4.

Bimetallic Thermometers
T. J. CLAGGETT, R. W. WORRALL (1969, 1982) S. EDVI, J. E. JAMISON (2003) B. G. LIPTK
(1995)
TI Flow Sheet Symbol

Temperature Ranges:

Minimum standard span is 150F (50C); maximum standard span is 800F (450C). Standard ranges in approximately 15 steps are available from 100 to 125F (70 to 50C) up to 200 to 1000F (100 to 550C). According to DIN 16203, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) sector has graduated, indicating ranges from 22 to 392F (30 to 200C). External parts are made of copper alloys, stainless steel, or CrNi steel with acrylic or industrial sheet glass view windows. The thermowells can be brass, steel, stainless steel, or other special-order materials. Dial diameters vary from 1 to 6.5 in. (25 to 165 mm); stem lengths vary from 2.5 to 36 in. (63 to 914 mm). A 3 in. diameter, back-connected unit with a 2.5 in. brass thermowell lists at $60; a 5 in. diameter, multiangle unit with a 6 in. stainless steel thermowell is $65. Thermometers are usually discounted from 10 to 45% when large quantities are purchased. ABB Kent-Taylor (www.abb.com) Abbeon Cal Inc. (Strap-on) (www.abbeon.com) AMETEK Inc. U.S. Gauge Div. (www.ametekusg.com) Anderson Instrument Co. (www.andersoninstrumentco.com) Ashcroft-Heise Div. of Dresser Industries (www.dresserinstruments.com) Bacharach Inc. (www.bacharach-inc.com) Bristol Babcock Co. Helicoid Div. (www.bristolbabcock.com) Brooklyn Thermometer Co. Inc. (www.brooklynthermometer.com) Cooper Instrument Corp. (www.cooperinstrument.com) Crosby Inc. Dresser Industries, Instrument Div. (www.dresser.com/instruments) Duro United Instrument Corp. (www.uidproducts.com) Fenwal Controls Inc. (www.fenwalcontrols.com) FW Murphy (www.fwmurphy.com) Grifth Industrial Products (www.versagauge.com) Jumo Process Control Inc. (www.jumoprocesscontrol.com) Marshall Instruments Inc. (www.marshbellofram.com) Marshalltown Instruments Inc. (www.marshbellofram.com) Marsh Instrument Co. (www.marshbellofram.com) Mercoid Div. of Dwyer Instruments Ltd. (www.dwyerinstruments.com) Moeller Instrument Co. (www.moellerinstrument.com) Noshok Inc. (www.noshok.com) Omega Engineering Inc. (www.omega.com) Pacic Transducer Corp. (Surface) (www.ptc1.com) Palmer Instruments Inc. (www.palmerinstruments.com) Princo Instruments Inc. (www.princoinstruments.com) PSG Industries Inc. (www.psgcontrols.com) Qualitrol Corp. (www.qualitrolcorp.com) Reotemp Instrument Corp. (www.reotemp.com) Stortz, Div. of PSG Industries Inc. Taylor Thermometer Corp. of America (www.metroscales.com)

Materials of Construction:

Dimensions: Costs:

Partial List of Suppliers:

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Tel-Tru Mfg. Co. (www.teltru.com) Trend Instruments Inc. (www.trendinst.com) H.O. Trerice (www.hotrerice.com) Universal Enterprises (www.ueitest.com) Weiss Instruments Inc. (www.weissinstruments.com) Weksler Instruments Corp. (www.dresserinstruments.com) Wika Instrument Corp. (www.wika.com)

BIMETALLIC SPRINGS Bimetallic thermometers make use of two fundamental principles: (1) metals change volume with temperature, and (2) this coefcient of change is not the same for all metals (see Figure 4.2a). If two different straight metal strips are bonded together and heated, the resultant strip will bend toward the side of the metal with the lower expansion rate. Deection is proportional to the square of the length and the temperature change and inversely proportional to the thickness. A bimetallic spring (Figure 4.2b) can be calibrated to produce a predictable deection at a preset temperature. This is the basis of operation of the many bimetallic temperature switches in household appliances. The motion produced by a bimetallic spring is small; to amplify it in a reasonably sized space the bimetal strip may be wound in the form of a spiral or a helix. A classic example of an ambient air temperature thermometer is shown in Figure 4.2c. The outside edge of the spiral is pinned to the frame

