The study the characteristics of Integrated

Circuit Temperature Transducer

Objective:

 To describe the characteristics of an I.C Temperature Sensor

 Describe the construction and characteristics of Platinum RTD Resistance Transducer.

Tools/Software Requirement

 Transducers & Instrumentation Trainer

 Digital Multimeters
 Stopwatch
 Scientific Calculator

Recommended Books:
1. Measurement and Instrumentation, Theory and Application by Alan S. Morris and Reza
Langari.
2. Measurement and Instrumentation Principles 3rd Edition by Alan S. Morris.
3. The Essence of Measurement by Alan S. Morris.

Activity Time Boxing

Task No. Activity Name Activity Time

Lecture and overview by instructor
1 15 ~ 20 mins
2 Performing Experiment 120 ~140 mins
3 Results & Evaluation (signed by the instructor) 15 ~ 20 mins
Total Time: 180

Theory
Temperature sensor measures the amount of heat energy or even coldness that is generated by an
object or system. We can also say that it measures the degree of hotness or coldness of any object or
surrounding. There are many different types of Temperature sensor available and all have different
characteristics depending upon their actual applications. A temperature sensor consists of two basic
physical types:

• Contact Temperature Sensor Types

These types of temperature sensors are required to be in physical contact with the object being sensed
and use conduction to monitor changes in temperature. They can be used to detect temperature on
solids, liquids or gases over a wide range of temperatures.

• Non-contact Temperature Sensor Types

These types of temperature sensors use convection and radiation to monitor changes in temperature.
They can be used to detect liquids and gases that emit radiant energy as heat rises and cold settles to
the bottom in convection currents or detect the radiant energy being transmitted from an object in the
form of infra-red radiation (the sun). Now days, there are a wide variety of temperature sensor ICs
that are available to simplify the broadest possible range of temperature monitoring challenges. These
silicon temperature sensors differ significantly from the above-mentioned types in a couple of
important ways. The first is operating temperature range. A temperature sensor IC can operate over
the nominal IC temperature range of -55°C to +150°C. The second major difference is functionality.
A silicon temperature sensor is an integrated circuit, and can therefore include extensive signal
processing circuitry within the same package as the sensor. There is no need to add compensation
circuits for temperature sensor ICs. Some of these are analogue circuits with either voltage or current
output. Others combine analogue-sensing circuits with voltage comparators to provide alert functions.

LM35 (IC Sensor):

This is an integrated circuit containing 16 transistors, 9 resistors and 2 capacitors contained in a
transistor type package. The device reference number is LM35 and it provides an output of 10mV/°K.
Measurements of the output voltage therefore indicate the temperature directly in degrees Kelvin. For
example, at a temperature of 20°C (293°K) the output voltage will be 2.93V. The circuit arrangement
provided with the IC Temperature Sensor on the unit is shown in Fig 2.1:

Figure 2.1 Circuit Diagram of LM 35

A 2-pin socket is provided for the connection of an external LM35 unit if desired.
Note: An LM35 unit is mounted on the Type "K" Thermocouple panel, external to the heated
enclosure and fitted in a heat sink together with another type "K" thermocouple, its output being
available from the REF socket on that panel. The output from this can be used as an indication of the
ambient temperature outside the heated enclosure, and that from the INT. socket in Fig 2.1 indicates
the temperature within the heated enclosure.
The output from the REF socket does not give an accurate value of the room (ambient) temperature
when the heater is in use, due mainly to heat passing along the PCB by conduction from the heater.
An LM35 remotely mounted or some other method is necessary if accurate measurement of ambient
temperature is required.

Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD):

A Resistance Thermometer or Resistance Temperature Detector is a device which is used to
determine the temperature by measuring the resistance of pure electrical wire. This wire is referred to
as a temperature sensor. The construction of the Platinum RTD Transducer is shown in Fig.2.2,
consisting of a thin film of platinum deposited on a ceramic substrate and having gold contact plates
at each end that make contact with the film. The platinum film is trimmed with a laser beam to cut a
spiral for a resistance of 100Ω at 0°C. The resistance of the film increases as the temperature
increases. It has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC). The increase in resistance is linear, the
relationship between resistance changes and temperature rise being 0.385Ω/°C .

Figure 2.2 Schematic Diagram of Resistance Temperature Detector

Rt = R0 + 0.385t Eq. (i)

Where Rt = resistance at temperature t ℃
R0 = resistance at 0 ℃

Normally, the unit would be connected to a DC supply via a series resistor and the voltage
developed across the transducer is measured. The current flow through the transducer will then
cause some self-heating, the temperature rises due to this being of the order of 0.2 ℃ /mW
dissipated in the transducer.
The very simple electrical circuit arrangement of the unit is as shown in Fig 2.3.
 Figure 2.3 Simplistic Circuit Arrangement

The white dot signifies that this is a PTC, not NTC (negative temperature coefficient) type
of resistor which would have a black dot.

In the practical exercise you will connect the platinum RTD in series with a high resistance to a DC
supply and measure the voltage drop across it. Due to the small variation of resistance, the current
change will be negligible and the voltage drop across the transducer will be directly proportional to
its resistance.

