Laboratory Report Submission Form

CLB 21303 - PROCESS INSTRUMENTATION &

CONTROL

Section:
To: EN SYAHIDI FADZLI BIN ALFAN

Student Name: ID No.: Date of Submission:

1) 1)
2) 2)
3) 3) Submitted by:
4) 4)
5) 5)

Title of Experiment: Date of Experiment:

Thermocouple/RTD Measurement & Calibration

CRITERIA V.POOR POOR GOOD V.GOOD EXCELLENT

OBJECTIVES (5%)
1 2 3 4 5
State the objectives of the experiment (preferably in point form).
INTRODUCTION & THEORY (20%)
1. Explain the background and processes in the experiment using P&ID. 4 8 12 16 20
2. Summaries of the theories and/or formulations involved in the experiment.
RESULTS & DISCUSSION (40%)
1. Data presented are appropriate with complete labels and units.
8 16 24 32 40
2. The presented data/tables/figures are well explained and justified based on theories.
3. The data/findings are discussed and infered based on the objectives of the experiment.
CONCLUSIONS (20%)
1. Summaries of the findings of the experiment and the related theories. 4 8 12 16 20
2. Recommendations of improvements in experimental apparatus/procedures/parameters.
REFERENCES (5%) 1 2 3 4 5
FORMAT/LANGUAGE/TIDINESS/PUNCTUAL SUBMISSION/INITIATIVES (10%) 2 4 6 8 10
Signature & Stamp:
TOTAL MARKS (100%)

COMMENTS:

OBJECTIVES
To study the principle and operation of level measurement using RTD and calibration.

INTRODUCTION & THEORY

A thermocouple, also known as a thermal junction, thermoelectric thermometer, or thermal, is a

temperature-measuring device made up of two wires of different metals connected at each end.
The temperature is measured at one junction, while the other is kept at a constant lower
temperature. The circuit is wired with a measuring instrument. The temperature difference causes
the formation of an electromotive force (known as the Seebeck effect) proportional to the
temperature difference between the two junctions. Temperature can be read from standard tables
or by calibrating the measuring instrument to read temperature directly.

The thermoelectric effect can be observed in any two different metals or metal alloys. Only a
few, such as antimony and bismuth, copper and iron, or copper and constantan, are used as
thermocouples (a copper-nickel alloy). Platinum is commonly used in high-temperature
thermocouples, alone or in combination with rhodium or platinum-rhodium alloy.
Thermocouples are classified into several types based on the metals used to make the wires (type
E [nickel, chromium, and constantan], J [iron and constantan], N [two nickel-silicon alloys, one
of which contains chromium and magnesium], or B [a platinum-rhodium alloy]. Because of its
wide temperature range (from about 200 to 1,260 °C [300 to 2,300 °F]) and low cost, K (nickel-
aluminum and nickel-chromium wires) is the most commonly used type.

A thermopile is a series connection of thermocouples. Its output is comparable to an average of

several temperature readings. A series circuit also has higher sensitivity and power output, which
can be used to operate a device like a gas stove safety valve without needing external power. A
thermocouple is a type of temperature sensor. It comprises at least two metals joined together to
form two junctions. When heat is applied, a voltage (mV) is produced, and the junction produces
a thermal electromotive force (emf) when junctions are at different temperatures. Thermocouples
have two measuring junctions. It is both a hot and a cold junction. The hot junction is the end of
the probe inserted into the medium to measure temperature, while the cold junction is connected
to the measurement device. The voltage produced is temperature dependent. Total circuit voltage
(emf) and emf at the junction have the following relationship:

Circuit emf = Measurement emf – Reference emf

A Thermocouple is directly connected to a Temperature Transmitter in the temperature

measurement circuit. To measure temperature differences, hot and cold junctions can be placed
anywhere.

An RTD is a passive circuit whose resistance improves predictably at higher temperatures. A

small coil of platinum, copper, or nickel wire wound to a precise resistance value around a
ceramic or glass bobbin is the traditional RTD element. For industrial use, the winding is typical
of the helix variety.

