CHARACTERISTICS OF THERMOCOUPLE,RTD AND THERMISTOR

Aim:
1 To measure the temperature using thermocouple, RTD and Thermistor 2 To study the characteristics of thermocouple, RTD and Thermistor

Apparatus:
1. Temperature transducers 2. Water Kettle 3. Glass Bead Thermometer

Theory:
THERMOCOUPLE: A thermocouple consists of two dissimilar conductors in contact, which produce a voltage when heated. The voltage produced is dependent on the difference of temperature of the junction to other parts of the circuit. Thermocouples are a widely used type of temperature sensor for measurement and control and can also be used to convert a temperature gradient into electricity Any junction of dissimilar metals will produce an electric potential related to temperature. Thermocouples for practical measurement of temperature are junctions of specific alloys which have a predictable and repeatable relationship between temperature and voltage. Different alloys are used for different temperature ranges. Properties such as resistance to corrosion may also be important when choosing a type of thermocouple. Where the measurement point is far from the measuring instrument, the intermediate connection can be made by extension wires which are less costly than the materials used to make the sensor. Thermocouples are usually standardized against a reference temperature of 0 degrees Celsius; practical instruments use electronic methods of cold-junction compensation to adjust for varying temperature at the instrument terminals. Electronic instruments can also compensate for the varying characteristics of the thermocouple, and so improve the precision and accuracy of measurements. Thermocouples are widely used in science and industry; applications include temperature measurement for kilns, gas turbine exhaust, diesel engines, and other industrial processes.

RTD: Resistance thermometers, also called resistance temperature detectors ('RTD's), are sensors used to measure temperature by correlating the resistance of the RTD element with temperature. Most RTD elements consist of a length of fine coiled wire wrapped around a ceramic or glass core. The element is usually quite fragile, so it is often placed inside a sheathed probe to protect it. The RTD element is made from a pure material, typically platinum, nickel or copper. The material has a predictable change in resistance as the temperature changes; it is this predictable change that is used to determine temperature. They are slowly replacing the use of thermocouples in many industrial applications below 600 C, due to higher accuracy and repeatability. Common RTD sensing elements constructed of platinum, copper or nickel have a unique, and repeatable and predictable resistance versus temperature relationship (R vs T) and operating temperature range. The R vs T relationship is defined as the amount of resistance change of the sensor per degree of temperature change.[3] The relative change in resistance (temperature coefficient of resistance) varies only slightly over the useful range of the sensor. Platinum is a noble metal and has the most stable resistance-temperature relationship over the largest temperature range. Nickel elements have a limited temperature range because the amount of change in resistance per degree of change in temperature becomes very non-linear at temperatures over 572 F (300 C). Copper has a very linear resistance-temperature relationship, however copper oxidizes at moderate temperatures and cannot be used over 302 F (150 C). Platinum is the best metal for RTDs because it follows a very linear resistance-temperature relationship and it follows the R vs. T relationship in a highly repeatable manner over a wide temperature range. The unique properties of platinum make it the material of choice for temperature standards over the range of -272.5 C to 961.78 C, and is used in the sensors that define the International Temperature Standard, ITS-90. Platinum is chosen also because of its chemical inertness. The significant characteristic of metals used as resistive elements is the linear approximation of the resistance versus temperature relationship between 0 and 100 C. This temperature coefficient of resistance is called alpha, . The equation below defines ; its units are ohm/ohm/C.

R0 the resistance of the sensor at 0C R100 the resistance of the sensor at 100C Pure platinum has an alpha of 0.003925 ohm/ohm/C in the 0 to 100C range and is used in the construction of laboratory grade RTDs.

Thermistor A thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance varies significantly with temperature, more so than in standard resistors.. Thermistors are widely used as inrush current limiters, temperature sensors, self-resetting over current protectors, and self-regulating heating elements. Thermistors differ from resistance temperature detectors (RTD) in that the material used in a thermistor is generally a ceramic or polymer, while RTDs use pure metals. The temperature response is also different; RTDs are useful over larger temperature ranges, while thermistors typically achieve a higher precision within a limited temperature range, typically 90 C to 130 C. A thermistor is made from a semiconductor material. It is shaped into a disc, a rod or a bead. Bead thermistors may be only a few millimeters in diameter. Some bead thermistors have the bead enclosed in a glass capsule.

Because of their small size, bead thermistors respond very rapidly to changes of temperature. Thermistors have two terminal wires. The resistance of most thermistors decreases as temperature increases. These are negative temperature coefficient thermistors, or NTC thermistors. Thermistors with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) are also made, but are less often used. Thermistors are used in circuits that measure temperature or respond in other ways to temperature. They may also be used in circuits that could be put out of adjustment by changes of temperature. The thermistors automatically compensate for the temperature changes.

Procedure
Check connections made and switch ON the instrument by rocker switch at the front panel. The display glows to indicate the instrument is ON Allow the instrument in ON position for 10 minutes for initial warm up. Pour around th full of water to kettle and place sensors and thermometer inside the kettle Note down the initial water temperature from the thermometer Adjust the initial set potentiometer in the front panel till the display reads initial water temperature Switch on the kettle and wait till the water boils note down the reading in the thermometer and set final set potentiometer till the display reads boiling water temperature. Remove the sensor from boiling water and immerse it in the cold water. Set the cold water temperature using initial set potentiometer Repeat the process till display reads exact boiling water and cold water temperature Change the water in the kettle and reheat the water. Now the display starts showing exact temperature rises in the kettle. Note down the readings for every 100C rise in temperature and tabulate the readings in tabular column for indicator and thermometer reading .

Table:1 SL.NO

Temperature measurement ACTUAL INDICATOR O READING C READING OC (THERMOMETER)

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS %ERROR=(Actual Temp Indicated Temp)/Actual Temperature Table:2 SL.NO CHARACTERISTICS OF TEMPERATURE SENSOR ACTUAL OUTPUT O READING C VOLTAGE (THERMOMETER)

RESULT:
Study and characteristics of temperature transducers is done

CHARACTERISTICS OF LOAD-CELL