must conclude that the net effect
of all those series-connected metal junctions at the same temperature must be zero.

❖ In other words, junctions A-B, B-C, C-D, and D-A all at the same temperature and
connected in series must generate zero voltage, as if those junctions were all reduced to a
single A-A junction which of course cannot produce any electromotive force (voltage)
because it is not comprised of dissimilar metals.

❖ If the Law of Intermediate Metals were untrue, it would mean that the junctions A-B-C-D
were not equivalent to the single junction A-D, which would mean they would produce a
different voltage than the D-A junction at the right-hand end of this circuit (while at the
same temperature), and therefore this circuit would produce some net voltage to drive a
current continuously through resistive wire in violation of the Law of Energy Conservation.

In other words, the Law of Intermediate Metals tells us we can treat the following two circuits
identically:

❖ The practical importance of this Law is that we can always treat the reference junction(s)
as a single junction made from the same two metal types as the measurement junction, so
long as all dissimilar metal junctions at the reference location are at the same temperature.

❖ This fact is extremely important in the age of semiconductor circuitry, where the
connection of a thermocouple to an electronic amplifier involves a long series of dissimilar-
material junctions.Here we see a multitude of reference junctions, formed by the necessary
connections from thermocouple wire to the silicon substrate inside the amplifier chip:It
should be obvious that each complementary junction pair in this series loop cancel each
other if each pair is at the same temperature (e.g. gold-silicon junction J12 cancels with

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 silicon-gold junction J13 because they generate the exact same amount of voltage with
opposing polarities;

❖ Kovar-gold junction J10 cancels with gold-Kovar junction J11 for the same reason; etc.).

❖ The Law of Intermediate Metals goes one step further by telling us junctions J2 through
J13 taken together in series are of the same effect as a single reference junction of iron and
constantan.

❖ Automatic reference junction compensation is as simple as counter-acting the voltage

produced by this equivalent iron-constantan junction at whatever temperature junctions J2
through J13 happen to be at.

Micropipettes:
❖ Micropipettes are of two types, the Fixed micropipettes, and the Variable Micropipettes.
The Fixed micropipettes are designed to transfer the fixed amount of volume of the liquid.
The fixed micropipettes cannot be adjusted to withdraw more or less of the volume.

❖ On the other hand, the Variable pipettes come with a wide range of adjustments, can be
adjusted to withdraw the desired volume within the range of micropipettes, say 10 µl –
100 µl micropipette which can be adjusted to any number in between 10 µl – 100 µl.

❖ The variable pipettes are commonly used to draw the small amount of volume ranges 10 µl
– 200 µl, most commonly to transfer the specimens, whereas the fixed pipettes are
commonly used to transfer the large volume (1000 µl or more), most commonly to transfer
the Reagents.

❖ Normalized amplitude and phase shift of the oscillation of a micropipette as a function of

the distance between the micropipette point and a polymer’s surface. Hollow micropipettes
resonated with a ceramic oscillator in contact at around 20 kHz

Working Principle:

❖ Molecular biologists frequently use much smaller volumes of liquids in their work, even
getting down to 0.1µL (that’s one ten thousandth of a millilitre, or one ten millionth of a
litre!). For such small volumes, they need to use a micropipette.
❖ Micropipettes are called a lot of different names, most of which are based on the companies
which manufacture. For example, you might hear them called “Gilsons”, as a large number
of these devices used in laboratories are made by this company. Regardless of the
manufacturer, micropipettes operate on the same principle: a plunger is depressed by the
thumb and as it is released, liquid is drawn into a disposable plastic tip. When the plunger
is pressed again, the liquid is dispensed.
❖ The tips are an important part of the micropipette and allow the same device to be used for
different samples (so long as you change your tip between samples) without washing. They
come in a number of different sizes and colours, depending on the micropipette they are
used with, and the volume to be dispensed.

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 ❖ They are loaded into tip boxes which are often sterilized to prevent contamination. For this
reason tip boxes should be kept closed if they are not in use. Tips are loaded onto the end
of the micropipette by pushing the end of the device into the tip and giving two sharp taps.
Once used, tips are ejected into a sharps disposal bin using the tip eject button. Never touch
the tip with your fingers, as this poses a contamination risk.

To draw up liquid

To remove the last drop of liquid from the tip, push down to Position 3. If delivering into a liquid,
remove the tip from the liquid before releasing the plungerHold the micropipette with the thumb
resting on the plunger and the fingers curled around the upper body.

To dispense liquid

Hold the micropipette so that the end of the tip containing tip is inside the vessel you want to
deliver it to. When delivering smaller volumes into another liquid, you may need to put the end of
the tip beneath the surface of the liquid (remember to change the tip afterwards if you do this to
save contaminating stock). For smaller volumes you may also need to hold the tip against the side
of the container.

Solid Level Sensors:

The intrinsically safe radar solids level sensor provides reliable level measurement of dusty grains,
pellets, powders or aggregates in silo, bin, crusher, stockpile or transfer station applications from
3-30 meters. How does a radar solids level sensor work? The radar solids level sensor emits a high

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frequency RF pulse from its antenna. The pulse travels through the air gap, reflects against the
solids surface and returns to the antenna. The radar solids level sensor determines the pulse time
of flight and converts this into level height or distance.

Solid Level Detection Sensors and Measurements

Knowing the amount of bulk solids inside a silo, tank, or other vessel is an important variable in
any process to maximize efficiency, prevent overflows, running out, or for tracking volume or
mass. A common way to monitor these variables is by measuring the level. This can be something
as simple as a full or empty signal, or it can be a continuous level measurement to track and control
the level changes during a process.To measure level in a bulk solids container, there are a number
of different technologies used ranging from the simple to very complex. VEGA uses sensors,
transmitters, and switches with five main technologies to measure level in a multitude of different
applications across at least a dozen key industries.

Advantages

• Non-contact bulk solid measurement with high accuracy

• Measurement not affected by temperature, pressure, dust, or noise
• User-friendly adjustment saves time
• Accurate measurement without any moving parts
• Maintenance-free operation through non-contact measuring principle

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Different type of Solid Level Sensors are given below

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Reference

❖ https://www.vega.com/en-ca/company/blog/2019/solid-level-detection-
sensors-and-measurements
❖ https://www.slideshare.net/Mukeshtoy/level-measurement-169264571
❖ https://slideplayer.com/slide/5661879/

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