Platinum is the most commonly used RTD element material because it is more accurate, reliable,
chemically resistant, and stable than other metals, making it less susceptible to environmental
contamination and corrosion. It is also simple to manufacture and widely standardized, with
readily available pure platinum wire and excellent reproducibility of its electrical properties.
Platinum also has a higher melting point, allowing it to operate at a more comprehensive
temperature range. The maximum application temperature of an RTD sensor is generally limited
by the wires that connect to the sensing element and the wire insulation.

Temperature measurement necessitates precise resistance measurement. It must be converted to

voltage to measure resistance and used to drive a differential input amplifier. A differential input
amplifier is required because it rejects common mode noise on the RTD leads and provides the
highest voltage sensitivity.

Generally, the RTD signal is measured by connecting the RTD element in one leg of a
Wheatstone bridge to either a constant reference voltage or a precision current reference and
measuring the corresponding intensity resistance (IR) voltage drop. The latter method is
generally preferred because it depends less on the RTD element's reference resistance. The RTD
principle is that each metal has a unique composition and a different resistance to electrical
current flow. The electrical resistance of most metals changes directly proportionally to
temperature. The temperature coefficient of electrical resistance is called (TCR). RTD stands for
high-precision wire wound resistor. Temperature can also be measured by measuring resistance.
A Wheatstone bridge RTD can detect minor variations in the resistance temperature transmitter.
The circuit compared the value of the RTD to three readily available and highly accurate
resistors. A Wheatstone bridge comprises three resistors, a voltmeter, and a voltage source, and
as the temperature rises, so does the voltage

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Reference ambient temperature read at thermometer: 30C.
No Thermometer Reading (C) Average
 1 30 30
2 30

Table 1 Recorded Data for Temperature at 30C

RUN 1 UNI TE1(K) TE2(J) TE3(RTD)

T SET SET AVG SET SET AVG SET1 SET2 AVG
1 2 1 2
A Temperatu C 31.6 31.6 31.6 31.1 31.1 31.1 31.8 31.8 31.8
re
B1 MV from mV 1285 1640
B2 TC table Ω 112.4
5
C1 Measured mV 0.03 0.03 0.0325 0.04 0.03 0.0395
signal 3 2 0 9
C2 Ω 111.7 111.7 111.7
6 6 6
D1=B1+ Actual mV 1285.03 1640.03
C1 Signal 25 95
D2=C2 Ω 111.7
6
E Calculated C 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32
Temperatu
re
F=[E-A] Temperatu C 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.2
re
Deviation

Reference ambient temperature read at thermometer: 40C.

No Thermometer Reading (C) Average
1 40 40
2 40

Table 2 Recorded Data for Temperature at 40C

RUN 1 UNI TE1(K) TE2(J) TE3(RTD)

T SET1 SET2 AVG SET1 SET2 AVG SET1 SET2 AVG
A Temperatur C 40.2 40.2 40.2 40.4 40.4 40.4 40.1 40.1 40.1
e
B1 MV from TC mV 1652 2111
B2 table Ω 115.93
C1 Measured mV 0.37 0.37 0.375 0.49 0.48 0.4865
signal 4 6 1 2
 C2 Ω 115.7 115.7 115.76
7 6 5
D1=B1+C Actual mV 1652.37 2111.486
1 Signal 5 5
D2=C2 Ω 115.76
5
E Calculated C 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
Temperatur
e
F=[E-A] Temperatur C 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.9 0.9 0.9
e Deviation
Reference ambient temperature read at thermometer: 50C.
No Thermometer Reading (C) Average
1 50 50
2 50

Table 3 Recorded Data for Temperature at 50C

RUN 1 UNI TE1(K) TE2(J) TE3(RTD)

T SET SET AVG SET SET AVG SET1 SET2 AVG
1 2 1 2
A Temperatu C 50.6 50.6 50.6 50.6 50.6 50.6 50.1 50.1 50.1
re
B1 MV from mV 2064 2638
B2 TC table Ω 119.78
C1 Measured mV 0.73 0.71 0.7215 0.92 0.94 0.932
signal 2 1 1 3
C2 Ω 119.7 119.7 119.74
2 7 5
D1=B1+ Actual mV 2064.72 7638.9
C1 Signal 15 32
D2=C2 Ω 119.74
5
E Calculated C 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51
Temperatu
re
F=[E-A] Temperatu C 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.9 0.9 0.9
re
Deviation

Reference ambient temperature read at thermometer: 60C.

