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Basics Instrumentation Temperature Measurements 1656133231
Basics Instrumentation Temperature Measurements 1656133231
Prepared by
Eng\ Ahmed Mohamed Abdel-Halim
EMC, MIDOR Site
2008
4. Temperature Measurements
Temperature Scales
The hotness or coldness of any material depends upon the molecular
activity of the material.
Kinetic energy is a measure of the activity of the atoms which make up
the molecules of any material.
As Kinetic energy of the material increases, the Temperature of the
material increases.
Therefore, temperature is a measure of the kinetic energy of the
material.
It has been experimentally determined that the lowest possible
temperature is -273.15°C.
Thermodynamic temperature is indicated by the symbol T and has the
unit known as the Kelvin, symbol K.
The Kelvin temperature scale was chosen so that its zero is at
-273.15°C
Relation between °C, °F, K
T = T(°C) + 273.15
T(°F) = (9/5) T(°C) + 32°
Thermometer
One of the old-age thermometer is the mercury-in-glass thermometer.
Its operation was based on the temperature expansion of fluids.
A glass bulb filled with mercury is connected to a narrow evacuated
glass capillary tube.
As the mercury is warmed, it expands and rises up the capillary tube
into a vacuum.
A mercury-in-glass thermometer is effective in the range -39°C to
~250°C.
If a thermometer is required
for lower temperatures, the
alcohol-in-glass thermometer
can utilize the same principle
in the range -117°C to 78°C.
Thermometer
The thermometers include
Filled-System Thermometers
Bimetallic Thermometers
Thermocouples
Thermistors
Radiation Pyrometers
Filled-System Thermometers
Disadvantages of Thermocouples
Accuracy declines with time.
Thermocouples are not used in areas where high radiation fields are
present.
Slower response time.
Thermocouples
Failure Modes
An open circuit in the thermocouple detector means that
there is no path for current flow, thus it will cause a low
(off-scale) temperature reading.
A short circuit in the thermocouple detector will also
cause a low temperature reading because it creates a
leakage current path to the ground and a smaller
measured voltage.
Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)
Every type of metal has a different resistance to the flow of electrical
current.
For most metals the change in electrical resistance is directly
proportional to its change in temperature and is linear over a range of
temperatures, this constant factor called the temperature coefficient of
electrical resistance is the basis of resistance temperature detectors.
The RTD can actually be regarded as a high precision wire wound
resistor whose resistance varies with temperature.
By measuring the resistance of the metal, its temperature can be
determined.
A typical RTD probe contains a coil of very fine metal wire, allowing
for a large resistance change without a great space requirement.
Usually, platinum RTDs are used as process temperature monitors
because of their accuracy and linearity.
RTD
RTD
2-Wire RTD
A temperature transmitter in the form of a Wheatstone bridge is
generally used to detect the small variations of resistance of the
RTD.
3-Wire RTD
No moving parts.
Lightweight, compact.
Disadvantages
Very non-linear.
Not interchangeable I.e. each sensor needs to be calibrated
individually.
Quite fragile
Comparison of T/C, RTD, and Thermistor
High Temperature Light Bulb Thermometer
A standard household light bulb has a thin filament made
of a high melting point metal (probably tungsten: melting
point > 3000 ° C).
When the 240V main electricity passes through the
filament of the bulb it heats up and glows so brightly we
use it as a lamp.
The electrical resistance of the filament varies with
temperature, in fact its resistance rises as the
temperature rises.
This fact alone makes the current tends to regulate itself
when power is applied.
High Temperature Light Bulb Thermometer
IC Sensors
Integrated circuit transistors produce an output proportional to the
absolute temperature.
If two identical transistors are operated at a constant ratio of
collector circuit densities (r), then the difference in their base-
emitter voltages will be (kT/q) linear, since both k (Boltzmann's
constant) and q (the charge of an electron) are constant, the
resulting voltage is directly proportional to absolute temperature.
Different types are configured to give an output in the form of
either a varying current (typically 1 μA/K) or varying voltage
(typically 10 mV/K).
Current forms are normally used with a digital voltmeter that
detects the current output in terms of the voltage drop across a 10
k resistor.
They only have a limited measurement range from -50°C to
+150°C.
Radiation Thermometers
All objects emit electromagnetic radiation as a function of their
temperature above absolute zero.
Radiation thermometers (also known as radiation pyrometers)
measure this radiation in order to calculate the temperature of
the object.
Different versions of radiation thermometers are capable of
measuring temperatures between -100°C and +10000°C.
The important advantage that radiation thermometers have over
other types of temperature-measuring instrument is that there is
no contact with the hot body while its temperature is being
measured.
Various types of radiation pyrometers exist
Optical pyrometers
Radiation pyrometers
Optical Pyrometers
The optical pyrometer is designed to measure temperatures where
the peak radiation emission is in the red part of the visible spectrum.
The optical pyrometers are used mainly in the range 600-3000°C.
The instrument contains a heated tungsten filament within its optical
system.
The current in the filament is increased until its colour is the same as
the hot body, under these conditions the filament apparently
disappears when viewed against the background of the hot body.
Temperature measurement is therefore obtained in terms of the
current flowing in the filament.
Optical pyrometers widely used in industry for measuring
temperatures in furnaces and similar applications.
Optical Pyrometers
Optical Pyrometers
Total Radiation Pyrometers
Have an optical system that is similar to that in the
optical pyrometer and focuses the energy emitted from
the measured body.
However, they differ by omitting the filament and
eyepiece and having instead an energy detector in the
same focal plane as the eyepiece was.
The radiation detector is either a thermal detector or a
photon detector.
Photon detectors are much faster than the thermopile
type, this enables us to use the photon type for
measuring the temperature of small objects moving at
high speed.
Radiation Pyrometers
Other Used Types Of Thermometer
Thermography (thermal imaging)
Quartz thermometers
Fibre-optic temperature sensors
Acoustic thermometers
Colour indicators
Change of state of materials
Intelligent temperature-measuring instruments
Temperature Switches
Temperature switches operate from temperature changes
occurring in an enclosure, or in the air surrounding the
temperature-sensing element.
The operation of the temperature switch is similar to the operation
of the pressure switch ,both switches are operated by changes in
pressure.
The temperature element is arranged so a change in temperature
causes a change in the internal pressure of a sealed-gas, air-filled
bulb, or helix, which is connected to the actuating device by a
small tube or pipe.
A temperature change causes a change in the volume of the
sealed-in gas, which causes movement of a bellows.
Temperature Switches
The movement is transmitted by a plunger to the switch
arm.
The moving contact is on the arm.
A fixed contact may be arranged so the switch will open
or close on a temperature rise.
This allows the switch contacts to be arranged to close
when the temperature drops to a predetermined value
and to open when the temperature rises to the desired
value.
The reverse action can be obtained by a change in the
contact positions.
Temperature Switches
Bimetallic Temperature Switch
Bimetallic thermal switches offer precise switching
temperatures and quick response times.
Consists of a bimetallic strip and a contact.
As the temperature rises, one of the metals will elongate
more than the other, forcing the strip to bend.
When the strip bends away from the contact, the circuit
is opened.
Cooling releases the tension in the strip, and the circuit
is closed.
Bimetallic Temperature Switch