MEE1027 Instrumentation and Control Engineering

Date: 01/12/2021 Assignment - 2

Reg.No: 18BME2056 Name: Sojitra Diptesh Mukeshbhai

1. Discuss the procedure of measurement of temperature using

thermocouple, state the name of the apparatus for the experiment
with a neat sketch.

A thermocouple is a device for measuring temperature. It comprises two dissimilar metallic

wires joined together to form a junction. When the junction is heated or cooled, a small voltage
is generated in the electrical circuit of the thermocouple which can be measured, and this
corresponds to temperature.

In theory, any two metals can be used to make a thermocouple but in practise, there are a fixed
number of types that are commonly used. They have been developed to give improved linearity
and accuracy and comprise specially developed alloys.

Thermocouples can be made to suit almost any application. They can be made to be robust,
fast responding and to measure a very wide temperature range.

Two dissimilar metals are joined together at both ends in an electrical circuit. One “junction”
is the measuring junction or “hot end”. The other is the reference junction or “cold end”. A
sensitive voltmeter is connected into one of the conductors.

Under laboratory conditions the reference junction would be held at a known temperature,
usually 0°C but in normal industrial practise the junction is left at ambient temperature and an
external sensor is used to compensate for this variation (known as cold junction compensation,
usually a thermistor bead is used to measure the ambient temperature).

Quite simply as the temperature rises or falls at the measuring junction a voltage is generated
within the circuit which correlates directly to temperature and can easily be converted by
reference to the appropriate tables.
Apparatus/Equipment’s required
 Thermocouple kit with thermometer and hot water container.
 Digital Multi Meter

Experimental Procedure

1. Fill the container with hot water and Insert the thermocouple as well as thermometer inside
the hot water.
2. Take readings for increasing value of temperature till the output becomes constant for any
number of further increments.

3. Similarly take the readings for decreasing value of temperature till the output

voltage becomes constant for any number of further decrements.

4. Plot the graph of temperature vs Voltage.

5. Determine best fit straight line for temp vs Voltage data using least squares method.

6. Calculate the Sensitivity / Accuracy / Linearity of Thermocouple

 2. Discuss the method of measuring temperature through RTD

The RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) is generally more linear and drift-free within its
measuring range. However, due to their platinum content and more complex construction, they
are more expensive than thermocouples. RTDs are sometimes also referred to as “resistance
thermometers.”

Types of RTD sensors

1. Wire-Wound RTDs

2. Thin-Film RTDs
 3. Coiled Element RTDs

Measurement using RTD

Unlike thermocouples which are passive sensors, RTDs operate on the principle of electrical
resistance. It is necessary to pass a small current through them in order to measure a change in
resistance. Therefore, the DAQ system’s signal conditioner needs to supply this sensor power
or “excitation” in order to read the output.

RTDs operate on the principle that certain metals have an exceptionally stable and accurate
relationship between resistance and temperature. Copper has the best resistance v. temperature
ratio, however, it does not do as well at high temperatures as platinum RTDs.

R v. T

In other words, the amount of resistance change observed per change in temperature is highly
linear and repeatable. This is also referred to as the temperature coefficient of resistance.

By measuring this resistance change, we can measure the temperature change. Various metals
provide different accuracies, as well as different temperature operating ranges.

As example platinum, copper and nickel is top level three major RTDs.