ME3122-1 Temperature Measurement Lab Manual
ME3122-1 Temperature Measurement Lab Manual
ME3122-1 Temperature Measurement Lab Manual
(E2-B-02)
2016/2017
LIST OF FIGURES
(ii)
LIST OF TABLES
(ii)
NOMENCLATURE
(iii)
INTRODUCTION
THEORY
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
10
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
5
6
Figure 6
Figure 7
12
Figure 8
12
Figure 9
13
13
Figure 11
14
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1
Table 2
Calibration data
Table 3
7
11
ii
11
NOMENCLATURE
Symbol
Description
Units (SI)
ao, a1 ..... an
Arbitrary constants
Dimensionless
Temperature
Temperature difference
Voltage
V K-1
Temperature
coefficient
of
resistance
iii
for
K
INTRODUCTION
PURPOSE
There are different ways of measuring the temperature at a point for heat transfer analysis in
experiments. The use of thermocouples, resistance thermometers or resistance temperature
detectors (RTD), and thermistors is the commonest. In this manual, the basic theory behind the
working principles of the three temperature sensors and a brief description of an experimental
set-up for their calibration are presented. An experimental methodology for the use of the
calibrated sensors to measure the temperature profile of a perspex rod is also presented.
SCOPE
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
THEORY
(a)
Thermocouples
(i)
Thermo-electric E.M.F.
TB
B
TA
A
Figure 1 A metal conductor with its ends exposed to two different temperatures
dV = dT
(1)
Where, the constant of proportionality, is called the Seebeck coefficient which is dependent
on the conductor material.
VB VA =T dT
TB
(2)
Consider a case where two wires of different metal conductors are joined together at one end
to form a junction as shown in Figure 2.
TB
TA
TC
A
Figure 2 Two metal conductors made of different materials (A & C) joined to form a junction
The potential difference between the points A and C can be expressed as:
VA VC = (VA VB ) + (VB VC )
TA
TB
TB
TC
= 1 dT + 2 dT
=
TB
TA
(3)
[if TA = TC ]
( 2 1 ) dT
TB
= 21 dT
TA
The coefficient 2-1 is a function of the temperature difference (TA TB ) and is tabulated for
various combinations of wire materials at the junction. Thus, the voltage developed across the
conductors, (VA VC ) becomes a function of the temperature difference (TA TB ) . A sensor
created through this arrangement where, two wires of different materials are joined at one point
is called a thermocouple. With the aid of a voltage-temperature curve (calibration curve) and
a reference temperature (generally ice point) a thermocouple can be used to measure
temperature at a point where the thermocouple junction is placed.
(ii)
Hot Junction
B
TD
TA
Cold Junction
D
Reference
Temperature
A
E
TE
Consider the arrangement with two thermocouples connected together in a manner shown in
Figure 3. TB is the temperature to be measured and TD is the reference value. Using the
arguments in (i), the voltage developed across A and E can be expressed in the form,
(4)
(Note: There is no potential difference across point C because the wires BC and CD
are of the same material).
TA
TB
TD
TB
TC
TE
VA VE = 1 dT + 2 dT + 1 dT
=
TB
TD
[if
( 2 1 ) dT
TA = TE ]
(5)
( 2 1 ) = a o + a1T + a 2 T + a 3T 3 + where a o , a1 , a 2 , a 3
constants. If T = (TB TD) is not very large, ( 2 1 ) can be taken to be a constant.
Note:
Generally
Therefore, V
= constant x T T
B
D
are
(6)
(b)
The resistance thermometer is a temperature sensor which operates on the principle: a change
in temperature causes a corresponding change in electrical resistance.
The resistance variation of RTD with temperature is expressed as:
(7)
Where, is the temperature coefficient of resistance of the wire material and Ro is the resistance
of the wire at a reference temperature To. Using RTD, temperature measurement is carried out
by sending a continuous direct current through the resistance element and observing the
changes in voltage that occur as a result of electrical resistance variation resulting from a
change in temperature. A calibrated RTD can be used to measure temperature without the need
of cold junction compensation.
Being a noble metal, platinum has the most stable resistance-temperature relationship over the
largest temperature range. It has a linear resistance-temperature relationship. Therefore,
platinum commonly meets the requirements of resistance thermometry and are commonly used
in RTDs. Also, platinums temperature drift and error with age and use is negligible compared
4
to other sensors and it has very high contamination resistance. The construction details of a
typical RTD are shown in Figure 4 below.
