Experimental Methods

NG0H203

Review of Sensor Technology for Engineering Measurements Temperature Sensors

Lecturer: Mrs Rhian Kerton Name: Adrian Secan Enrolment Number: 12032239

I. Summary
As a result of this report I can say that different sensors are required for different types of applications or experiments. Liquid in glass thermometer is good in applications where the accuracy of the thermometer is not that important and only few measurements are needed. Thermocouple sensor is the most used sensor in industries application worldwide because it has a medium price and can provide a acceptable accuracy. The platinum resistance thermometer is an expensive thermometer which can be used in most of the industrial application but because of the price it should be used just in some specific environments where the thermocouple sensor is not good. Radiation sensors are the most expensive thermometers available on the market and they are usually used just in some fields of the industries or experiments because of the price. It is used just in some circumstances when a platinum resistance thermometer is not suitable for that measurement. The main reason why this sensor is choose is that it can measure temperature from distance without being affected of environmental factors as vibration and shock.

II. Table of contents

I. Summary----------------------------------------------------------------- i 1) Introduction------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2) Procedure---------------------------------------------------------------- 1 2.1. Platinum resistance thermometry---------------------------1 2.2. Liquid in glass thermometry-------------------------------- 3 2.3. Thermocouple thermometry---------------------------------5 2.4. Radiation thermometry-------------------------------------- 6 3) Conclusion-------------------------------------------------------------- 7 3) Symbols------------------------------------------------------------------8 4) References---------------------------------------------------------------8

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1) Introduction
The construction and application of temperature sensors may vary from the aim of use. The subject of the report is review of temperature sensors. The purpose is finding the advantageously type of sensor for different aims of use and ranges of temperature measurement. This report analyses different types of sensors from different points of view: Construction material. The range of the temperature which can be measured. Durability.

2) Procedure
In the report 4 sensors are analysed and they are: 1st. Platinum resistance thermometry. 2nd. Liquid in glass thermometry. 3rd. Thermocouple thermometry. 4th. Radiation thermometry.

2.1. Platinum resistance thermometry

Platinum resistance thermometry (PRTs) is exceptional temperature sensors. It can measure temperature in the range -259 C to 960 C. They can be use many times and they still provide a good resistance bridge. The market has a generous offer of PRT from small ones, standard PRT (SPRT) to big industrial ones which are specific just for several ranges of temperature. The simplest platinum resistance thermometry is a coil of wire mounted in an insulating support which is made out of steel for range between -200C and 250C, glass for -200C and 450C,quartz for -200 and 960C(see Fig,1) . In the construction process of the resistance thermometer the essential objective is to be sure that the metal is in touch whit the temperature and it is unresponsive to other environmental factors like: humidity, pressure, vibration and corrosive chemicals. The PRT becomes instable when is exposed to mechanical shock and thermal expansion. The errors caused by mechanical shock and thermal expansion may be split in to four groups: thermal contact errors, sensor errors, signal transmission error and signal processing error. All the errors may be established whit simple tests. It is easy to separate the parts in a PRT and identify the cause of the error. The clarity of operation allowed platinum resistance thermometry to become such an accurate and reliable thermometer. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994) The three main factors consult before choosing a PRT are; a. Accuracy A calibrated PRT have a accuracy between 1C and 1 mK depending on the price and range of temperature to be measured.
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b. Temperature range The temperature range to be measure is ~ -200 C to ~ 950 C c. Environment The major problems are shocks and vibration.

Fig.1 The accuracy and range that can be achieved with full supported, partially supported and standard PRT.

Fig.2
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The resistance of nickel, copper and platinum as a function of temperature.

Fig.3 Examples of industrial platinum resistance thermometer elements. 1. A thick film element. 2. A PRT designed for printed circuit mounting. 3, 4. Glass PRT. 5, 6. Ceramic PRT. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994, pp.153-98)

2.2. Liquid in glass thermometry

The first form of thermometer was liquid in glass thermometer and it was used for at least two hundred years as most accurate thermometer, until new types of thermometer were developed. This thermometer was very important and helps a lot in the development of temperature measurement. It can measure temperature in the range -190 C to 600 C but for a high precision thermometer the right one is platinum resistance thermometer which gives superior performance and is accessible with modern resistance bridge. The cheapest temperature sensor on the market is a liquid in glass thermometry. It is still used in many specified tests where only few temperature measurements are required and because of the low price. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994)

The thermometer has four fundamental parts (see Fig4) : Bulb -a container which hold the liquid and is made of a very thin glass Stem -a capillarity tube made of glass Liquid(see table 1) -most of the time mercury or an organic liquid Markings -most of the time printed on the steam. Liquid Expansion Temperature Rate( ) range

