10/10/2016

INDUSTRIAL
INSTRUMENTATION
Lecturer: Nguyen Duc Hoang
Department of Control & Automation
Faculty of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
Email: ndhoang@hcmut.edu.vn

Chapter 9: Temperature measurement –

Part2
• Introduction

• Thermistor

• RTD

• Thermocouple

• Semiconductor

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Thermocouple
• Principle : A thermocouple is a temperature sensor that uses a
phenomenon (i.e., the Seebeck effect) that generates a
thermoelectromotive force (e.m.f.) according to the temperature
difference between the joint end and the open end of different types of
metal that have been joined together at one end. The combination of
metals with high and stable thermoelectromotive force is called a
thermocouple.
• e.m.f.–temperature relationship

𝑒 = 𝑎1 𝑇 + 𝑎2 𝑇 2 + ⋯ + 𝑎𝑛 𝑇 𝑛
T is the absolute temperature

Thermocouple (cont.)
• Thermocouple types :
• types K, E, J, and T use base metals

• types B, R, and S use noble metals

• Example :
• Chromel-alumel thermocouples (type K) are widely used, general-purpose devices with a
measurement sensitivity of 41 mV/0 C, measurement range is -200 to +13000 C, their measurement
inaccuracy is ±0.75%.

• Platinum thermocouples (type R) have one wire made from pure platinum and the other wire
made from a platinum–rhodium alloy with 13% rhodium. Their quoted measuring range is 0 to
+17000 C, with a measurement sensitivity of 10 mV/ 0 C and quoted inaccuracy of ±0.5%.

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Thermocouple (cont.)
Thermocouple types :

Standard Type Positive Leg Metal Negative Leg Metal Temperature Range
B 70.4% Pt - 29.6% Rh 93.9% Pt - 6.1% Rh 870 - 1700 °C
E 90% Ni - 10% Cr 55% Cu - 45% Ni 0 - 900 °C
J 99.5% Fe 55% Cu - 45% Ni 0 - 750 °C
90% Ni 95% Ni - 5% other
K 0 - 1250 °C
10% Cr
N 84.4% Ni - 14.2% Cr - 1.4% Si 95.5% Ni - 4.4% Si 0 - 1250 °C
R 87% Pt - 13% Rh 100% Pt 0 - 1450 °C
S 90% Pt - 10% Rh 100% Pt 0 - 1450 °C
T 100% Cu 55% Cu - 45% Ni -200 - 350 °C

Thermocouple (cont.)
• Characteristics of Thermocouple Potential Difference:

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Thermocouple (cont.)
Hot junction
• Analysis

Reference
Example: thermocouple K junction
if :hot junction = 100 0C and
reference junction = 00C thermocouple equivalent electrical circuit
then E 1 = 4.096mV
(thermocouple table: NIST or JIS standard)

Thermocouple (cont.)
• Extension leads

If the thermocouple temperature sensor lead wire does not reach the
temperature controller and the cable between the sensor and the
temperature controller is extended.
If the lead wire is extended with copper wire, a large temperature error
will occur.
The thermocouple temperature sensor lead wires must be extended with
compensating conductors.

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Thermocouple (cont.)
• Extension leads

the point of measurement of the e.m.f. (still

called the reference junction) being moved
to the open ends of the extension leads

by choosing the extension leads to be of the

same basic materials as the thermocouple
Reference then E2 and E3  0.
junction

equivalent circuit for a thermocouple with extension leads

Thermocouple (cont.)
• Connect to the voltage-measuring instrument

The net output e.m.f. measured (Em) is given by

𝑬𝒎 = 𝑬𝟏 + 𝑬𝟐 + 𝑬𝟑 + 𝑬𝟒 + 𝑬𝟓

equivalent circuit for a thermocouple and extension leads connected to a meter

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Thermocouple (cont.)
• Laws of thermocouple

Law of intermediate metals: the e.m.f. generated at the junction between

two metals or alloys A and C is equal to the sum of the e.m.f. generated
at the junction between metals or alloys A and B and the e.m.f. generated
at the junction between metals or alloys B and C, where all junctions are
at the same temperature.

𝒆𝑨𝑪 = 𝒆𝑨𝑩 + 𝒆𝑩𝑪

Thermocouple (cont.)
• Laws of thermocouple

Law of intermediate temperatures :

𝒆(𝑻𝒉 ,𝑻𝟎 ) = 𝒆 (𝑻𝒉,𝑻𝒓) + 𝒆(𝑻𝒓 ,𝑻𝟎 )

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Thermocouple (cont.)
• Use law of intermediate metals, we have the effective e.m.f. sources
in a thermocouple measurement system.

𝑬 𝟏 = 𝑬 𝒎 + 𝑬 𝒓𝒆𝒇

Eref can be calculated if the temperature of the

reference junction is known.

Thermocouple (cont.)
• Example 1: Suppose that the reference junction of a chromel–
alumel thermocouple (K) is maintained at a temperature of 300C
and the output e.m.f. measured is 20 mV when the hot junction is
immersed in a fluid. What is temperature of fluid ?

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Thermocouple (cont.)
• Example 2: In a particular industrial situation, a chromel–alumel
thermocouple with chromel–alumel extension wires is used to measure
the temperature of a fluid. In connecting up this measurement system,
the instrumentation engineer responsible has inadvertently
interchanged the extension wires from the thermocouple. The ends of
the extension wires are held at a reference temperature of 00C and the
output e.m.f. measured is 14.1 mV. If the junction between the
thermocouple and extension wires is at a temperature of 400C, what
temperature of fluid is indicated and what is the true fluid
temperature?

Comparison of temperature sensor performance

Sensor Type Thermocouple Platinum RTD Thermistor
Temperature 0° to 1600°C -100° to 400°C -50° to 350‚C
range 32° to 2912°F -148° to 752°F -58° to 662°F
Accuracy Ordinary Good Slightly poor
Good thermal response
Self-powered
Most accurate
Simple Fast thermal response
Most stable
Advantages Rugged Small error due to
More linear than
Inexpensive resistance of conductor
thermocouple
Wide variety
Wide temperature range
Likely to be affected by Non-linear
Compensating conductor conductor resistance Limited temperature range
necessary Slightly slow thermal response Fragile
Non-linear because the heat sensing
Disadvantages
Low voltage element is long
Least stable Expensive
Least sensitive

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Selecting the Proper Sensor

Choose thermocouple, platinum

resistance temperature detector (RTD),
or thermistor ?

The decision is made based on the

optimum operating range of the sensor,
the accuracy, and the response time.

Temperature sensor in a feedback control system

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Temperature Control

Semiconductors
• Semiconductor devices, consisting of either diodes or integrated
circuit transistors.
• Example:
• LM35 (10mV/0C)
• LM335 (10mV/0K)
• LM34 (10mV/0F)
• AD590 (1A/0K)
• DS18B20 (one wire digital)

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Problems

• Compute output voltage if hot junction equals to 5000C and

reference junction equals to 300C?

Problems

The circuit above measures a temperature from 4000 C to 6000 C by a type J

thermocouple and cold junction compensation. The LM134 is a current source
whose output is 𝐼 𝜇𝐴 = 227Ω ∗ 273 + 𝑇𝑎 𝐶 /𝑅3
Design to obtain -10 V to +10V output range for a 400C to 600C temperature
range and a cold junction compensation .

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Type K Thermocouples -- thermoelectric voltage as a function of temperature (°C); reference junctions at 0 °C (NIST)

Type K Thermocouples -- thermoelectric voltage as a function of temperature (°C); reference junctions at 0 °C (NIST)

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