Platinum windings,
fixed at intervals
(c)
Thermistor
1
Ro
Ro
T
(8)
where, Ro is the change in resistance with a change in temperature T and Ro is the initial
resistance corresponding to a reference temperature To. Unlike most materials, the value of
for a thermistor is very large and is negative. This makes the thermistor an effective sensor for
temperature measurement and control where high accuracy and resolution are important. The
construction details of a thermistor are shown in Figure 5 below.
A comparison of resistance change with temperature of a thermistor and platinum resistance
thermometer is given in Figure 11.
R2 = 7599
Semiconductor
R0
Thermistor
E0
R3 = 7599
R1 = 37.3k
Wires
Glass shell
Type of measurement
Temperature range
Thermistors are available for measuring temperatures from a few degrees above absolute
zero to about 300C. However, they can be used at higher temperatures but tend to decrease
in stability (repeatability) above 300C. Platinum resistance thermometers normally have a
temperature range of -180C to about 1000C, while iridium units can be used up to 2000C.
The non-linearity of resistance change, however, increases at temperature extremes.
Thermocouples are available for use up to more than 3000C.
(c)
Sensitivity
dV
dT
(9)
25C
300C
104 to 106
2 x 103
300
200
Copper/Constantan
40
60
Chromel/Alumel
40
40
Iron/Constantan
50
55
Thermistor
(d)
Accuracy
Response
The types of temperature sensors used in the apparatus for surface temperature measurements
are:
(i) A thermocouple glued to the surface (not embedded)
(ii) A resistance thermometer (film or stud)
(iii) A thermistor (stud)
The specifications of the temperature profile measurement unit are as follows:
Diameter of Perspex rod
Length of Perspex rod
Pitch of thermocouples embedded in Perspex rod
Thermocouple wire material
Maximum permissible water bath temperature
48 mm
50 mm
10 mm
copper-constantan Gauge 30
90C
Instrumentation
The output voltage readings from the thermal sensors are directly read from the midi data
LOGGER. Channels 8 to 11 of the data LOGGER are used for the calibration experiments and
channels 1 to 9 for the temperature profile experiments.
As the emf of a thermocouple only corresponds to the temperature difference between the hot
and cold junctions, the voltage corresponding to the hot junction temperature depends on the
temperature of the cold junction. In the calibration part of the experiment, two thermocouples
are used. One with the cold junction at room temperature and the other with the cold junction
effectively set at 0C (ice point) using an electronic compensator.
A constant current source of i = 2.1 mA is supplied to the resistance element (Ro = 100) of
the resistance thermometer.
The expression for temperature coefficient of resistance-sensitivity S is:
1 dRo
Ro dT
1 dV
iRo dT
S
iRo
(10)
R1= 37.3 k
R0
Thermistor
E0
B
A
V
R2= 7599
R3= 7599
Changes in the resistance Rt of the thermistor causes changes in the voltage V between nodes
A and B.
From first principles, it can be shown that:
1 dRt
Rt dT
( Rt + R3 ) 2 V
Eo Rt R3 T
( Rt + R3 ) 2
S
Eo Rt R3
(11)
EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
(a) Calibration of Temperature Sensors
1. Set the voltage V of the thermistor bridge circuit to zero or as close to zero as possible by
adjusting the variable resistance R1.
2. Record the temperature of the reference mercury-in-glass thermometer. Record the voltages
across the RTD (channel 8), thermistor (channel 9) and the two thermocouples (without ice
point channel 10 and with ice point channel 11).
Note:
(i)
Graph papers will be provided during the laboratory session for you to record your
readings.
(ii)
If Channel 10 (thermocouple without ice point) reading is a negative value, take the
reading as zero. Otherwise, take the actual reading.
9
3. Switch on the water bath heater and set the bath temperature to 40C and allow the bath
temperature to reach the set temperature. Repeat Step 2.
4. Repeat Step 3 for water bath temperatures of 50C, 60C, 70C and 80C.
10
Date:
Vout(RTD)
(C)
Vout(Thermistor)
Ch 8 (mV)
Thermocouple
w/o ice-pt
Ch 9 (mV)
Thermocouple
with ice-pt
Ch 10 (mV)
Ch 11 (mV)
0 min
mV
11
15 min
o
mV
+
_
12
T7
T8
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5 T6 T
9
Temperature, oC
+
_
Te3 30 min
Te2 15 min
Te1 0 min
0
10
20
30
40
Distance, mm
50
Figure 9 Schematic of the perspex rod showing the embedded and surface mounted sensors
Embedded (TC)
Surface mounted
thermistor
13
108
106
104
Thermistor material
102
100
10-2
10-4
10-6
-100
100
200
300
400
Temperature oC
Figure 11 Temperature-resistance response of typical thermistor material compared with
RTD material (platinum)
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