and a pointer is connected to the center. As the temperature increases, the spiral winds up deecting the pointer clockwise. Knowing the coefcients of expansion of the two metals, their thickness, and the desired scale length and range, the total length of the spiral can be computed. A favorite combination of metals is low-expanding Invar (64% Fe, 36% Ni) against high-expanding nickel-iron alloy with chromium or manganese added. Thermometers Most industrial or residential bimetal thermometers use a helical coil which can be designed to t into a stem more easily than the spiral. The element is surrounded by a protecting tube or thermowell (see Section 4.14). The device can be mounted to measure the temperature of the gas or liquid inside a duct. The design is frequently used on domestic furnaces and over the years has replaced most of the glass stem thermometers used earlier. Figure 4.2d illustrates a typical bimetallic thermometer using a helical coil. Also shown is a protective thermowell, which allows the removal or replacement of the thermometer without opening up the process tank or piping. When only periodic checks are needed on a particular temperature point, a thermowell only is installed and is protected from dirt accumulation by a cap. A single helix moves axially as it winds or unwinds with heat and cold. This requires clearance for a vertical movement of the pointer. The difculty can be overcome, if desired, by using a multiple element, wound coaxially so as to form coils within coils. This construction is more costly but has an advantage in requiring less immersion depth (Figure 4.2e).
Low Expanding Metal

15 Expansion mm/m
e el nl ck Stai i N ss
um

ass Al u

10

in

Br

In

va

Porc

elain

Quartz 0 (32) 200 (392) 400 600 (752) (1100) Temperature 800 1000C (1500) (1800F)

Case

FIG. 4.2a Thermal expansion of materials for stem-type expansion thermometers. (Courtesy of WIKA Instrument Corporation.)
Bimetal Spiral Fastened to Case and Pointer

Low Expansion Metal

Cold Position

High Expansion Metal

Hot Position

High Expanding Metal

FIG. 4.2b The operation of a bimetallic spring.

FIG. 4.2c Bimetallic ambient air thermometer.

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Temperature Measurement

1/2 in. NPT (13 mm) Pointer Pointer Shaft Thermometer Stem Bottom Back Helical Bimetal Coil Graduated Dial Adjustable Dial Can Also Be Rotated

Optional Cap and Chain Element Length

FIG. 4.2f The bimetallic thermometers can be back- or bottom-connected, or they can be fully adjustable. (Courtesy of Taylor Thermometer Corp. of America.)

FIG. 4.2d Bimetallic thermometer and corresponding thermowell.

1. Pointer 2. Dial with Scale 3. Bimetal Strip 4. Stem

backlash and requires little torque to operate. Another type available is the Pocket Thermometer. Another feature usually included is complete sealing. A dry gas is in the dial face portion of the assembly while silicone uid lls the stem and surrounds the coil to dampen vibration and accelerate heat transfer. Readout dials are available varying from 1 to 6.5 in. (25 to 165 mm) in diameter and with stem lengths up to 36 in. (914 mm). Wells made of carbon steel, stainless steel, or other materials are available to facilitate removal or to protect against corrosive environments. Bimetallic elements can be made sufciently sturdy to actuate a recording pen. A chart, driven by mechanical clockwork behind the pen, can form a complete measuring and recording system that is independent of outside electric power. Advantages and Disadvantages

FIG. 4.2e Bimetal thermometer with dual helical bimetal coil. (Courtesy of WIKA Instrument Corporation.)

The advantages over glass stem thermometers include that the bimetallic design is less likely to break and is easier to read. Relative to the lled or electronic temperature indicators, the main advantages of bimetallic thermometers are their lower cost and simplicity. Disadvantages include that the calibration of bimetallic thermometers can change due to rough handling and that the overall accuracy is not as good as that of the glass stem design. The bimetallic thermometers are generally conned to local measurement. Bibliography

Dial Orientation and Size The thermometer is usually either back- or bottom-connected, depending on which orientation allows the operator better visibility of the dial face. Bimetal thermometers are also made in types that can adjust the dial face at any angle, with respect to the axis of the stem. This can even be a swivel type as shown on Figure 4.2f. Any of these constructions requires a bend in the motion transmission from coil to pointer. This is done with an edge-wound helical spring, which eliminates

Adler, C.B., Reliability Aspects of Temperature Measurement, Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society Conference, Chicago, 2001. von Beckerath, A., Eberlein, A., Julien, H., Kerstein, P., and Kreutzer, J., WIKA Handbook on Pressure and Temperature Measurement, U.S. ed., Lawrenceville, GA: Wika Instrument Corp., 1998. Bimetallic Thermometers, Measurements and Control, October 1991. Bluestein, I., Understanding Contact Temperature Sensors, Sensors, October 2001.

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Carlson, D.R., Temperature Measurement in Process Control, InTech, October 1990. Hashemian, H.M. and Peterson, K.M., Assuring Accurate Temperature Measurement, InTech, October 1989. Hormuth, G.A., Ways to Measure Temperature, Control Engineering, Reprint No. 948, 1971. Magison, E., Temperature Measurement, InTech, November 2001.

Plumb, H.H., Temperature: Its Measure and Control in Science and Industry, Vol. 4, 5th Symposium on Temperature, National Bureau of Standards, American Institute of Physics, Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society, Pittsburgh, PA, 1972. Schupp, A.B., A Report on Progress in the Field of Bimetallic Actuated Thermometers, Measurement and Control News, October 1990.

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