Mercury Ethanol Pentane Toluene

0.000 16 -35 to 510 C 0.001 04 -80 to 60 C 0.001 45 -200 to 30C 0.001 03 -80 to 100 C Table.1 Working range of some thermometric liquids. Fig.4 Liquid in glass thermometer, main parts. The errors which may appear when the thermometer is used are complex and really hard to define because it is a compact instrument and usually it is impossible to open it and look for possible causes. It is very important to be careful before choosing a liquid in glass thermometer for an experiment because of the errors which may appear, if the experiment doesnt require high precision or extreme of the usable range because of its low cost liquid in glass thermometer is the right one. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994) The main advantages of this thermometer are: Fully self-contained. Chemical inertness. Low susceptibility to electrical interference. Low thermal conductivity. Lower initial cost. The usage of liquid in glass thermometer needs some special attention because it is fragile: Do not knock the thermometer; it will cause inevitable changes in the accuracy of the thermometer.
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 In an experiment thermometer should stay all the time vertically and dont rest it on the bulb. Do not use the thermometer at the maximum or minimum temperature of its range. Because it is fragile do not put any pressure on it and avoid vibration. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994, pp.199-236)

2.3. Thermocouple thermometry

Thermocouple is the most used thermometer in the world. They are simply build and very reliable, that recommend them for many industrial application. When high accuracy is required is recommended another type of sensor. A big manufacture of thermocouple said Once a thermocouple has been used at a high temperature, however, it is not good practice to use it later at a low temperature, that means: uses the same thermocouple for high temperature or for low temperature, do not use it for both. The thermocouple is usually called thermoelectric effect because they include both electricity and heat. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994)

Fig.5 A basic thermocouple circuit.

The market offers a wide range of thermocouple and they are split in three big groups: Rare-metal standard thermocouples. -This thermocouple is inert chemically. -They are 3 types: B, R and S. -All of them are build whit platinum and its alloys and whit rhodium. -The sheaths should be made of high-purity insulators or platinum. -The major disadvantage of Rare metal standard thermocouple is the high cost. Base-metal standard thermocouples. -They are not as good as rare-metal thermocouples. -They are 5 types: T, J, K, E and N. -They all oxide easily. -The best usage for them is measure temperature in a fixed location over a limited temperature range.
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 And non standard thermocouples. -They are more than 200 types. -They were developed to measure temperature in difficult situation. -They are used in industries to measure temperature up to 3000C. The errors in measurement whit a thermocouple thermometer appear usually because of the interaction whit mechanical and chemical effects. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994, pp.239-81)

2.4. Radiation thermometry

Radiation thermometry is completely different than others thermometers. The main advantage is that this thermometer can measure temperature from distance. Anyway some time the measurement from distance cause errors because many gases are not completely transparent. These thermometers are the most expensive on the market and before choosing one for an experiment the market should be checked and see if other type of thermometer is not good enough for the purpose of the experiment. Radiation thermometer has 3 main futures: Thermodynamic. Non-contact thermometer. It uses the surface of the object as a sensor. Spectral-band thermometer is the most used radiation thermometer in the world. The Fig.6 explains simply how it operates. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994)

Fig.6 Main parts and how a radiation thermometer operates.

The most common errors which appear when the measurement is don whit a spectral-band thermometer fall in to three gropes:
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 Characterisation of the sensor errors: reflections and fluoresce. Transmission path errors: absorption and size of the object. Signal processing errors: variation in ambient temperature and instrumental emissivity. Usually before choosing a radiation thermometer for an experiment the market should be checked and see if a contact thermometer is not better for the purpose of the experiment because contact thermometer are more accurate then the radiation ones. Anyway in some situations the radiation thermometer is required and these situations are: A fast feedback is required. A far away measurement is required. If the temperature is above 1100 C and the measurement is for a long period of time. The object to be measured is moving. The environment is too hostile for a contact thermometer because of vibration and corrosion. (J.V.Nicholas, 1994, pp.283-325)

3) Conclusion
In conclusion I finished my review about temperature sensors. After I analysed the four sensors: platinum resistance thermometer, liquid in glass thermometer, thermocouple thermometer and radiation thermometer; I can affirm that all of them have some industrial application but this depends on some factors which needs to be consulted before choosing one of this sensor. The factors are: Price. Range of the temperature to be measured. Environmental factors. All of these four sensors have a different price from very cheap ones like liquid in glass whit an organic fluid to very expensive ones like radiation thermometer. For simple experiments where just a few measurements are required I recommend a liquid in glass thermometer because is not very expensive and for general industrial use I recommend a thermocouple thermometer because of the decent accuracy and long term use. In some situations where a high accuracy is required or where the environment is hostile because of vibration or corrosion, I recommend for the first situation a platinum resistance sensor and for the second one a radiation sensor.

4) Symbols
PRT - Platinum resistance thermometry mK - millikelvin

5) Reference
J.V.Nicholas, D.R.W., 1994. Traceable Temperatures. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Turner, J., March ,2009. Momentum Press,pp.85-107 . New York: Momentum Press. Materials, A.S.o.T.a., 1993. Manual on The Use of Thermocouples in Temperature Measurement. West Conshohocken, PA: MNL 12. L. Michalski, K.E.a.J.M., 1991. Temperature Measurement. London: John Wiley & Sons.