ELECTRICAL TEMPERATURE

ELEMENTS/SENSORS

PREPARED BY: ENGR. ORLANDO M. ECHALUSE

ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
2. ELECTRICAL - change in the electrical quantity
✓ Thermocouple – change in voltage
✓ Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD) – change
in resistance

✓Thermistor - change in resistance

✓ Radiation Temperature Sensors / PYROMETERS –
change in light intensity
 Thermocouples
A thermocouple is made up of two dissimilar metals
joined together at one end, that produce a voltage
with a change in temperature. The junction of the
metals, called the sensing junction, is connected to
extension wires. Any two dissimilar metals may be
used to make a thermocouple.
 Thermocouples
A thermocouple is made up of two dissimilar metals
joined together at one end, that produce a voltage
with a change in temperature. The junction of the
metals, called the sensing junction, is connected to
extension wires. Any two dissimilar metals may be
used to make a thermocouple.
THERMOCOUPLE TABLE TYPE K
*Common International Colour Codes
 ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements

Thermocouple
Thermocouple Types and Ranges
RTDs

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Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)
An RTD is an electrical temperature sensor that uses changes in
resistance as the basis for temperature measurement.
The operation of an RTD is based on the fact that the electrical
resistance of some metals varies directly with temperature
changes.
An RTD consist of a sensing element fabricated of metal wire
which responds to temperature change by changing its resistance.
RTDs

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 Resistance Temperature Detector
(RTD)
An RTD is an electrical temperature sensor that uses changes in
resistance as the basis for temperature measurement.
The operation of an RTD is based on the fact that the electrical
resistance of some metals varies directly with temperature
changes.
An RTD consist of a sensing element fabricated of metal wire
which responds to temperature change by changing its resistance.
Properties of Metals Used for RTDs

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Resistance Vs. Temperature
RTD Materials
RTD Construction
*Resistance Temperature
Detector

RTD TYPES

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*Resistance Temperature
Detector

RTD TYPES

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 *Resistance Temperature Detector

RTD TYPES

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 Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)

Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)

✓Variation of resistance of a metal with the temperature can be represented by the
following relationship
R = Rref [1 + α(T – Tref)]
where:
R – conductor resistance at temp. T
Rref – conductor resistance at reference temp., Tref, usually 20°C, but sometimes
0°C
α – temp. coefficient of resistance of resistance between 0°C and 100°
T – conductor temperature in °C
Tref – reference temp. that α is specified at for the conductor material
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) (continuation)
Example:
A silver wire has a resistance of 1.25Ω at 0°C and a temperature coefficient of resistance
of 0.003819/°C. What is the resistance of the wire at 266 °C?
Solution:

R = Rref [1 + α(T – Tref)]

R = 1.25 Ω [1 + 0.003819(266 – 0)]

R = 2.5168 Ω
RTD TABLE (Sample)
RTD TABLE (Sample)
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)
✓ Common RTD Materials
1. Platinum
- temperature range: -452 to 1100°F (-269 to +593°C)
- has the best accuracy and stability among the common RTD materials
- resistance vs temp curve is fairly curve
- temp. range is the widest among the common RTD materials
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD)

✓ Common RTD Materials (continuation)

2. Copper, Nickel and Nickel-Iron (continuation)
- cheaper but has restricted ranges because of non-linearities
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) (

Electrical Resistance Temperature Curve

ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) (continuation)
✓ Types of RTD Construction
1. Platinum Thin-Film RTD
- the most popular design because of their rugged design and low cost
- manufactured by coating a small ceramic chip with a very thin (.0001”) film of platinum
- the element is coated with a thin layer of glass to protect it from harmful chemicals and
gases
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Resistance Temperature Detection (RTD) (continuation)
✓ Advantages
❑ The response time is faster
❑ Not affected by drift (Stable)
❑ More accurate and has higher sensitivity
❑ More linear than thermocouple
❑ Does not require special extension cable
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Resistance Temperature Detection (RTD) (continuation)
✓ Disadvantages
❑More expensive since the metal used is in purest form
❑ Limited measuring range
❑ A power supply failure can cause erroneous readings
❑ Sensitive to loose connections
❑ Self-heating
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Applications of RTD vs Thermocouple
✓ RTD
- Air conditioning and refrigeration servicing

- Furnace servicing
- Foodservice processing
- Medical research
- Textile production
- Plastics processing
- Petrochemical processing
- Microelectronics
- Air, gas and liquid temperature measurement
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Applications of RTD vs Thermocouple (continuation)
✓ Thermocouple
- Plastic injection molding machinery
- Food processing equipment
- Engine and turbine exhaust gas
- Semiconductor processing
- Heat treating and metals processing
- Medical equipment
- Aerospace industries
- Packaging equipment Test stands
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
RTD Error Sources
✓ The lead wires used to connect the RTD to a readout can contribute to their measurement
error.
✓ Insulation resistance is always a function of temperature and at relatively high temperature
the shunt resistance of the insulator introduces errors into measurement.
 Failure Modes of RTDs
An open circuit in the RTD or in the wiring between the RTD and the
bridge will cause a high temperature reading.

Loss of power or a short within the RTD will cause a low temperature
reading.

