Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Improving Industrial Temperature

Calibration Accuracy

©2014 Fluke Corporation Temperature Calibration

Best Practice in Temperature Calibration

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 2

All Measurements have Error

• All measurements, including calibration

measurements, have error
• For the measurement to be useful, we
need to possess some knowledge of
the magnitude of the error
• This error, or possible error, is referred
to as the measurement uncertainty

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 3

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Determination of Uncertainty

• Determination of the measurement uncertainty is a complex

operation that requires a detailed assessment of all of the
known sources of error as well as a quantification of the
dispersion of values on repeated measurements

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 4

Identify Sources of Error

• Reference Temperature

• UUT Measurement

• Thermal equilibrium

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 5

Combine all Uncertainties

• RSS (root-sum-square)
A method for combining uncertainties when they are the
same units and believed to behave independently
The combined effect of correlated uncertainties and
mixed units depends on the mathematical measurement
model

u total  (u1 ) 2  (u 2 ) 2  (u 3 ) 2  (u n ) 2

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 6

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

RSS Example

A = Reference probe accuracy is 0.01ºC

B = Reference probe readout accuracy 0.015ºC
C = Temperature source stability 0.01ºC
D = Temperature source uniformity 0.05ºC

Dominant Error
Source

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 7

TUR, a quick rule of thumb

• TUR of 4:1 is common

• If UUT test tolerance is 1⁰C, system (Thermometer Readout, Reference probe and
Heat source) should be accurate to 1⁰C / 4 (TUR = 4:1), so system accuracy
(uncertainty) should be 0.25°C

• RSS method

• If 4:1 cannot be achieved a more detailed uncertainty analysis should

be made to ensure there is adequate confidence in the measurement
result

*calibration accuracy and short term drift

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 8

Calibration system components

1. Readout for the UUT

2. Heat Source - Drywell or Liquid Bath
3. Reference (readout and probe) to compare to
(can be the drywell controller display)

Comparison

C F K Menu
1502 Your Sensor and
Readout
Probe Sample Comm Exit Enter

Or
External Reference
Thermometer

Dry-Well’s Thermometer/Controller
C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 9

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Thermometer Readouts

Digital Multi Meters

 Adequate in some situations
 Not efficient to use

Readout designed for temperature measurement

 More accurate
 Designed for ease of use

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 10

Readout - Principles of measurement

• Temperature is calculated from the readout

measuring of the sensor (resistance or voltage)
• The more accurately the readout measures the
sensor, the more accurate the displayed
temperature will be
• The more sensitive the sensor is, the less effect
measurement errors have on the displayed
temperature

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 11

Readout - Basic Formula for Error

ER
ET 
S
• ET: equivalent temperature error
• ER: readout measurement error
• S: sensor sensitivity

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 12

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Other Sources of Error

The temperature calculation might not be

accurate
• Sensor drift
• Erroneous characterization coefficients
• Poor calibration

The temperature of the sensor might be

different from the target
• Temperature gradient
• Self-heating

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 13

Other Readout Issues

• Current selection
• Filter settings
• 2 or 3 wire vs. 4 wire
• Long cables, poor quality
• Thermoelectric EMF
• Drift, calibration, environment

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 14

Reference Probes –
Prevent Out of Tolerance!

• Periodically measure the resistance at the triple point of

water (RTPW)
• Maintain a control chart of the values

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 15

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

RTPW Drift Control Chart

SPRT SN 1234 CONTROL RTPW CHART

25.53225
25.53224

25.53223
25.53222
25.532215
25.53221
25.53220

25.53219
RTPW

25.532186
25.53218
25.53217
25.53216
25.532155
25.53215
MAR01_93

OCT20_93

MAR13_94

OCT19_94

DEC15_94
APR02_93

MAY04_94

JAN15_95
date

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 16

Reference Probes

• Drift (by nature)

• Drift is a natural occurrence with resistors (including resistance
thermometers) and can increase or decrease with time.
• Usually the drift is minimal and does not adversely affect probe
performance
• Drift is not reversible

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 17

Robe - Causes of Drift

• Stress, strain, and shock

• Cold quenching

• Oxidation

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 18

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Probe Annealing

• Oxidation and strain can be reduced by annealing in high-

quality PRT probes
• Typically 480 °C or 660⁰ C is used

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 19

Close the Loop

• When probe is calibrated, check RTPW:

1. Before sending to calibration lab
2. When probe is returned to calibration lab
3. Periodically during use

• If possible, update RTPW in readout to remove drift

• Save money, send the probe out for calibration when it

needs it

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 20

Heat Sources

Drywells (& Metrology Wells)

Liquid Baths
Others?

