How does a RTD work?

RTDs work on a basic correlation between metals and temperature. As the

temperature of a metal increases, the metal's resistance to the flow of electricity
increases. Similarly, as the temperature of the RTD resistance element increases, the
electrical resistance, measured in ohms (Ω), increases.

What is function of RTD?

Resistance thermometers, also called resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), are
sensors used to measure temperature. Many RTD elements consist of a length of fine
wire wrapped around a ceramic or glass core but other constructions are also used.
The RTD wire is a pure material, typically platinum, nickel, or copper.

Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) -

Principle of Operation, Materials,
Configuration and Benefits
An RTD (resistance temperature detector) is a temperature sensor that operates
on the measurement principle that a material’s electrical resistance changes with
temperature.

The relationship between an RTD’s resistance and the surrounding temperature is

highly predictable, allowing for accurate and consistent temperature measurement. By
supplying an RTD with a constant current and measuring the resulting voltage drop
across the resistor, the RTD’s resistance can be calculated, and the temperature can be
determined.

RTD Materials

Different materials used in the construction of RTDs offer a different relationship

between resistance and temperature. Temperature sensitive materials used in the
construction of RTDs include platinum, nickel, and copper; platinum being the most
commonly used. Important characteristics of an RTD include the temperature coefficient
of resistance (TCR), the nominal resistance at 0 degrees Celsius, and the tolerance
classes.
The TCR determines the relationship between the resistance and the temperature.
There are no limits to the TCR that is achievable, but the most common industry
standard is the platinum 3850 ppm/K. This means that the resistance of the sensor will
increase 0.385 ohms per one degree Celsius increase in temperature. The nominal
resistance of the sensor is the resistance that the sensor will have at 0 degrees Celsius.

Although almost any value can be achieved for nominal resistance, the most common is
the platinum 100 ohm (pt100). Finally, the tolerance class determines the accuracy of
the sensor, usually specified at the nominal point of 0 degrees Celsius. There are
different industry standards that have been set for accuracy including the ASTM and the
European DIN. Using the values of TCR, nominal resistance, and tolerance, the
functional characteristics of the sensor are defined.

RTD Configurations

In addition to different materials, RTDs are also offered in two major configurations: wire
wound and thin film. Wire wound configurations feature either an inner coil RTD or an
outer wound RTD. An inner coil construction consists of a resistive coil running through
a hole in a ceramic insulator, whereas the outer wound construction involves the
winding of the resistive material around a ceramic or glass cylinder, which is then
insulated.

The thin film RTD construction features a thin layer of resistive material deposited onto
a ceramic substrate through a process called deposition. A resistive meander is then
etched onto the sensor, and laser trimming is used to achieve the appropriate nominal
values of the sensor. The resistive material is then protected with a thin layer of glass,
and lead wires are welded to pads on the sensor and covered with a glass dollop.

Thin film RTDs have advantages over the wire wound configurations. The main
advantages include that they are less expensive, are more rugged and vibration
resistant, and have smaller dimensions that lead to better response times and
packaging capabilities. For a long time wire wound sensors featured much better
accuracy. Thanks to recent developments, however, there is now thin film technology
capable of achieving the same level of accuracy.
Operations of RTD

An RTD takes a measurement when a small DC current is supplied to the sensor. The

current experiences the impedance of the resistor, and a voltage drop is experienced
over the resistor. Depending on the nominal resistance of the RTD, different supply
currents can be used. To reduce self-heating on the sensor the supply current should
be kept low. In general, around 1mA or less of current is used.

An RTD can be connected in a two, three, or four-wire configuration. The two-wire

configuration is the simplest and also the most error prone. In this setup, the RTD is
connected by two wires to a Wheatstone bridge circuit and the output voltage is
measured. The disadvantage of this circuit is that the two connecting lead wire
resistances add directly two the RTD’s resistance and an error is incurred.

2-Wire Configuration

The four-wire configuration consists of two current leads and two potential leads that
measure the voltage drop across the RTD. The two potential leads are high resistance
to negate the effect of the voltage drop due to current flowing during the measurement.

This configuration is ideal for canceling the lead wire resistances in the circuit as well as
eliminating the effects of different lead resistances, which was a possible problem with
the three-wire configuration. The four-wire configuration is commonly used when a
highly accurate measurement is required for the application.
3-Wire Configuration

The four-wire configuration consists of two current leads and two potential leads that
measure the voltage drop across the RTD. The two potential leads are high resistance
to negate the effect of the voltage drop due to current flowing during the measurement.

This configuration is ideal for canceling the lead wire resistances in the circuit as well as
eliminating the effects of different lead resistances, which was a possible problem with
the three-wire configuration. The four-wire configuration is commonly used when a
highly accurate measurement is required for the application.

4-Wire Configuration
In combination with the wiring diagrams shown, a more complex circuit is often
employed. There are many different options for circuits when working with an RTD. The
two most important features of this circuit are current generation and signal
conditioning.

For purposes of linearity, it is important that the current generation circuit supplies a
stable excitation to the RTD. Once a stable excitation current is applied to the RTD, the
signal conditioning path of the circuit cancels lead resistances, gains the signal and
converts the signal to digital using an ADC, which can then be read by a controller.

Benefits of Thin Film RTD

There are many options when considering contact temperature measurement, including
thermocouples, thermistors, and RTDs (wire wound and thin film). While thermocouples
can handle very high temperatures and thermistors are inexpensive, there are many
advantages of RTDs.

Some of these advantages include their accuracy, precision, long-term stability, and
good hysteresis characteristics. Even beyond these, there are advantages of thin film
RTDs over wire wound, including smaller dimensions, better response times, vibration
resistance, and relative inexpensiveness. New advancements has even made thin film
technology just as accurate as wire wound at higher temperatures ranges.