DKK2413 Process Instrumentation & Control

Faculty of Chemical & Natural Resources Engineering

CHAPTER 4
Temperature Measurement

Topic Covered
Temperature Measuring Devices Criteria For Selecting A Suitable Temperaturemeasuring Instrument

OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, you will be able to 1. Differentiate between absolute and relative temperature scale 2. Transform a temperature reading among the Kelvin, Rankine, Celcius and Fahrenheit. 3. Explain the operation thermocouple and relationship between emf and temperature. 4. Explain the operation of RTD and relationship between metal resistance and temperature.
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Introduction
Temperature is a measure of the amount of thermal energy (heat) possessed by an object. Temperature control is important for separation and reaction processes, and temperature must be maintained within limits to ensure safe and reliable operation of process equipment.

Temperature Scale
There are three temperature scales in use today, Fahrenheit, Celsius and Kelvin. 1. Fahrenheit (F) ~ British Imperial system ~ Water boiling point: 212o ~ Water freezing point: 32o

2. Celcius (C) ~ Water boiling point: 100o ~ Water freezing point: 0o 3. Kelvin (K) ~ S.I unit ~ Water boiling point: 373.15 ~ Water freezing point: 273.15

Relative and absolute temperature

Absolute
-Assign a zero temperature to a material that has no thermal energy. -These scales have negative and positive numbers -The temperature scale differ by the quantity of energy represented by unit of measure. -Common use Rankine (oR) and Kelvin (K)

Relative
-When the scale indicate zero, the thermal energy is not zero. -These scales only have positive numbers Common use Celcius, oC (Related to Kelvin)and Fahrenheit, oF (related to Rankine)

Temperature Conversion Formula

From Fahrenheit (oF) To Fahrenheit F To Celsius (F - 32) * 5/9 To Kelvin (F - 32) * 5/9 + 273.15 Rankine F + 459.67 (C + 273.15) 9 5 K 95 R

Celsius (oC)
Kelvin (K) Rankine (oR)

(C * 9/5) + 32
(K - 273.15) * 9/5 + 32 R 459.67

C
K - 273.15 (R 491.67) 5 9

C + 273.15
K R 59

Convert 172.9 0F to degrees Celsius.

0C

= 5 x (0F 32) 9 0C = 5 x (172.9 32) = 78.3 9

Convert 78.3oC to degrees Rankine

R= ( oC 9 + 273.15) x 5

R = (78.3oC + 273.15) x 9 = 632.61 5

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Thermocouple
Consist of two dissimilar metal and joined at both ends ~ produces a voltage related to a temperature difference Hot junction ~ measure temperature (attached to a probe) Cold junction ~ reference (maintained at known temperature at 0oC) Output voltage depends on temperature difference between the two junction and thermal properties of the metals used in the circuit E1 = voltage generated by T1 (from hot junction) E2 = voltage generated by T2 (from cold junction) Et Et = E1 E2

T1 E1

T2 E2
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Thermocouple
Thermocouple are often insulated electrically with ceramic material (high temperature) and sheathed in stainless steel Used thermowell for effectively seal off the process fluid or gastemperature sensor is protected from the process materials to prevent interference with proper sensing and to eliminate damage to the sensor. An additional advantage of such a thermowell is the ability to remove, replace, and calibrate the sensor without disrupting the process operation.

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Temperature sensor without thermowell

Temperature sensor with thermowell

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Commercial Available Thermocouples

________________________________________________ Type Materials Normal Range J T K E S Iron-constantan Copper-constantan Chromel-alumel Chromel-constantan 90% platinum + 10% rhodium-platinum 87% platinum + 13% rhodium- platinum -190oC to 760oC -200 oC to 371 oC -190 oC to 1260 oC -100 oC to 1260 oC 0 oC to 1482 oC

0 oC to 1482 oC

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Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages
Low cost No moving parts, less likely to be broken Wide temperature range Reasonably short response time High realibility

Disadvantages
Sensitivity is low, usually 50 V/C (28 V/F) or less Accuracy, usually no better than 0.5 C (0.9F), may not be high enough for some applications Requires a known temperature reference, usually 0C (32F) ice water. Modern thermocouples, on the other hand, rely on an electrically generated reference The relationship between the process temperature and the thermocouple signal (millivolt) is not linear.
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Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD)

RTD is wire and thin film devices that measure temperature from the change in the electrical resistance of the metal wire. The electrical resistance of many metals changes with temperature; metals for which resistance increases with temperature are used in RTDs. Linear relationship using equation RT= Ro(1+aT) RT = the resistance at temperature, T R0 = the resistance at base temperature of 0 C T = the temperature of the sensor (to be determined from RT) a = the temperature coefficient of the metal
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RTD
metals selected should that have high resistivity, good temperature coefficient of resistance, good ductile or tensile strength, and chemical inertness with packaging and insulation materials Most common RTD are made from platinum. For some application nickel is used

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RTD
a= R100/ R0 - 1 100

R100 = Resistance at 100oC (steam point) R0 = Resistance at 0oC (ice point)

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RTD
RTD sensitivity, a can be noted from typical value of metal used, Platinum = 0.00385 / oC Nickel =0.005 / oC The effective range of RTDs principally depend on the type of wire used Platinum RTD = -100 to 650 oC Nickel RTD = -180 to 300 oC
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Example 1
A nickel resistance thermometer has a resistance of 114 at 0oC and the value of the temperature coefficient of the nickel, a is 0.005/oC. In operation, the resistance is 125 . Calculate the temperature

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RTD
They are slowly replacing the use of thermocouples in many industrial applications below 600 C, due to higher accuracy and repeatability. RTDs are commonly used for applications in which higher accuracy than provided by thermocouples is required.
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Advantages & Disadvantages of RTD

Advantages:
Stable output for long period of time Provide excellent accuracy and repeatability Ease of recalibration

Disadvantages, compared to the thermocouples, are:

Smaller overall temperature range Higher initial cost
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Criteria For Selecting A Suitable Temperature-Measuring Instrument

Operating range
The operating range and type of function are the important considerations when selecting a measuring instrument. Scale: RTD thermometer have linear scale. The derived electrical signal (analog or digital) is available for indication and transmission. Remote reading instrument: Thermocouple and RTD have better capability for remote readout. Direct connection of the sensing element and remote display instrument.
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Criteria For Selecting A Suitable Temperature-Measuring Instrument

Sensing elements
For the fastest measurement response, the sensing element itself should ideally be directly exposed to the process fluid. But it always not possible because of the following reasons:
contamination of sensing element by the process fluid. contamination of the process fluid by the sensing element. aggressive attack on the sensing element by the process fluid. high pressure in the line or vessel containing the process fluid. a process fluid that is dangerous to handle.

Most element are located within wells or pockets to separate the sensor and the fluid.
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