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 Thermistors

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 What is a Thermistor?
Thermistors are solid-state semiconductor devices. There
are two types of thermistors,
Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) devices that
increases resistance with temperature increase.
The Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) devices that
decreases resistance with temperature increase.
ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
THERMISTOR
✓ resistance changes as temperature changes
✓ an inexpensive alternative to RTD’s when temperature
ranges are below 150°C (302°F)
✓ base resistances are much higher than RTD
✓ use 25°C as the base temperature (RTD’s use 0°C)
✓ achieve higher precision temperature within a limited
temperature range of –80°C to 300°C
✓ made of ceramic or polymer, and can be coated with epoxy
(150°C) or glass (300°C)
 ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Thermistor (continuation)
✓ Types of Thermistor
- Thermistors can be classified depending on the sign of first-
order temperature coefficient of resistance.
1. Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC)
- the resistance increases with increasing temperature
- made from barium titanate and should be chosen when a
drastic change in resistance is required at a specific
temperature or current level.
 ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements

✓ PTC Thermistor Applications

- used instead of conventional fuses for protection of loads such as motors, transformers, etc. or electronic
circuits against over-current
 ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Thermistor (continuation)
✓ Types of Thermistor (continuation)
2. Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC)
- the resistance decreases with increasing temperature
- made from mixtures of oxides of manganese, cobalt,
copper or nickel
- used when a continuous change of resistance is
required over a wide temperature range
 ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements

Thermistor (continuation)
✓ NTC Thermistor Applications
◦ in automotive electronics: for measuring the temperature of cooling
water or oil, for monitoring the temperature of exhaust gas, cylinder
head or braking system, for controlling the temperature in the
passenger compartment, etc.

◦ in heating and air conditioning: in heating cost distributors, for room

temperature monitoring, in underfloor heating and gas boilers, for
determining exhaust gas or burner temperature, as outdoor
temperature sensors, etc.

◦ in telecommunications: for temperature measurement and

compensation in mobile phones
 ELECTRICAL Temperature-Measuring Elements
Thermistor (continuation)
✓ Advantages
- more sensitive than the RTD's and thermocouples
- have quick response time
- possibility of point measurement
✓ Disadvantages
- linearity is not good
- not rugged
- susceptible to permanent decalibration at high temperatures
than are RTD's or the thermocouples
TEMPERATURE TRANSMITTER
ASSEMBLY
TEMPERATURE TRANSMITTER
ASSEMBLY
TEMPERATURE TRANSMITTER
ASSEMBLY
 TEMPERATURE TRANSMITTER
A temperature transmitter is a device that connects to a temperature
sensor to transmit the signal elsewhere for monitoring and control
purposes. Typically, the temperature sensor is either an RTD,
Thermisor or Thermocouple type sensor and will interface with a PLC,
DCS, Temperature Controller, Data logger or Display hardware
(Indicator).
 THERMOWELL
Thermowell protect the sensor and to allow maintenance on
the sensor without taking the pipe or vessel out of service.
Thermowell
INSTALLED TEMPERATURE TRANSMITTERS
 PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements

Pyrometry
- means "fire" (pyros) and "measuring" (metron)
- a very accurate kind of thermometer that
measures temperature from the heat radiation
- the temperature can be determined from the radiation because
of the fact that

“Every object whose temperature is above absolute

zero (-273.15 °C; -459.67 °F) emits radiation.”
 PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements

Pyrometry (continuation)
Pyrometer
✓ a non-contacting device that intercepts and measures thermal radiation
✓ can be used to determine the temperature of an object's surface
✓ has an optical system and detector
- optical system - focuses the thermal radiation onto the detector
- the output signal of the detector (Temperature T) is related to the thermal
radiation
 PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements

Pyrometry (continuation)
✓ Two Types of Pyrometers Commonly Used in Industries
1. Radiation/Infrared Pyrometers
These measure the temperature of an object from the radiation
emitted by the object. The radiation is directed at a thermocouple, which is
capable of producing an electric current when it is partly heated. The
thermocouple will generate a higher current according to the heat emitted.
The current operates a dial that displays the temperature.).
 PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements

Pyrometry (continuation)
✓ Two Types of Pyrometers Commonly Used in Industries (continuation)
1. Radiation Pyrometers (continuation)
Advantages
- faster response since non-contact
- small targets and moving objects can be monitored more accurately
- high output and moderate cost
-can measure temp. up to 3500°C
Disadvantages
- shiny objects are difficult to measure
PYROPM EmTeRtrIyC(cToentm
yro inupae ran)ture-Measuring Elements
tio
✓ Two Types of Pyrometers Commonly Used in Industries (continuation)
Applications of Radiation Pyrometers
- steel
- glass
- ceramics
- heat treating
- plastics
- baby diaper
- semiconductor operations
PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements
 PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements
Pyrometry (continuation)
✓ Two Types of Pyrometers Commonly Used in Industries
2. Optical Pyrometers
They measure the temperature of extremely hot objects based on the
color of the visible light they emit. It has the capability to perform visual
comparison between a calibrated light source and the targeted surface.
When the temperature of the filament and the target match, their
thermal radiation intensity will also match causing the filament to become
almost invisible as it merges into the targeted surface in the background.
Once this happens, the current passing via the filament can be converted
into a temperature reading.
 PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements
✓ Two Types of Pyrometers Commonly Used in Industries (continuation)
2. Optical Pyrometers (continuation)
Advantages
- light in weight
- portable and convenient to use
- useful for monitoring the temp. of moving and distant objects
- temp. range: 1,100° to 2,800°C
Disadvantages
- not suitable for alarm or control functions
- relatively expensive
PYROMETRIC Temperature-Measuring Elements

OPTICAL PYROMETERS