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 21

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Drywell Strengths

Drywells work in Industrial calibration because:

 Portable
 Fast
 Wide temperature ranges
 Relatively inexpensive
 Easy to use

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 22

Drywell limitations

Uncertainty contributions for drywells

Axial and radial uniformity
Stability
Display accuracy
Block loading
Immersion depth
Environmental conditions
Probe fit and positioning issues

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 23

How you use a dry-well greatly affects

performance!

• Temperature range
• Generally errors are greater the further away from ambient
temperature

• Will dry-well temperature be measured using an

external reference or the internal control sensor and
display?

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 24

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

What errors are significant?

• Metrology wells and drywells are used for

comparison calibrations

• Comparison calibrations require thermal

equilibrium and consistency

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 25

Best Practice Reference Probes

• Always try and use a reference probe for

comparison calibration

Errors with Internal Reference

9171 Comparison
Control Senor Accuracy
0.16
Combined Uncertainty (°C)

Long-term Drift
0.14

Hysteresis 0.12

0.1
Axial Uniformity
0.08

Radial Uniformity 0.06

0.04
Loading Effect
0.02

Stability 0

Short-term Drift Built-in Reference & Hart 5626

Calibrated Display & Control Sensor
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12

Error (°C)

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 26

Axial Uniformity

• The temperature difference between the

top and bottom of the well
Insert
• Measurement zone is where axial
uniformity is smallest

• Axial uniformity in the measurement zone Probe

Sensors
needs to be known to determine
uncertainty

Measurem
ent Zone

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 27

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Radial Uniformity
Internal Control Sensor

• Radial uniformity is the

temperature difference
between holes and the
reference at the same depth

• Radial uniformity also needs to

be known to determine
uncertainty

• Radial uniformity is minimized

by placing the reference
sensor close to the UUT

External Reference Probe

Stem Conduction

• Heat conducted up the sheath

of the probe
d
• This is a function of the size
and type of material

• This error is minimized by

deeper immersion 15-20d

Loading Effect

• The number of probes will

impact the amount of heat
drawn from or into the well

• Loading effect is minimized

by well design

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Temperature Stability

• Stability is required to reach

thermal equilibrium Temperature Stability
±0.181°C – 30 min
• Probes need time to reach 250.25

equilibrium with surroundings ±0.046°C – 15 min

250.2

250.15

• Multiple measurements rarely 250.1

instantaneous 250.05

250

249.95

249.9

249.85

• Temperature stability error 249.8

minimised by design
249.75
10:00:00 10:03:20 10:06:40 10:10:00 10:13:20 10:16:40 10:20:00 10:23:20 10:26:40 10:30:00

• Accurate control with good ±0.017°C – 30 min

resolution ±0.011°C – 15 min
• Off the shelf controllers do not
provide exceptional stability

Control Sensor Hysteresis

Control Sensor Hysteresis

700

600
Actual Temperature, C

500

400 Heating
Error
Error Cooling
300 Average Value

200
Temperature Range
Midpoint
100

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Set Point Temperature, C

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 32

Best Practice Comparison Calibration

• Comparison Calibration
• Key error sources to consider
• Display accuracy
• Vertical temperature gradients
• Stability
• Probe fit and position
• Immersion depth

• Some other error sources

• Block loading
• Environmental conditions
• Procedural variance

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 33

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Best Practice Vertical Gradients

Drywells have vertical temperature

gradients

• EURAMET cg-13 requires

40mm (1.5 inches)

• Hart recommends 60mm (2.25 inches) for

Measurement
metrology well 917X

Zone

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 34

Best Practice Probe fit and position

• Always match the position of the

Reference probe and the UUT

• If possible match centre of sensing

element !
Vertical gradient

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 35

Best Practice Probe fit and position

Heat

• Stem conduction removes heat from the probe, this can

result in a low measurement

20d + sensor length

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 36

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Best Practice Probe fit and position

• Ensure the probe is a close fit

to the hole Air Gap
~0.25
mm
• Not multiple probes in the
same hole

• Not adding oils or pastes to the

insert!

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 37

Best Practice Summary

• Always try and use a reference probe

• Fully Immerse Probes.
• Reference and UUT at Same Depth.
• Similar Diameters.
• Similar sheath heat conduction characteristics.
• Snug Fit Into Sleeves.
• Allow Ample Time For Stability.

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 38

Liquid Baths

• Liquid baths are more uniform heat sources for comparison

measurements
• Always use a Reference Thermometer
• Follow same guidelines as drywells for best measurement
uncertainty

C. K. Ng @ 2011 Fluke Corporation Recent Advances in Resistance Thermometry Bridge 39

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Temperature Calibration with Minimized Uncertainty

Surabaya Seminar 2014

Thank You

©2014 Fluke Corporation Temperature Calibration

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