Procedure
A. Measuring Temperature Rise Using IC LM35

Figure 2.4 Circuit Diagram for I.C Temp. Sensor

1. Connect a voltmeter to the circuit as shown in Fig 2.4.

2. Switch the power supply ON and note the output voltage, this (x100) representing the
ambient temperature in °C. Record the values in Table 2.1.
3. Connect the +12V supply to the heater input socket and note the voltage reading every
minute until the value stabilizes. Record the values in Table 2.1. (Note K = ℃ +
273.)
4. Enter your temperature in degree Celsius and then switch off the power supply.
This Exercise illustrates the characteristics of the LM35 transducer, indicates the maximum
temperature rise possible using the heater supplied at 12V, and also gives you an idea of the
time scale required for the unit to reach stable conditions.

B. Characteristics of a Platinum RTD Transducer

 Figure 2.5 Circuit Connections for RTD
1. Set the carbon track of the 10kΩ to mid-way and connect the circuit as shown in Figure above,
with the digital multimeter set to its 200mV or 2V DC range.
2. Switch ON the power supply and adjust the slider control so that the voltage drop across the
platinum RTD is 108mV (0.108V) as indicated by the digital multimeter.
3. This calibrates the platinum RTD for an assumed ambient temperature of 20 ℃, since the
resistance of the RTD at 20℃ will be 108Ω. Note that the voltage reading across the RTD in

mV is the same as the RTD resistance in Ω, since the current flowing must be

Note: If the ambient temperature differs from 20℃, the voltage can be set to the correct value for this
ambient temperature if desired:
4. Set the voltmeter to its 20V range and measure the REF output and multiply the volts read
by 100 to obtain the ambient temperature:

Voltage x 100 = temperature in C

RTD resistance = 100 + 0.385 x C.
Set the voltage drop across the RTD for this value by using carbon track.
5. Connect the voltmeter, set to its 20V DC range, to the INT output of the IC Temperature Sensor.
This represents the RTD temperature (voltage x 100 = temperature in °C ). Record the
temperature in the first column of Table 2.2.
6. Connect a second voltmeter, set to its 200mV range, to measure the voltage output from the
RTD transducer. This voltage (in mV) is equal to the RTD resistance (in Ω . Record the
resistance in the first column of the table 2.2.
7. Connect the +12V supply to the Heater Element input and record the RTD temperature (in °C )
and RTD resistance (in Ω after each of the times given in the table 2.2.
8. Plot the graph of RTD resistance (Ω) against temperature (℃) on the axes provided.
Observations & Calculations

Table 2.1 Record Voltage values and calculate its corresponding Temperature

Time (minutes) 0 1 2 3 4 5

RTD K 303.9 304.24 304.68 305.09 305.5 305.87

Temperature C      
     
Voltage      
   

Graph 2.1

Temperature Time Graph

35.5
35
34.5
Temperature

34
33.5
33
32.5
32
31.5
0 1 2 3 4 5

Time

Series1

Plot graph for Time (x-axis) vs Temperature (y-axis)

Table 2.2 Record the values of RTD Temperature and RTD Resistance

Time (minutes) 0 1 2 3 4 5

RTD K 306 306.6 306.9 307.2 307.8 308.1

Temperature C 33.0 33.6 33.9 34.2 34.8 35.1

RTD Resistance      

     
Graph 2.2

Plot a graph for RTD Temperature (x-axis) and RTD resistance (y-axis)

Precautions
 Verify that all connections are connected as indicated in the practice to avoid damaging
components.
 Try not to overload the sensor output.
 The main power supply must never be connected until all the connections are properly fixed.
While changing the connections, always have the main power supply disconnected.
 Normally, color of terminals mean the contact type, to see below:
RED terminals represent positive supply and they are labeled as +Vs.
BLACK terminals represent negative supply and they are labeled as –Vs.
GREEN terminals represent signal outputs.
YELLOW terminals represent signal inputs.
 Do not apply voltage to the outputs of the measuring blocks (green terminals).
 Remember to disconnect the power supply when you are not working with the module and while
changing the subsections within the trainer.
 Do not exceed the maximum voltages ratings specified.
 Do not change the polarity.
Conclusion

Post Lab Activity

1. Calculate the power dissipation in the RTD Transducer at a temperature of 50C

when the standard circuit current of 1mA flows in it.
Power dissipation in the RTD Transducer = W

2. Is the resistance/temperature characteristic linear?

Yes No

Yes, Resistance/Temperature characteristic is linear.

When temperature goes up, resistance goes up. For some materials, resistivity is a linear
function of temperature. The resistivity of a conductor increases with temperature.
3. What have you learnt about Temperature Transducers?
A device that is used to converts the thermal quantity into any physical quantity such
as mechanical energy, pressure and electrical signals etc., is known as Temperature
Transducer. For example, in a thermocouple the electrical potential difference is
produced due to temperature difference across its terminals.
Evaluation Criteria:

Performance Exemplary Satisfactory Developing Unsatisfactor Marks

Criteria y
(9-10) (6-8) (3-5)
(0-2)
Procedure Steps of Steps of Steps of Procedure is
experiments are experiments are experiments are missing.
clear, sequential present but lacking incomplete and
and in complete completeness. procedure is Result and
sentences. Picture lacking. Result analysis is also
of steps if needed Result & Analysis and analysis is not recorded.
are included. are written in also lacking.
Result & Analysis incomplete
are written in a sentence.
complete form.

Exemplary Satisfactory Developing Unsatisfactor Marks

y
(5) (3-4) (1-2)
(0)
Understandin Understands Understands Understands Wasn’t able to
g the Concept everything of the majority of the few things. explain
topic. portion. anything.

Lab Instructor: Dr. Waheed Ur Rehman/L.E Wahaj Rafique