No Thermometer Reading (C) Average
1 60 60
2 60
 Table 4 Recorded Data for Temperature at 60C

RUN 1 UNI TE1(K) TE2(J) TE3(RTD)

T SET1 SET2 AVG SET1 SET2 AVG SET1 SET2 AVG
A Temperatur C 60.4 60.4 60.4 60.7 60.7 60.7 60.0 60.0 60.0
e
B1 MV from TC mV 2477 3168
B2 table Ω 123.2
4
C1 Measured mV 1.05 1.04 1.048 1.33 1.33 1.333
signal 5 1 4 2
C2 Ω 123.5 123.5 123.5
4 6 5
D1=B1+C Actual mV 2478.04 3169.33
1 Signal 8 3
D2=C2 Ω 123.5
5
E Calculated C 61 61 61 61 61 61 60 60 60
Temperatur
e
F=[E-A] Temperatur C 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.00 0.00 0.00
e Deviation
This experiment was to study the principle and operation of level measurement using
thermocouple. Also, to study the principle and operation of level measurement using RTD and
calibration. Thermocouple is a temperature measuring device and used for measuring
temperature in form of an electric current or the EMF. Thermocouple also consists of two wires
of different metals which are together at the ends. Besides that, Resistance Temperature
Detectors (RTD) is an electronic device that used to determine the temperature by measuring the
resistance of an electrical wire. RTD can be used with high accuracy as it has a good linear
characteristic wide range of temperature.

It started with switch on the main supply and check all the pump discharged valve are fully open.
Then, fill the tank T1 with water up to overflow level and open cap of TE1, TE2 and TE3. This
experiment has run 6 times with different temperature which is 30°C, 40°C, 50°C,and 60°C and
two set of temperature were taken. Each run was recording the reading of A, B1, B2. C1 and C2
and from the data D1 and D2 can be obtained. Then, for E it can be obtained by calculation of
interpolation.
Based on result at the temperature of 30C, there is slightly difference between TE1 and TE2
measured signal which 0.0325 mV and 0.0395 mV. As for the temperature at 40C, 50C and
60C the measured signal for TE1 is higher than TE2, 0.375 mV and 0.4865 mV, 0.7215 mV and
0.932 mV, 1.048mV and 1.333 mV respectively. Based on theory, TE1 (type K) is more accurate
and has wide temperature range than TE2 (type J). The accuracy of type K standard is at +/- 2.2C
or +/- 75% and their special limits of error is at +/- 1.1C or 0.4% (Thermocouple). Also, the type
K thermocouple grade wire are wider than type J which at -270C to 1260C and - 210C to
760C. Besides that, type K thermocouples may be used up to 1260 °C in non-oxidizing or inert
atmospheres without rapid aging.

In addition, result for measure signal TE3 RTD at temperature 30C are higher than the actual
signal (D2) at 111.76Ω and 112.45Ω. As for temperature 40C, 55C and 60C the measured
signal is higher than actual signal (D2) which 115.93Ω and 115.765Ω, 119.78Ω and 119.745 Ω,
123.24 Ω and 123.55 Ω. Based on theory, RTD are generally more accurate and linearity than
thermocouple and RTD more stable than thermocouple.

Not to forget while running this experiment, some error may occur and it will affect the reading.
To avoid the error, always take the reading carefully as the parallax error could be avoided.
Other than that, understand the lab manual before running the experiment. Lastly since the
experiment has been done at the room temperature, ensure the environment aspects are kept
constant to make sure the quality of the experiment thus the temperature reading is not affected
much.
CONCLUSIONS
REFERENCES

1. Resistance Temperature Detector - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Retrieved October

29, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/resistance-temperature-detector

2. What is an RTD | Understanding RTD Sensors | TE Connectivity. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29,
2022, from https://www.te.com/usa-en/industries/sensor-solutions/insights/understanding-
rtds.html

3. electrometer | instrument. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2022, from

https://www.britannica.com/technology/electrometer